Sharing joy and sorrow

Joyful encounters and a new Apostle

There is a great deal of excitement among the New Apostolic people in the South African province Mpumalanga. On Thursday, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider landed at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in Nelspruit, the capital of the province. He visited the congregation of Ngodini, where he was welcomed by the congregation with traditional song and dance. The District Apostle Helpers Mhango and Mkhwanazi are also already there.

Today, Friday, the Chief Apostle will be celebrating a divine service in the region. On Saturday, the Chief Apostle will meet with members and ministers, and on Sunday, 26 February 2017, the Chief Apostle will celebrate a divine service in Durban. In this service, Bishop Patrick Simataa Liwakala will be ordained an Apostle.

Youth outing in Namibia

Several hundred young members from various districts came together for a youth outing and divine service at the Katima Mulilo congregation in Namibia. Some of the youth had brought their own tents, which they pitched on the church grounds. The programme for the weekend called for a cleaning campaign at Ngweze congregation and presentations and lectures on educational matters, which took up the greater part of the weekend.

In the coming year, the youth will be travelling to Cape Town for a youth convention, and the Bishop urged them to prepare for it. There are nearly 20,000 New Apostolic Christians in Namibia in 160 congregations. They are part of the District Apostle Area Southern Africa.

Food parcels for flood victims

Heavy rains and resulting floods have caused incredible damage in the north-eastern part of Mindanao in the Philippines. Some 30,000 families in the Caraga region have lost everything.

Relief organisations have responded and are in the area. The aid organisation of the New Apostolic Church in South-East Asia is also in the area. Medication and food parcels have already been distributed. The focus is now shifting to reconstruction. Included here are churches, which were also damaged by the floods.

Apostle (ret.) Augustine Paul Namnse

Apostle Namnse (68) passed away unexpectedly on 4 February 2017. Paul Namnse, who was born in Nigeria, served in various priestly ministries over many years before being ordained as an Apostle, a ministry which he carried for 17 years. He went into retirement in 2014. Apostle Namnse is survived by his wife and four children.

District Apostle Michael Ehrich, who is responsible for Nigeria, wrote: “Apostle Namnse was a deeply believing and committed servant of God and a true soul mate to the members and ministers in his care.” In the obituary, Chief Apostle Schneider says: “Our thoughts are with his wife and children and all those mourning his death. May the heavenly Father give them much comfort, strength, and assurance.”