Johannesburg/Zurich. The days he spent in the District Church of South East Africa were blessed and historical! Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international Church leader, had come in order to retire District Apostle Johann R. Kitching, who had served in ministry for a very long span of time. The latter had been at the helm of the large New Apostolic District Church for over 20 years.

The visit of the Church leader began on Wednesday, 25 January with a divine service in Kimberley which was conducted in the city’s international community centre. Given the fact that they would be enjoying their first divine service with a Chief Apostle in 30 years, the joy of the congregation was correspondingly great. The divine service, which was attended by over 3,500 believers, was based on the statement of the Son of God recorded in Luke 21: 28: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Choral concert in Johannesburg

Johannesburg was the next stop on the Chief Apostle’s trip. On Saturday evening the choir and orchestra performed a festive concert in the Standard Bank Arena, which also featured a number of video clips commemorating various phases in the life and ministerial activity of the retiring District Apostle Kitching.

Divine service in Johannesburg

The divine service on Sunday morning was, without a doubt, the high point of the trip. The Standard Bank Arena in the heart of the large metropolis was occupied to capacity with a total of 5,300 in attendance. Many thousands more were connected by satellite. Chief Apostle Leber used a passage from Matthew 10: 39 as the basis for his sermon: “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

The divine service was an historic affair on account of the retirement of District Apostle Johann R. Kitching. For over 23 years he had been responsible for the work in this blessed District Church. Chief Apostle Leber described him as an example of upright faith. At the same time, District Apostle Helper Patrick Mkhwanazi was ordained as the new District Apostle for the region. Together with him, Abraham Page was ordained an Apostle and Keith Wentzel was ordained a Bishop.

» Read our report on our website of the New Apostolic Church South East Africa