apostles.today

The congregation as a living epistle of Christ

The Apostle ministry holds special status In New Apostolic doctrine. Apostolic thinking really only began to take hold on 14 July 1835, when the number of twelve Apostles was complete in the ranks of the Catholic Apostolic Church. And it has endured to this day. This must be evident in congregational life.

July 14, 2018

apostolate confessions

+5

• congregation
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Audio-visual transmission to a tree trunk

Divine services can be held in a church or in the open air. But that a service is transmitted to a congregation that worships under a tree does not happen very often.

July 13, 2018

Africa

+8

• Baptism 
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Event
• sacraments
• Youth

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Six gifts of God’s undeserved grace

One sentence from the New Testament defined the divine service on 10 June 2018 in Luanda (Angola). It was powerful, and so was the Chief Apostle’s sermon. Here are the most relevant extracts.

July 11, 2018

acts of blessing

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• divine service
• doctrine 

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Spotlight 12/2018: Living our faith more consciously

Let us live our faith and preach what we practise, District Apostle Andrew H. Andersen from Australia says. He advocates that we become more conscious of our faith.

July 10, 2018

annual motto

+4

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• doctrine 

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2018)

In the first six months of 2018, nine Apostles were ordained by Chief Apostle Schneider. He also assigned a District Apostle Helper and appointed a District Apostle. Seven Apostles were retired.

July 9, 2018

Africa

+13

• apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• investiture
• ministry
• retirement

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German-Angolan teamwork

“Move closer! No, not with the camera. Zoom in,” Tim Schaefer-Rolffs prompts the cameraman with the black vest. But by then he had already started to make his way to the altar and was now standing directly in front of it.

July 7, 2018

Africa Chief Apostle

+9

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Good Friday
• ministry
• retirement
• Youth

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A Deacon plays the role of a District Elder

Resolving conflicts and working together constructively … Ministers in Ghana recently came together for a capacity building workshop. And that can mean that they slip into a role other than theirs.

July 6, 2018

Africa

+8

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Event
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Three virtues that lead to salvation

We can argue and debate about many things, but there are three things that are and remain existential. Here is an excerpt from a sermon on familiar but crucial virtues.

July 5, 2018

Chief Apostle

+4

• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• sacraments

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Mongolia is still an adventure

What do you think of when you hear “Mongolia”. Yaks, the Gobi Desert, Genghis Khan? Mongolia has more to offer, much more: the people are extremely friendly and hospitable, and there is a lot of creativity.

July 4, 2018

Asia

+5

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• history 
• Music

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Election by grace, why?

Nobody knows. But this is the wrong question. The question should be: elected by grace, what for? Explanations on a central term of our New Apostolic self-conception.

July 3, 2018

apostolate

+2

• Chief Apostle
• doctrine 

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Beyond the interview: the network of basic principles

A three-part interview—and that is only a beginning. Because the Chief Apostle has a lot more to say. How all this fits together and what is behind it: here is a review.

June 30, 2018

Chief Apostle

+8

• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• society

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Thank you for what I am, what I can do, and what I have

Saying thank you is a noble quality. We express our gratitude for an unexpected gift, for good health, for someone’s help, or for a welcome memory. “There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart,” Celia Thaxter wrote.

June 29, 2018

apostolate

+6

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Big and small Youth Days

Youth gatherings everywhere … In this week’s review, we will focus on some of these events and see just how rich and varied our faith is.

June 28, 2018

congregation

+4

• District Apostle
• divine service
• Event
• Youth

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“Your will be done!”

These well-known words from the Lord’s Prayer were the basis of the Chief Apostle’s service in Livingstone (Zambia) on 29 April 2018. The members there were celebrating the 90th anniversary of the New Apostolic Church Zambia.

June 27, 2018

apostolate

+5

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• sacraments

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Spotlight 11/2018: Keeping our promises

Sometimes it is hard to keep our promises. This applies to both public promises as well as to those we make in the privacy of our room. “I want to strive to keep my promises,” District Apostle Rainer Storck from Germany says.

