The first congregation in East London: 1892

In East London, Evangelist Klibbe found many German-speaking people who willingly listened to his testimony. In the year 1892 an embryo congregation emerged to become the first New Apostolic congregation in South Africa. So that these and all subsequent members could be sealed – nominated by Apostle Niemeyer in Australia – Carl Klibbe was called to the Apostle ministry by the Apostle College in Europe in a letter dated 8 July 1893. Within a few years the congregation had grown to a figure of 70 members who, from their own means, built a modest chapel in Southernwood, a suburb of East London.

In 1901, a shoemaker by the name of Georg Heinrich Wilhelm Schlaphoff, and his family, also emigrants from Germany, visited the congregation. He was deeply impressed and before long he and his family were adopted. They were sealed by Apostle Klibbe on Pentecost 1902. In the wake of the poverty wrought by the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) raging at the time, Brother Schlaphoff's shoemaking business was reduced to ruin, plunging him into severe financial difficulties. Despite these severe times, on Christmas morning of 1902, Apostle Klibbe ordained him into the Deacon-Evangelist ministry and commisioned him to move to Cape Town, the capital city at the time, to make another attempt to establish the work of God there.

After Evangelist Schlaphoff had left East London, the congregation there declined steadily. Financial difficulties were rife. Many of the original members left the Church and before long the congregation was forced to sell the little chapel they had built with so much dedication. Apostle Klibbe had also suffered severe financial loss. As a result, he, too, was forced to leave East London. He bought a farm in iMvani, a small railway siding about 160 km from East London where, with his experience in farming, he hoped to better his financial position and also establish a congregation among the German immigrant farmers there as well as at the nearby town of Queenstown. Regardless of these difficult circumstances, Apostle Klibbe had laid the foundation for future growth and the Lord was to bless the Work in the years to come and give a guiding hand in the times of crisis that lay ahead.

Cape Town: 1903
When Wilhelm Schlaphoff arrived in Cape Town in January 1903, his initial battle was to merely survive and provide for the bare necessities of his family. He nevertheless testified to all he could. The first family to attend a service, which he held regularly in his house in Woodstock, appeared interested and then promptly left. He continued to serve only his own family. One day there was a knock on his door. A stranger, having disembarked from the goods ship, Gaus, a steamer which had just returned form a South Pole expedition, stood on the threshold. He introduced himself as Mr. Reimers: “In Germany,” he said, “I attended a divine service held by Apostle Woodhouse in Hamburg. Ever since I have sought to find out more about this teaching. Now I hear that you also teach that there are Apostles on earth again. Please tell me more.” “Do come in,” replied the Evangelist. A long conversation ensued after which the stranger resolved to remain in Cape Town, paying considerable dues to effect his release from his duties on the steamer. He became the first member to join the nucleus congregation in Cape Town.

After this, several German families were testified to, and eventually, on 10 April 1904, eight souls – the first in Cape Town – were sealed by Apostle Klibbe who travelled from his farm at iMvani. The sealing service took place in the home of Evangelist Schlaphoff at 41 Argyle Street, Woodstock.

A Mr. Gaugusch, a German-Austrian immigrant – who was later to carry the Bishop ministry – was also drawn to the Work of God. In the year 1905, he and Evangelist Schlaphoff, who worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company at the time, resolved to open a tobacco shop in Long Street, Cape Town. This gave them the opportunity to bring testimony to their customers who came for tobacco. One of these was Mr. Hinrichsen, the later father-in-law of District Apostle Albert Budden. This family was the next to be adopted in Cape Town.

First Church Dedicated in Cape Town: 4 June 1906 The divine services held in the lounge of Evangelist Schlaphoff were soon so well attended that space became a problem. A hall in Station Road, Claremont, was hired to become the second home for the congregation. Later a plot of ground in Palmyra Road, Claremont, was purchased. Here the first church was built and was dedicated by Apostle Klibbe on Pentecost, 4 June 1906. Coupled with the fact that services were almost entirely held in German, the presence of the German Consul on this highly festive occasion caused the local residents, many of whom were also present, to call it the German Apostolic Church.

