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Establishment, Leadership, and Church History

Twelve Apostolic Church of Christ was established in the year 1932 in South Africa by Elijah Sthunywa Mpofu who had derived this Gospel from three white people who seemingly were not South Africans. Those whites left South Africa for their homeland at a later stage and the evangelism was left in the hands and shoulders of Elijah Sthunywa Mpofu who then baptized a lot of converts. Owing to registration issues, this Church did not manage to register with its founding name in South Africa, instead, it was registered as “The First Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ”. The Church congregated in Alexandra in those years and all converts were baptized in the Juskei River.

Although this Church originated in South Africa, it did not woo a huge following by then in South Africa instead it caught the attention of many Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe and consequently got a bigger following there hence its headquarters was established there in Zimbabwe in 1980. It is in Zimbabwe where this Church managed to register with its founding name “Twelve Apostolic Church of Christ”. However, it was not to be again when it spread its wings to Botswana. The Church grew significantly there and it is still growing now but alas again it did not manage to use its founding name there due to
registration issues which led to it being registered as “The Followers of Jesus Christ”.

This Church has Sub-quarters in South Africa and Botswana although it now has recognized leadership and congregants in Mozambique, United Kingdom, and Dubai.

After the first leader Elijah Sthunywa had passed on in 1976, the congregants international were left under the tutelage of Joshua Gideon Paba who in turn at a later stage after moving to Botswana created a Board of trustees which comprised of twelve Bishops. The Board of Trustees plays a pivotal role as it is where the control of the Church is mainly centered. This Board formulates all the rules, regulations, and Church policies. Bishop Joshua Gideon Paba being the overseer of them all, he ordained all those Bishops that made the Board of Trustees and gave them different portfolios. After
working so hard in shaping all administrative structures of the church, Bishop Joshua Paba sadly passed on in the year 2002 and his position was inherited by Bishop Watch Ndlovu who was based in Zimbabwe.

In the early year 2000, there was an immense increase in the number of brethren in South Africa presumably due to the departure that happened in Zimbabwe where we saw a lot of people moving from Zimbabwe to South Africa, some were already baptized members while some became converts Establishment, Leadership, and Church History after arriving in South Africa. South Africa always had a resident Bishop Mr. Jameson Pamba Ndebele who was in full control of the sub-quarter in South Africa under his leadership this sub-quarter managed to buy Church property in Marlboro, Thembisa and sadly left the purchase of Meyerton church property in the pipeline when he passed on in the year 2023.

The Church in South Africa has grown and developed so well and is now left under the guidance of two resident Bishops namely, Bishop Samson Hosea Sibanda who is the only surviving leader who rubbed shoulders with founder Elijah Sthunywa Mpofu and Sipho Mathias Sibanda.On the other hand, Botswana is growing under the leadership of Bishop Obvious Male and Peter N. Ndlovu. At the same time, at Headquarters in Zimbabwe, the rest of the Bishops are based there being led by Arch Bishop Elijah Mpelampela Masuku who took over the leadership role after Bishop Watch Ndlovu passed on.

Establishment, Leadership, and Church History

The main mandate of this Church is to fulfill the task and assignment given to Christians by Jesus Christ as per Matthew 28 verse 19-20; “Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy
Spirit: Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you, even to the end of the world”.

We believe that there won’t be harmony and peace without the Word of God in this world hence this Gospel should be moved like the veld fire to reach as many people as it can within a short time. While proclaiming this wonderful gospel; Christians also must cater to the needs of the poor, orphans, and widows.

James 1 verse 27 “The religion which is holy and free from evil in the eyes of God and Father is this: to take care of children who have no fathers and of widows who are in trouble, and to keep oneself untouched by the world”.

All inhabitants of this planet should be filled with Love, for Love is God and God is Love.

Matthew 22 verse 37-39: “And he said to him, have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first rule and greatest rule. And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbor as for yourself”.

Church Administrative Structure

The Church has its Headquarters in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is here where major gatherings take place such as Annual general meetings and conferences, and the Board of Trustees converge here.

In ascending order, the church has Sub-committees, a Diaconal council, a Ministerial Council, and a Board of Trustees. The gathering of brethren is categorized and given status accordingly. In ascending order, we have Zones, Branches, Districts, Sub-quarters, and Headquarters.

  • The Headquarter comprises of all church committees such as Sub-Committees, Diaconal council, Ministerial council, and Board of trustees.
  • Sub-quarters have Sub-Committees, Diaconal council, and Ministerial council.
  • Districts have Sub-committees, Diaconal council
  • Branches only have a branch committee made up of twelve brethren
  • Zones have no committee but only one Representative who represents the zone.

The Diaconal council plays a big role in running the church by being the eyes and ears of the Ministerial council to which they report. After liaising with the Ministerial council, the diaconal council draws all weekly reports and disseminates them to all branches under its jurisdiction.

The main mandate of this Church is to fulfill the task and assignment given to Christians by Jesus Christ.