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Part 1: 1889 - 1928
Part 2: 1928 - 1970
Part 3: 1970 - 2002

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HISTORY

PART 3
The Lord's Work Introduced to Mozambique: 1970
The Work of God was introduced to this part of Africa when Priest Benjamin Diedericks moved with his family to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in December 1970. Eager to spread the Lord's Work, he was standing one day next to his car inviting people to a service. He could hardly manage, since he could not really speak Portuguese. With God's helping hand, a certain Paulo Senda Cumbana with his Bible under his arm walked by, and offered to translate for him. This was the beginning of a rich harvest in Mozambique, as Paulo, amongst others, accepted Priest Diedericks' testimony, and together they were energetic testifiers. Their activity also extended to the Gaza province to the north.

Services were conducted in the bush and Priest Diedericks and Paulo Cumbana's Landrover served as a vestry. Congregations could be established and their labour bore much fruit. This was evident when on 6 November 1972, the first ministers were ordained for Mozambique. This included four Priests - Paulo Senda Cumbana being one of them – one Deacon and ten Sub-Deacons. The Lord's Work was stifled for a period though, as civil war loomed in the country. Because of the political unrest, Priest Diedericks had to return to South Africa in the early part of 1974. For five years, District Apostle Kitching could also not enter the country, and Priest Cumbana and his helpers had to care for God's children on their own.

Finally, in October 1980, District Apostle Kitching could return to Mozambique, at which time Priest Cumbana was ordained as a Shepherd. A significant development occurred the next year when Chief Apostle Urwyler invited him to Switzerland. During a youth service in Berne, on 27 September 1981, he was ordained as the first Apostle for Mozambique. It was therefore unfortunate when only seven months later, Apostle Cumbana was tragically killed in a car accident. The Lord's Work continued, however, when during a visit of Chief Apostle Urwyler, Mucuchela Chaincomo was ordained as Apostle in Silvertown congregation in Cape Town, on 1 January 1983.

Development: 1971-1988 Unexpectedly, during a flight in South West Africa (now Namibia), District Apostle Budden suddenly suffered a heart attack and passed away on 15 April 1971. District Apostle Gut of the Cape was commissioned to care for the Pretoria District in the meantime. It was eventually in 1972 that Apostle J.R. Kitching relocated to the Transvaal from Cape Town, and on 13 October 1974 was ordained as District Apostle for the Pretoria District.

For the Pretoria District, the period of 1975-1988 brought about unprecedented growth. The membership doubled and more than 100 new congregations were established. District Apostle Kitching initiated a building division within the administration and 30 new church buildings were added during his term of office that lasted thirteen years. It was also at this time that missionary work in Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland made progress.

The current Chief Apostles also blessed the Pretoria District with several visits. Chief Apostle Streckeisen conducted divine services in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth in 1978. This also proved to be Chief Apostle Streckeisen's last overseas trip, as he passed away in Cape Town on 8 November.

During the visit of the new Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler, Bishop W. Clingen was ordained an Apostle for the Eastern Cape on 24 August 1980, as a successor for Apostle J.R. Bell, who was eventually retired at Arcadia on 24 January 1982, after serving for 28 years as an Apostle. Chief Apostle Urwyler also conducted services later in Kimberley (1982) and Durban (1985). Due to necessity, a new administration office with more modern facilities was constructed in Bedfordview (Johannesburg), which Chief Apostle Urwyler dedicated on 22 October 1985.

To assist District Apostle Kitching in his growing task, the Apostles active in the Pretoria District in 1985 were M. Chaincomo (Mozambique), W.D. Clingen and W.N. Jonas (Eastern Cape), W.L.J. de Smedt, P.B. Shongwe and J.C. Slabbert.

