DIVINE SERVICE BY THE CHIEF APOSTLE JEAN-LUC SCHNEIDER IN MOMBASA, KENYA

On Sunday, 11th January 2026, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider conducted a Divine service in Mombasa, Kenya. The Chief Apostle was accompanied by Chief Apostle Helper Helge Sven Mutschler, District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi (DRC Southeast), and the host District Apostle Joseph Ekhuya Opemba (East Africa). All active and retired Apostles of East Africa attended the Divine service. 

4,187 attended the divine service, which was held at Wild Waters, Mombasa. The rest of the members followed the divine service in their local congregations via K24 Television, East Africa TV, and the DAA21 YouTube channel. Apostle John Ngaga DIANG’A retired after 45 years of ministry, with 8 years as an Apostle. Shepherd Collince Otieno NYABUTE was ordained to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Apostle.

The Chief Apostle used a Bible word from Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved. But he who does not believe will be condemned.”

In the sermon, Chief Apostle directed the congregation to the sixth article of the New Apostolic Church creed. “I believe that the Holy Baptism with water is the first step to a renewal of a human being in the Holy Spirit, and that the person baptized is adopted into the fellowship of those who believe in Jesus Christ and profess Him as their Lord.” He went on to elaborate that God wants to help us to enter His Kingdom, where bad things and occurrences won’t exist. To receive this future, we need to believe in Jesus in a certain way; that:-

• He is the son of God. He died as a sacrifice for our sins, He rose from the dead, He ascended to heaven, and He will return soon.

• He wants to give us eternal life 

• His gospel is that we obey God, love our neighbour, and seek eternal life over earthly things. 

• All His teachings are true, including the one that says salvation cannot be gotten by good deeds but by grace

• He wants us to become like Him in our relationships

After believing, we must take the first step towards salvation, be baptized. Baptism:-

• Washes away our original sin and leads the believer into a new relationship with God

• Lifts the obstacles that separated us from God

• Grants us the strength to battle against sin and the evil one

• Grants us God's grace, without which we cannot be saved.

• Allows the believer to receive Holy Communion and the gift of the Holy Spirit

• Integrates the believer into the Church of Christ, the fellowship of those who believe in Christ and profess Him as their Lord.

Chief Apostle explained further that being baptized, and therefore being part of the Church, does not automatically bring about our salvation. It is the first step towards salvation.

Holy Baptism with water prepares us to receive the Holy Spirit. This makes us children of God and heirs of salvation. 

• We become more like Christ in our behavior

• We put on Christ and promote unity among the members of the church of Christ by placing more importance on what we have in common.

• We become more determined to obtain eternal life

Professing faith in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for baptism. Through baptism, God grants grace to humankind and gives them access to salvation. To be saved, we must persevere in faith and keep the baptismal promise.

A combined choir and orchestra supported the sermon with moving performances. In all this, we conclude the visit of the chief Apostle with the words “Glory be to God, our father”.