Further Developments: 1904 - 1908
Cape Town also saw the adoption and sealing of the two brothers Christian and Jacobus Kreunen, who were later to become instrumental in the development of the Lord's Work in South Africa. They initially immigrated to South Africa from Holland in 1904, and were sealed at the beginning of 1907. The older brother, Christian, because of his command of Dutch, was soon ordained a Priest to assist Evangelist Schlaphoff in propagating the Work among the Dutch-speaking residents in Cape Town.

Besides Cape Town, Apostle Klibbe also sent servants to Port Elizabeth, Durban and Johannesburg. As soon as the congregation in Port Elizabeth flourished servants emerged whom he could send to Grahamstown, King William's Town, Berlin and other towns in the Eastern Cape. This included the sending of Brother Malachi, a black man, to New Brighton to work among his people there. In 1904 Apostle Klibbe also sent a Brother Tobin to Kimberley.

Apostle Klibbe himself encountered difficulties, however, in that most of the people in the region of iMvani spoke Dutch, or the new offshoot of this language called Cape Dutch, the forerunner of Afrikaans. For this reason Apostle Klibbe requested Evangelist Schlaphoff to send Priest Christian Kreunen, who spoke Dutch, to assist him. So, in 1907 Priest C. Kreunen and his family moved to Queenstown where, without further formality, he began to testify. Few in Queenstown showed interest, but he was able to establish a congregation at iMvani. Christian was later joined by his younger brother, Jacobus, and Sunday after Sunday they travelled from Queenstown to iMvani for services there.

The First Visit to Chief Apostle Niehaus: 1908 In those early days, when Apostle Niemeyer – then an Evangelist – and others had been sent from Europe to found the Work in faraway countries, the Chief Apostle ministry as such had not yet emerged. Apostle Schwartz, in Holland, was the first to steer towards a closer unity among the Apostles, each of whom was independently active in his own territory following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In his publication, 'The Herald', he drew information from the various Apostles and distributed this among them all as well as among God's people for all to see how wonderfully the Lord was developing His Work and revealing Himself in similar ways all over the world. When Apostle Schwartz died in 1895 the Apostles in Europe looked to Apostle Krebs for similar guidance. On Pentecost 1897 he received the high calling to lead God's Work on earth. This date can be considered the official birth date of the Chief Apostle ministry.

Until the calling of the Chief Apostle ministry, Apostle Klibbe had looked to Apostle Niemeyer, the one who had sent him to South Africa, for guidance. In 1906, following the example of all the Apostles all over the world, Apostle Niemeyer journeyed to Europe to visit Chief Apostle Niehaus. He urged Apostle Klibbe to do the same. Apostle Klibbe held a farewell service on his farm in iMvani in 1908 and set out on his journey to the Chief Apostle. In Cape Town, the Brethren accompanied the Apostle to the quay where they bade him farewell. Months went by before he arrived back at the same quay. Amid much jubilation Apostle Klibbe related many wonderful things. It was a very happy time.

A Bitter Struggle – Collapse at iMvani
On his arrival back at iMvani, Apostle Klibbe found devastating natural circumstances on his farm. He realised then that the South African farm could not be managed the same as an Australian farm. Crops had failed and deaths of livestock had accumulated to a dangerous level. There was no alternative but to sell the farm. He was left penniless. Priest Kreunen offered him and his family accommodation in his home in Queenstown which the Apostle accepted.

Soon financial stress was also felt in Queenstown. Motivated by this as well as the still fervent desire to spread the Lord's Work, Apostle Klibbe asked the younger brother, Jacobus Kreunen, to move to Indwe, about 100 km away. Here only one family was initially drawn to his testimony: the family Jordaan. But it was here that Brother Jacobus Kreunen found his future wife, and he married Johanna Jordaan in 1910. They had all but settled when Apostle Klibbe felt the urge to move to Johannesburg where he heard the testifying work was making headway.

Johannesburg: 1910
Apostle Klibbe asked Priest Christian Kreunen to accompany him to Johannesburg because, not only was he familiar with the Dutch language, but with the city of Johannesburg as well. Upon their arrival Apostle Klibbe again resided with Priest C. Kreunen in their new home in Jeppe, a suburb of Johannesburg. Apostle Klibbe held services there for the two families and the few souls that had been testified to. Soon a vacant shop was rented wherein probably the first sealing service in Johannesburg took place.

At the time there were approximately 200 000 inhabitants in Johannesburg. Priest Kreunen, who understood the language began to work among these souls and soon another congregation was founded in the suburb of La Rochelle, where they were accommodated in an old bakery.