In South Africa, the political landscape was also changing at the time, and the District Apostle Kitching found it difficult to minister to our black members in their own churches. Political violence was rife, especially in the black townships, and for example, Apostle Clingen had to transport our black members of the Eastern Cape by bus into his working area, where they could attend a service of the District Apostle. Despite the political circumstances, many congregations over the years could be established in the black suburban areas of Mamelodi, Atteridgeville and Ga-Rankuwa respectively. It was also in 1986 that a black congregation was started in the white suburb of Bez-Valley. Racial segregation and political violence, however, still posed a stark reality in South Africa as a whole, and it remained the framework within which the Church had to operate for some years to come.

Northern Mozambique: 1987
Despite the initial progress made, the political situation continued to stifle growth of the Lord's Work in Mozambique. Landmines were located everywhere, and travelling outside the capital of Maputo was life threatening as civil war continued to rage the country. Transport was also difficult to come by, but with our Heavenly Father's guiding hand, the time came when the Work began to spread to the northern provinces of Mozambique.

In late 1987, the then Bishop Moises Suto invited a Miss Maria de Graça Germano to attend a divine service in Maputo. She came, and brought along her mother who was on a visit from Mocuba, located in the Zambézia province to the north of the country. After the divine service, Mrs Germano was asked if she would like to receive the same teaching in her home town. She was interested, and Bishop Suto gave her a copy of the "Our Family" magazine to take back to Mocuba.

After reading our church magazine, Mr. and Mrs. Germano invited two ministers from their church, namely Paulo Tesoura and Baptista Mobriga, to come and discuss this new doctrine with them. These men were touched by what they read, and they immediately wrote a letter to the Administration Office in Maputo, requesting ministers of the New Apostolic Church to come and visit them in Mocuba.

Early in 1988, Apostle Chaincomo sent Bishop Suto and Brother Wilson Chaincomo to Mocuba in fulfilment of their request. They had to travel by plane because it was in the middle of the civil war, but even then, the journey was fraught with danger. They stayed for two weeks in the Germano household, conducting services, teaching and giving testimony. At the end of their stay, some souls received the baptism with water.

One month after their return from Mocuba, the Apostle Chaincomo himself, accompanied by Bishop Suto and Brother Wilson Chaincomo went to Mocuba. A number of souls were sealed with the Holy Spirit, and Paulo Tesoura and Baptista Mobriga were ordained into the Priest ministry. Now the Work had finally been established in the northern provinces of Mozambique, and Mocuba was to prove as the nucleus of major expansion in the area.

The Modern Era: 1988 to Present
Due to health reasons, District Apostle Kitching was placed in retirement, and his son, also Johann Rissik Kitching, was ordained as District Apostle by Chief Apostle Fehr at the Rembrandt Hall on 2 October 1988. During his term the administrative structures were upgraded and computerisation proved to be a great benefit with many new systems being introduced, therefore resulting in better control.

Public awareness campaigns were also introduced, teaching seminars launched, as well as welfare programs for the poor in which our members contributed. The period of 1988-1999 further saw the construction of 73 new church buildings with modern designs that could be added to the District.

Mozambique: 1988

Since District Apostle Kitching took over responsibility for the South East African Apostle area in 1988, he has visited Mocuba (Zambézia province) and surrounding areas on many occasions. The work was also assisted by a group of 145 young Mozambicans who became acquainted with the New Apostolic Church in the then Communist East Germany who returned to Mozambique in 1989. They proved to be pillars in their local congregations, and two of these men contributed much in bringing the Lord's Work to the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado.

After Apostle Chaincomo's retirement, the area became the responsibility of Apostle Acacio Munguambe, who was ordained as Apostle on 9 September 1990. Bishop Moises Suto was ordained as Apostle on 6 July 1993, and in August 1995, was transferred to Mocuba to assist in the developing Work. As a Bishop, Apostle Suto initially relocated to Beira (in Sofala province) in 1991 to establish congregations there.

For the constantly growing number of God's children, more and more ministers had to be ordained, in particular, priestly ministries were needed to conduct divine services in all congregations. For example, on 4 August 1996 alone, District Apostle Kitching, during a divine service in Mocuba, placed 66 brothers into the Priest ministry. In February and March 1999, the Apostles Moises Suto and Craig Barnes (from South Africa), on their visits to various congregations in and around Mocuba, ordained 189 Priests, 172 Deacons and 142 Sub-Deacons. In order to strengthen the district leadership, the District Apostle Kitching, during a festive divine service on 24 April 1999, ordained 25 District evangelists, 32 Shepherds and 4 Community Evangelists.

