Their eyes said it all!

When the sacristy door of the East London, Oxford Street, congregation opened at the commencement of the divine service on Sunday 10 January 2010, the eyes of the members that had gathered for the service, said it all!

They could not believe their eyes! It was their District Apostle Noel Barnes who walked in to take up his place behind the altar. 
The congregation was expecting their District Elder to officiate at the service. A Silver wedding anniversary blessing was planned for this Sunday service. Needless to say the congregation, including the anniversary couple, Deacon Wayne Floris and his wife, Charmaine, were ecstatic at the wonderful surprise.
With the New Year barely out of its starting blocks, District Apostle Barnes had decided to pay a visit to this congregation. He arrived quietly in South Africa’s only river port city the previous day, intent on giving the members there a real surprise. And a blessed surprise it was! Faces that reflected initial disbelief, lit-up, beaming radiance and joy! It is in this joyous spirit that the congregation experienced word and sacrament. A blessed and memorable experience unfolded for the congregation.
After the divine service the District Apostle could also spend time with the matriculants who had received their examination results a few days earlier.
The news of this early surprise in the New Year spread like a wild fire in the hours after the service.
The city of East London holds special significance for the Church in South Africa. The first New Apostolic congregation on the African continent was established in this city in 1892.
From this congregation, evangelists, priests and deacons were sent to Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Johannesburg to grow the Church.