Zurich /Dortmund. District Apostle Armin Brinkmann will soon receive assistance: Apostle Rainer Storck will in future stand at his side as a District Apostle Helper. The appointment is scheduled to take place during the Thanksgiving service on 7 October 2012, when the international Church leader, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, is expected in Duisburg. A letter to this effect will be read to the congregations of North Rhine-Westphalia and other District Churches this Sunday.

“Our Chief Apostle and I recently discussed the subject of succession planning in our district. In the month of November I will begin my 65th year of life, and my time of active ministry is drawing to a close,” writes District Apostle Armin Brinkmann, who took on the administrative and pastoral leadership of the District Church of North Rhine-Westphalia in 2005. It is from there that congregations in another twenty countries are served. This working area incorporates nearly half a million Church members, most of whom make their home in African countries. “For this reason it makes sense to give my successor sufficient time to familiarise himself with his tasks in the capacity of a District Apostle Helper,” states the letter to the congregations.

Work in twenty countries

Apostle Rainer Storck is 54 years of age and has been an Apostle since 2009. He lives in Rheinberg with his family. District Apostle Armin Brinkmann: “I am really looking forward to working together closely with the District Apostle Helper. I am certain that he will win your hearts and that his appointment will have beneficial effects for our vast working area.”