Pretoria: 1911
As soon as he arrived in Johannesburg, Apostle Klibbe also called young Brother J. R. Kreunen, who had recently married, to leave his home in Indwe to take up residence in Pretoria, about 60 km north of Johannesburg. This he did in 1911. Young and inexperienced, Brother J. R. Kreunen had yet much to learn. All his efforts appeared to be in vain. People were not interested in his testimony nor in this 'new religion'. A full year went by before any results were seen. Meanwhile, he had been ordained as a Sub-Deacon and then as a Deacon. Three families were to be adopted in 1912 and it was not long before a fair-sized congregation had been gathered. Deacon Kreunen was ordained into the Priest ministry to care for this little flock as their Rector. At first this congregation was accommodated in a small wood and iron building. They soon outgrew this and were re-housed in a larger hall in Schoeman Street.

Crisis and Consolidation: 1912 – 1928
Division: Apostle Klibbe – Apostle Schlaphoff
In 1912 the Church in South Africa saw the beginning of a time of crisis when Apostle Klibbe suddenly drew away from Chief Apostle Niehaus. The exact reason for his decision remains obscure. We do know, however, that by this time Apostle Niemeyer in Australia had also withdrawn from the Chief Apostle and the teaching of the New Apostolic Church in Germany. We read in an Australian newspaper report about the Apostolic Church in that country, that Apostle Niemeyer had appointed his son as Bishop and Apostle in 1912 – a decision not ratified by the Chief Apostle – and that both father and son had then journeyed to Germany and South Africa. It could well be that during this visit they strongly and adversely influenced Apostle Klibbe.

The prelude to the sad division between Apostle Klibbe and Evangelist Schlaphoff began in Cape Town. In 1910 during a divine service in Claremont, Apostle Klibbe ordained him into the Bishop ministry. Later, in 1912 or earlier, he rescinded this ordination to a District Elder ministry. This caused much consternation and confusion among the brethren there. Wilhelm Schlaphoff in the interest of clarity and peace for the congregation, communicated to the Chief Apostle Niehaus by letter. Apostle Klibbe also wrote to him. Months went by. Then the Chief Apostle invited Wilhelm Schlaphoff to travel to Germany to clear up the matter. In the meantime Apostle Klibbe made his position clear. He returned all mail received from the Chief Apostle unopened. Through this he clearly indicated his severance from the Chief Apostle and the Apostle Unity. While he was in Germany, Wilhelm Schlaphoff received the Apostle ministry from Chief Apostle Niehaus on 21 September 1913.

A measure of stability was restored to the congregations in Cape Town. For much of the country, however, it heralded a period of confusion and unrest, for from that moment on, for the next 13 years, there appeared to be two 'New Apostolic Churches': one led by Apostle W. Schlaphoff and the other by Carl Klibbe, who ignored the fact that he had been removed from office in 1913.

Johannesburg and Pretoria: 1913
When news that Wilhelm Schlaphoff had been ordained into the Apostle ministry reached Johannesburg, it at first caused very little stir. Unrest crept into the hearts of the children of God when they noticed that Apostle Klibbe no longer travelled to Cape Town nor ever mentioned the name of Wilhelm Schlaphoff any more. They were also alarmed when it was rumoured that Apostle Klibbe had left the Apostle Unity. Priest Jacobus Kreunen of Pretoria, was in a similar manner deeply troubled when he heard that Apostle Klibbe had sent Chief Apostle Niehaus' mail back, unanswered. This was made worse when his brother, Christian, also broke ties with Apostle Klibbe. Jacobus Kreunen then travelled to Johannesburg for the usual month-end service held by Apostle Klibbe, but also with the aim to investigate the matter.

After the service he asked the Apostle: “Are we still in unity with the Chief Apostle?” The Apostle's reply was vague and incoherent, ending in an outburst of anger. Priest Kreunen, now convinced that Apostle Klibbe had indeed severed all unity with the Chief Apostle, announced: “Because this matter concerns my salvation, from now on I am no longer a member of this congregation.” Priest J. Kreunen then wrote to Apostle Schlaphoff: “ … are you really an Apostle? If so, please come and help us.” He received a telegram: “I'm coming. Meet me at Jeppe Station!”

