Johannesburg/Zurich. Last Tuesday Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber appointed Apostle Patrick Mandla Mkhwanazi (47) a District Apostle Helper for the New Apostolic Church in South East Africa. One of his main tasks will be to visit the islands served from the District Church’s headquarters in Johannesburg, particularly Madagascar. In a letter to all the Apostles around the world, the international Church leader writes: “We wish the new District Apostle Helper rich blessing and much success in his work.”

His first major trip of the new year led the Chief Apostle to the region of Southern Africa. There he conducted divine services in Gaborone, Botswana and Johannesburg, South Africa. Both countries are in the care of District Apostle Johann R. Kitching. “In both places I felt a great deal of warmth and joy,” noted the Chief Apostle after his return. In the divine service in Johannesburg he appointed a District Apostle Helper in Patrick Mandla Mkhwanazi who will in future work as a support to District Apostle Kitching.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The divine service in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 25 January 2011 was based on a Bible passage taken from Matthew 25: 14-15. In reference to this text, Chief Apostle Leber mentioned, among other things, that this parable of the Lord has special significance in that it is actually talking about the talents, or gifts, of the Holy Spirit. The Chief Apostle then went on to list the various gifts, namely faith (which is also the source of our trust and courage to testify), love (from which we derive the willingness to serve the Lord and help our neighbour), knowledge (which brings us hope and causes us to wait daily for the day of the Lord), peace (which is important to preserve even under adverse circumstances), and joy. Of this last gift the Chief Apostle noted: “Let us also spread this joy to other hearts!”

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