It was heart-warming to arrive at a packed church in Cape Town on 14 January 2018.
The congregation had gathered in a festive atmosphere for the installation of Pastor Dieter Schnackenberg as its newly called pastor. Bishop Reinstorf, who officiated, was accompanied by Eckhardt Paul from the Synodical Council. Pastor Schnackenberg preached on the text of that Sunday, 1 Corinthians 2:1-10, where the Apostle Paul states that it is not with “wise and eloquent words” that he comes to the congregation.
Pastor Schnackenberg highlighted this, not based on the fact that this will be the first English-speaking congregation that he serves (English being his third language), but to prepare the congregation for the core message, which he as a servant of the word, is called to preach, namely “alone Christ and him crucified.” For Pastor Schnackenberg, his wife Adelheid, and their three children, the relocation to Cape Town takes them into the diaspora of the FELSISA. We pray for a special measure of God’s grace upon them and a ministry that brings joy to both them and those they are called to serve.
Bishop Dr Dieter Reinstorf, Pietermaritzburg