It was a difficult time for the Church, but the following incident is representative of many experiences made at that time by the children of God who sought strength and guidance:

Brother Jordaan, Priest Kreunen's father-in-law, had an unusual dream. He saw two men, each of whom had a container in their hand. He recognised only one. That was Apostle Klibbe. His container held water. The other was a stranger whose container held fire. That was all he dreamt. When the train arrived at Jeppe station he was the first to cry out, “There is the man I saw in my dream.” It was Apostle W. Schlaphoff whom only Priest Kreunen was able to identify. This greatly strengthened Brother Jordaan and many others to accept the new leadership.

The congregation in Pretoria remained loyal to Priest Kreunen. In Johannesburg, however, the two large congregations in Jeppe and Benoni remained with the former Apostle Klibbe. Only the handful in La Rochelle left him to follow Priest Kreunen.

The First World War: 1914-1918
Then came the next shock: World War I was declared in 1914, at which date Apostle Schlaphoff was, as a German subject, interned and forced to leave his home in Cape Town. What seemed like a disaster proved to be a blessing. At first he was imprisoned in Pietermaritzburg for one and a half years where the brethren there were able to visit him in his concentration camp. In 1916 he was transferred to Kimberley, where in 1913 Priest Tobin had followed Apostle Klibbe refusing to accept the new leadership. Sub-Deacon Bell, whom Apostle Klibbe had transferred there in 1911, and Brother Sandilands, later the Rector of this congregation, remained loyal. Apostle Schlaphoff was eventually allowed to live with Priest Sandilands and conduct services at his home.

A full year went by. Then, in 1917, after renewed petitions, Apostle Schlaphoff was allowed free travel to Pretoria. He stayed in a boarding house in Vermeulen Street from where he could freely move to hold services and strengthen God's children. This proved to be a time of consolidation for the Church, but in 1918 God's people also had to cope with a great influenza epidemic that swept through the country. Many lives were taken by this scourge.

Further Developments: 1918-1928
At the end of the war in 1918, Apostle Schlaphoff returned to his home in Cape Town. From there he set about the task of strengthening the faith of the Lord's own in all congregations. On 30 October 1921 he ordained his son, Heinrich Franz Schlaphoff, into the Community Evangelist ministry to care for the congregations in Cape Town while he travelled thoughout the country. In the Transvaal he ordained both Kreunen brothers into the Community Elder ministry to care for the congregations in Pretoria and Johannesburg. Priest Edward Bell was also sent from Kimberley to Port Elizabeth in 1922, and on his arrival, found only 30 members that remained after the 1913 breakaway. They attended services in a small hall in Korsten.

In the meantime, Carl Klibbe, having refused to acknowledge his removal from office in 1913, continued his independent activities under the name, New Apostolic Church. This brought confusion and bitter conflict that could only finally be settled in a court hearing on 26 December 1926. Here it was ruled that Carl Georg Klibbe had vastly deviated in his teaching from that of the New Apostolic Church in Germany and that he was in future to carry on his activities under the name of 'The Old Apostolic Church of Africa'. This was officially registered in June 1927. Today, the Old Apostolic Church is not affiliated in any way to the worldwide activities of the New Apostolic Church. (On 8 may 1981, following a discussion in his office with one of the relatives of former Apostle Klibbe, Chief Apostle Urwyler made an official entry recording their meeting in the archives alongside the photograph of Apostle Klibbe. “This will do his soul good in the eternity,” said the Chief Apostle. “We shall pray for him just as I have prayed for the first Apostles of the end-time in England.”)

In 1928 Apostle Schlaphoff again set out on a journey to visit all congregations. Upon his arrival in Johannesburg he suddenly became ill. He passed away peacefully in the arms of his wife in the home of Bishop Indan in Johannesburg, on 16 August 1928. Apostle Wilhelm Schlaphoff had exhausted all his energy and strength in his dedicated and untiring efforts to successfully preserve and consolidate the faith of God's people through these extremely difficult years of crisis. His body was brought to Cape Town where, on 26 August 1928, he was buried in Woltemade Cemetery. All the members throughout South Africa, comprising over 7000 souls from 39 congregations, personified the tribute read at his funeral: “Seek ye his monument, you will find it by us, who learned to know and to love him!”

Part 2: 1928 - 1970