Check Your Emails Here

NAC ZAMBIA CELEBRATES 90 YEARS WITH CHIEF APOSTLE

By Nathaniel Lowa in Livingstone

 

1928 is a significant year for New Apostolic Church Christians in Zambia because it marks the inception of the church. It was in that year that George Henwood Mkandawire, after joining the New Apostolic Church in Cape Town, brought the gospel he had encountered to Zambia.

 

The church has since grown from a few members to about 1,214,972 members with over 7,500 congregations across the country over the past 90 years.

 

For this reason, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider joined the rest of New Apostolic Church members in Zambia in celebrating its 90 years of existence.

 

Upon his arrival on the 26^th of April, 2018, the Chief Apostle, who was accompanied by District Apostle Michael Deppner of Congo and District Apostle Helper Patrick Mkhwanazi of South Africa, was received by District Apostle Charles Ndandula.

 

24 Apostles and 15 bishops from Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe equally travelled to Livingstone to be part of the celebration.

 

On the 27^th of April 2018, the Chief Apostle held a closed door meeting at 10:00 hours with all active Apostles and Bishops and while the meeting was going on, the sisters’ fellowship held indoor activities where Sister Pascale Schneider was guest of honor.

 

The Chief Apostle, after the meeting, then proceeded to visit a game park locally called “The Big 5” which hosts different types of endangered animals including Lions, Elephants, Cheetahs and Caracals. He later proceeded to the world heritage site of the Victoria Falls.

 

During his tour, the Chief Apostle emphasized the need for God’s children to appreciate God’s creation as it is a reminder of how wonderful God is.

 

The hype of activities in the tourist capital, Livingstone, officially started the following day, Saturday, 28^th April 2018 with a match past, which started at 8:30 hours at Maramba Church to Livingstone Civic Centre where the Chief Apostle and his entourage were in attendance.

 

At the Civic Centre, the Chief Apostle addressed members and encouraged them to continue growing the works of faith for many more years to come and to emulate what the pioneers of this work did.

 

The Chief Apostle could not hide his excitement towards the concert which was held at Musi O Tunya church the same day in the afternoon where he was guest of honor.

 

At the concert, he appreciated the works done by the choir and organizers but also encouraged them to continue finding joy in singing for the Lord. He also called upon the members to remain strong in faith.

 

“Let us always remember to lean upon our heavenly Father and let us be strong in words and in deeds but also to remember that Jesus is our rock,” he said.

 

The celebration of 90 years was completed with a festive divine service on Sunday, 29^th April 2018. The Chief Apostle in his sermon read from Matthews 10 Vs 6 as the text word: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”.

 

The Chief Apostle, during the service made reference to the works of those who pioneered God’s work in Zambia. “We express our gratitude to our forefathers and to all the previous generations that have worked before us. We benefit today from their work and their sacrifices and we are so thankful to God that we can be part of this work of salvation; that we too could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

He then explained why, as children of God, we need to pray in line with the text word. “We want to do the will of God as the will of God is done in Heaven. And why are we asking to have the strength to do God’s will? Because we know that God abides with those who comply with His will, and we want God to abide with us. And this we know that the only way for God to abide and be with us is to do His will,” he said.

 

In winding up the service he encouraged the members to understand the will of Jesus Christ. “The will of God is that we overcome all our differences to become one in Christ.  Blessed are those who understand the will of Jesus and do it.

 

“The will of God is that our neighbor is saved too and over this too we want His will to be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven. We do want our neighbour to be saved even if he is in prison because he is guilty, even if he is a stranger, somebody who is totally different from us,” he said.

 

The Chief Apostle, after Holy Communion, put into retirement Apostle Godwin Lubinda Nyuwa of Sesheke-Mulobezi Apostle Area who has been active for 38 years as a Minister in the church and more than seven years as an Apostle. The Chief Apostle also retired Apostle Ignatius Bisenga Luneta of Senanga-Shangombo Apostle Area, who has been active for 41 years as a Minister and more than 25 years as an Apostle.

 

Chief Apostle Schneider then ordained District Elder Peter Mukonda (Senanga-Shangombo Apostle Area) and District Elder Sabwiza Tufule (Sesheke-Mulobezi Apostle Area) as Apostles to replace the two retired Apostles.

 

The Chief Apostle also appointed Apostle Kububa Soko of Chipata as District Apostle Helper for Zambia who has been assigned 5 provinces namely, Western, North Western, Copperbelt, Eastern and Luapula provinces, respectively. The District Apostle Helper Robert Nsamba will be responsible for the other five provinces, namely Southern, Central, Lusaka, Northern and Muchinga.

 

12,604 members including 170 guests attended the service at Nakatindi, which was transmitted live throughout Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe via Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation TV1 & Radio 2.

 

The Chief Apostle and his wife Pascale left Zambia for home on 30th April 2018.