Zurich/Harare. One retirement, two ordinations—once again the divine service conducted by the international Church leader, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, was filled with holy acts. In Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, some 2,100 members and guests assembled in the city’s Celebration Centre. From Europe, the Chief Apostle had invited District Apostles Fehlbaum (Switzerland) and Koberstein (Germany) along.

In addition there were another 27 Apostles present from Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi—the countries that comprise the District Apostle district of District Apostle Charles Ndandula. A Bible text taken from 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17 was chosen as the basis for the divine service: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”

A new Apostle

At the end of the divine service, Apostle Jan Hendrick Welman was discharged into well-deserved retirement. He had served as a minister of the Church in Zimbabwe for over 37 years, nearly 19 of them as an Apostle. The Chief Apostle attested that he had always held his faith in high esteem and wished him a pleasant retirement in the circle of his family. He then proceeded to ordain Daniel Sayela Mulemba (45) as a new Apostle for the District Church of Zimbabwe. In the vast catchment area, languages are a great asset, and the new Apostle already speaks six: Lozi (his mother tongue), as well as English, Shona, Ndebele, Tonga, and Nyanja. Daniel Felemenga Matekenya (49), who received the Bishop ministry, will work at his side in the future.

There are approximately 12,000 New Apostolic Christians living in Zimbabwe. As a whole, the District Apostle district of Charles Ndandula—which includes the countries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi—is home to over 1.5 million members. For more information, please visit: http://www.naczam.org.zm/.

A new wafer bakery

The international Church leader had dedicated a new wafer bakery in Lusaka, Zambia on Friday morning (we reported). With a large retinue comprised of members from the surrounding congregations and the press, the Chief Apostle cut the blue ribbon at the door and officially opened the bakery for operations. Afterward he enjoyed a tour through the building, during which he was able to get a firsthand look at all the various machines. The many congregations in the District Apostle district of Charles Ndandula will be supplied from here with wafers for the celebration of Holy Communion.

Tomorrow Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber will conduct a divine service in his hometown of Hamburg (Germany).