In the mid seventies, an institution for physically and mentally impaired persons at Ferndale (Randburg area) was closed down and its inhabitants were transferred to Sonop, near the town of Brits in the North West province. At the time, Priests Strydom and Liddle cared for a handful of our members who were part of this group. During the ensuing years other denominations, which also cared for their own members at the institution, gradually withdrew, with the result that the New Apostolic church enjoyed more and more prominence. This resulted in a steady increase in our membership, which amounted to 40 at the end of July 2006 - of these, 21 are inhabitants of the institution.

The words of Luke 19:9 took on special significance on 20 August 2006 for the inhabitants of “House Sonop”, when Apostle Wilson visited the congregation. During the service he sealed 27 souls (of which 24 are inhabitants of the institution, bringing the percentage of those who are New Apostolic to approximately 30%). He also ordained the former Deacon Danie Koen as Priest for the congregation, while his son, Jacques Koen was ordained as a deacon for the congregation of Brits.