To assist in their identity as New Apostolic Christians, District Apostle Kitching distributed small plastic plates with the emblem and the words “New Apostolic” written underneath. These plates are fixed on or next to the entrance of the member's huts. Iron-on emblems have also been distributed, which the members use to put on their blouses and shirts, and colourful badges have been given to the children.

An Administrative Office, responsible for Northern Mozambique, was recently built next to our church in Mocuba. This church building was the first erected in Mocuba and was dedicated in 1994. Since then, various other church building projects have been launched in the area as well. From Mocuba, missionary work had also spread to the provinces of Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. To assist the existing Apostles over this large area, Bonifacio Semba was ordained as an Apostle on 24 September 2000, during a service Chief Apostle Fehr conducted in Lilongwe, Malawi.

In April 2002, there were 625 congregations with more than 55 000 members in the region of Mocuba. Today the Mocuba area comprises 65 districts, spreading over the provinces of Zambezia, Nampula, Niassa and Cabo Delgado. Currently the emphasis is on consolidation, as to insure the necessary infrastructure is in place to lay a good platform for future growth.

Re-organisation of District – South East Africa: 1994
After the death of District Apostle Anthony Fernandes, the current South East Africa Apostle District was formed on 13 December 1994. This included the incorporation of the countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe, while the Eastern Cape was handed over to the Cape Apostle District. Therefore the District came to incorporate the north-eastern provinces of South Africa, and the countries of Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana.  (On Sunday 29 April 2007, however, District Apostle Kitching officially handed Zimbabwe over to District Apostle Ndandula to form part of the Zambia District Church.)

Chief Apostle Fehr also conducted several visits to the District during District Apostle Kitching's term of office. This included a service in the Standard Bank Arena on 2 February 1992. On 6 July 1993, the Chief Apostle conducted a service in Maputo (Mozambique), and on 7 July, dedicated the Church in Hillbrow. In November 1995, a District Apostles' Meeting was convened in South East Africa, whereafter the Chief Apostle continued to Botswana where he conducted a service in Gaborone. Later he conducted services in Pretoria (17 December 1996) and in Harare, Zimbabwe (23 September 1997), and the service for the departed on 1 November 1998, in Dinwiddie.

In the latter half of 1999, a number of satellite dishes were installed in several strategic church buildings. Used for audio-visual transmission services, this technology was also installed to facilitate video communication to assist in the training of ministers, Sunday School teachers, Confirmation and Religious Instruction, and Youth Leaders.

As HIV/AIDS became an increasing problem in sub-Saharan Africa, meetings have been held in September 2001 and on 30 January 2003, to see how the Church could formulate an action plan and implement the awareness campaign to assist in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Sixteen delegates from various African countries representing all the District Churches in Africa attended. HIV/AIDS will prove to be a real concern for the Church in the years to come, as current generations have already been severely affected.

International Apostle's Meeting: 2002
The South East Africa District experienced tremendous blessing, however, when the fifth International Apostles' Meeting was conducted in Johannesburg from 16 to 19 May 2002. Over 300 Apostles attended, and a Choral Concert at Standard Bank Arena was held to celebrate this special event as well. The Pentecost transmission service in the Sandton Convention Centre crowned the occasion, in which over 1.1 million brothers and sisters participated in Southern Africa, Europe, North America and Argentina. At this service, several Apostles were ordained for the African continent. This included one Apostle for South Africa, Patrick Mkhwanazi, and three Apostles for Mozambique, Ernesto Atucumana, Agostinho Dzimba and Manuel Naquitxe.

As at 31 December 2003, the South East Africa Apostle District comprised of some 240 000 members and 1 837 congregations. District Apostle Kitching was at that time assisted by 15 Apostles in his working area.