June 26, 2018

acts of blessing

+9

• annual motto
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry

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Contributing to a collective solution

The challenges are clear, the objectives are defined. What are the means needed to achieve these? And what are the differences between today and the past? The last part of the interview with the Chief Apostle gives an overview of how the Church is setting itself up for the future.

June 23, 2018

Africa

+10

• America
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Europe
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation

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When Michael Kraus prayed …

“Switch the machines off, we are going to pray!” the loudspeakers crackled across the company premises. The boss was in and that meant everyone would come together to pray.

June 22, 2018

Australia / Pacific Chief Apostle

+6

• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• ministry
• Profile
• retirement

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For the love of life and the joy of faith

It is a year of united Youth Days. There was a double premiere this past weekend in Germany. The start, however, was made in South Africa at the beginning of the year. Join us as we look at three events celebrating the love of life and the joy of faith.

June 21, 2018

Africa

+9

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Easter
• Event
• Music
• Organisation
• Youth

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Twelve petitions that God hears

Five petitions more than in the Lord’s Prayer and a promise that God will hear these petitions … Chief Apostle Schneider talks about day-to-day, worthwhile wishes of the believers.

June 20, 2018

Chief Apostle

+6

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• sacraments

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Cuba, an incredible country

He is the face of the New Apostolic Church in Cuba, the largest Caribbean island. He is a journalist with an alert mind and a big heart: Bishop Alex Michel Reyes Martinez is good for the Church. Learn a little more about him.

June 19, 2018

Africa

+9

• America
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation

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A faith that is practised in cultural diversity

There is no universal cure. The challenges that the global Church faces in the various regions are just too different. Part two of the interview with the Chief Apostle offers an approach: focus on the essentials. And what are these?

June 16, 2018

Africa

+10

• America
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Local news
• Social commitment
• society
• Youth

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Successful drill: central church evacuated

Dialogue with other religions, making children familiar with the Bible, and practising evacuation procedures. Congregational life is not only about divine services and music. Here is a look at three continents.

June 15, 2018

Africa America

+6

• confessions
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Stages on the way to heaven

To die, serve, and love: this is a simplified description of the path that leads to eternal glory. There is a role model we can follow, someone who has walked this path before. Here is a step-by-step guide from a divine service by the Chief Apostle.

June 13, 2018

Ascension Day

+3

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service

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When love triumphs over differences

Outlook, review, insight: about one hundred days after the leadership change in the New Apostolic Church in the western part of Germany, the two District Apostles speak about cultural diversity, church mergers, and their private plans.

June 11, 2018

Africa

+10

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• retirement
• Youth

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Making people Christians, not members of the Church

Christ comes before the Church, the gospel before rules, and salvation of the soul before tradition: already the first part of the interview with the Chief Apostle gives clear direction. It deals with questions relating to our self-image.

June 9, 2018

apostolate

+6

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Local news
• sacraments

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Preparing the ground for God’s word

Taking more out of a divine service is a lesson we learn from a biblical divine service: the encounter of the Emmaus disciples with the risen Jesus. What can believers learn from this today? Here is a divine service about a divine service.

June 6, 2018

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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don't miss

“A decision with long-term goals in mind”

The New Apostolic Church in Angola is growing. It was time to take another step. Since last Sunday, the country has its own District Apostle Helper: João Uanuque Misselo.

February 25, 2015

Chief Apostle District Apostle

+6

• apostolate
• doctrine 
• congregation
• Pastoral care
• Organisation
• Africa

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“The Lord is risen indeed!”

The Passiontide, with the death of the Lord on Good Friday, ends magnificently in the resurrection of the Lord. This is the fundamental belief of all Christians. But why is this day of the resurrection so important for us?

April 4, 2015

Good Friday Chief Apostle

+9

• apostolate
• doctrine 
• sacraments
• Baptism 
• Holy Sealing
• Holy Communion
• divine service
• congregation
• confessions

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“And God saw the light, that it was good”

Light is life—and truth—and goodness in general: no other physical phenomenon shines so deeply into the human soul. How a simple image can shed light on the divine—illuminated for us on the international Day of Light this 16th day of May.

May 16, 2023

Pentecost

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