NEW APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATION
Churches in Cape Town

The foundation of its teachings is the Holy Scripture. It developed from the Catholic Apostolic Church in 1863 and is led by apostles, just like the first Christian congregations. The New Apostolic Church recognises three sacraments: Holy Baptism, Holy Sealing, and Holy Communion. Baptism with water is the first and fundamental act of the triune God’s grace upon a human being who believes in Christ. Through the act of Holy Sealing, the baptised believer is filled with the Holy Spirit. This occurs through prayer and laying-on of hands of an apostle. The body and blood of Christ are imparted in the sacrament of Holy Communion. The return of Christ to take home His bride is a central component of New Apostolic doctrine. Other significant elements are missionary work and love for one’s fellow human being. The New Apostolic Church emphasises the personal accountability of its members for their actions. The individual is responsible to God for his behaviour. The gospel of Christ and the system of values inherent in the Ten Commandments provide clear orientation in this respect. Over ten million Christians around the world currently profess the New Apostolic faith. As in the first apostolic age they were to proclaim the doctrine of Jesus until his return, and to reconcile all nations with God. The apostles sent memoranda to secular and ecclesiastical authorities, explaining their calling and their task. The continuance and spread of the apostolic doctrine in all continents was ensured. Ever since the New Apostolic Church has existed as an institution, its official name dating back to After arriving in Cape Town he settled in a number of places bringing testimony of the re-established apostle ministry, without success. He then moved to East London where he found people willing to listen to his testimony. This became the first New Apostolic congregation in South Africa and was established in In 1913 the leadership of the New Apostolic Church in South Africa was entrusted to Apostle W Schlaphoff. The pioneers of the Church, through zealous work, took the faith far afield, even into the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. The life and death of District Apostle Arno Abicht as recorded in our history books. In 1923 he immigrated to Argentina with his older brother Otto. In Buenos Aires he and his brother testified under hard circumstances until a budding New Apostolic congregation was established. His natural work transferred him to the province of Misiones in the north of Argentina. With this transfer he got a commission to open a new district church in the area. He had to travel under the most difficult conditions because the areas he cared for were joined by jungle tracks and it was impossible to travel by motor car. When Chief Apostle Helper Schlaphoff was given the task to work in South America, these two men met and District Apostle Abicht was commissioned to work in Australia in assisting the ailing Apostle Dietz. His impact on the development of the New Apostolic Church in South Africa was short but decisive. His work lead to the important restructuring of the New Apostolic Church in Southern Africa into 3 district churches and District Apostles Fernandes and Kreunen were ordained to help with the other two district churches while Abicht, assisted by Apostle Gut, lead the Cape district. His mortal remains were finally laid to rest in Australia.