Dortmund. The New Apostolic Church of North Rhine-Westphalia will take over the administrative leadership of the New Apostolic Church in Guinea-Bissau as of 2008. District Apostle Hagen Wend (District Church of Hessen/Rhineland Palatinate/Saarland), who is currently responsible for this African country on the continent’s west coast, will transfer the care of this region to District Apostle Armin Brinkmann (we reported).

Like Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, and São Tomé e Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau is among the Portuguese-speaking countries of Africa. “Three of these countries,” writes District Apostle Brinkmann in a monthly letter to the ministers of North Rhine-Westphalia, “have been in the care of our District Church right from the start.” The country of Mozambique is now in the care of the District Church of South East Africa.

The New Apostolic Church has been established in Guinea-Bissau since 1983. The local Apostle Alfredo Angaré, Bishop Augusto da Costa, and Bishop Sanha N’Dami are responsible for the pastoral care of the country’s approximately 45,000 members. District Apostle Brinkmann goes on to inform his ministers that in January of next year, Apostle Manuel Luiz (Portugal) will travel to the country in order to visit the districts and congregations there. To conclude his letter, the District Apostle makes the following appeal to the ministers of his district: “I ask all of you to include this change and this regional transfer in your prayers.”

Country information about Guinea-Bissau on the Website of the Foreign Office