On the 18th of January, 2025, Peya Shimuafeni and her team held a youth-led Christian revival event: How To Life. The event was aimed at inspiring change among Namibia’s youth, encouraging them to live out their faith and be motivated by a cause greater than themselves, rooted in Christ.
This came about after Shimuafeni was inspired by a similar event in South Africa and became determined to make a lasting impact in her community before leaving for university.
The mission of How to Life was to inspire the youth to truly embrace Christianity in the NOW. It reaffirms that true faith and commitment to Christ is not something to only achieve at some distant point in the future, but that a relationship with God is meant for any and every stage of life. Shimuafeni communicated the heart of the event as being about shifting away from selfish pursuits to find purpose, identity, and love in Christ.
However, planning the event did not come without obstacles. Shimuafeni faced significant reluctance from many adults and churches, which came as a big surprise to her considering the purpose of the event. Nevertheless, he did not let these setbacks draw her away from her goals and relied on prayer and faith to navigate the challenges she was facing.
Building her team was another act of faith, as most members joined through social media or personal invitations, a process that Shimuafeni described as “God’s provision,” with everyone fitting seamlessly into their roles.
One of the most distinctive features of How to Life was that it was entirely youth-led, with young leaders like Cristin, Angelo, and Shimuafeni herself delivering powerful sermons that shared the wisdom that God had placed on their hearts. Through minimal planning and only one debrief session, the messages had flowed together so well—a true testament to the work of the Holy Spirit.
Many had agreed that the most powerful moment of the event was the altar call. Instead of facing the altar, attendees stood boldly facing the crowd, declaring their commitment to Jesus and demonstrating the empowering and restorative love of Christ.
Shimuafeni hopes that How to Life will become an annual event, continuing to ignite faith and revival among the Namibian youth…
“One of the most beautiful illustrations of this relationship is found in John 15, where Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. My father is the gardener. Just like branches rely on the vine for life and growth, we thrive when we remain connected to Jesus. This event reminded us that we are never too withered or far gone for God to restore and use us for His glory.”
Peya Shimuafeni
In the meantime, her team plans to have smaller initiatives, such as worship nights, Bible studies, and even a potential podcast to keep the momentum alive.
How to Life has reignited a fire for Jesus in the hearts of many of the youth who attended. The feedback highlighted the event’s transformative and warm nature, with many expressing a renewed passion for faith and community, as one of the attendees shared; “It felt like home—a place of understanding, belonging, and love.”
Shimuafeni’s personal journey of faith, combined with the collective efforts of her team and volunteers, has shown that the youth are more than capable of leading with purpose and bringing meaningful change to their community. Through How to Life, Windhoek’s youth have been reminded of an eternal truth: God loves us deeply and unconditionally, and He invites all to walk in the freedom and purpose found in Him.
God loves you—deeply and unconditionally. No matter how far you think you’ve strayed, how little you know about Him, or even how long you’ve been a Christian, His love is relentless and never-ending for every single one of us. Because of this overwhelming love, He desires to have a close, personal relationship with you—a relationship of communication, fellowship, and guidance.
Peya Shimuafeni
