Zurich. The 25-year anniversary of the New Apostolic Church in Angola – Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber would not be deterred from conducting a festive divine service on Sunday, 30 November 2008 in the country’s capital of Luanda. His message to the congregation of approximately 10,000 was: “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1: 5). Afterward, the Chief Apostle’s journey took him onward to Zambia.

It was his last big trip for the year 2008. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, ordained four new Apostles and nine Bishops during the service in Luanda. From now on, Pedro Benga Luyindula (43), Capote Marcos Misselo (38), Fernando Muliata (57), and Zé Nsusu Pembele (51) will work in Angola as Apostles, travelling through the nation regularly. This country, which is three times the size of Germany, is home to approximately 200,000 Church members.

While in Luanda, the Church leader also conducted a divine service for ministers, along with a youth service, to mark the special anniversary. The young people who attended the youth service were given a special message from 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Following the youth service, the Chief Apostle travelled on to Zambia. He began his visit there by conducting another youth service, this time in Livingstone. The Sunday divine service was attended by over 700,000 souls, a large number even for Zambia. The country is, after all, home to over 1.3 million members, and the Church has been established there for 80 years. In this divine service the Chief Apostle ordained two Bishops for the District Church of Zambia, and another two Bishops for the Cape District (South Africa).

You can learn more about the work of the New Apostolic Church in Angola on the website of the NAC North Rhine-Westphalia. The New Apostolic Church Zambia has its own website.