apostles.today

The feast of love

The choir members in Argentina wear T-shirts for their Christmas concert and the young people in Germany get cold feet at the Christmas market. The weather is different everywhere and so is the way Christmas is celebrated. But the birth of Jesus and love of neighbour are always at the heart of the celebrations.

January 5, 2024

Advent America

+7

• Christmas
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• history 
• Music
• Youth

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Spotlight 1/2024: Praying through your fears and doubts

Prayer connects us to God—even in a dark belly. Using the story of the prophet Jonah, who is swallowed by a large fish, District Apostle John Schnabel (USA) shows what makes a good prayer.

January 4, 2024

annual motto

+1

• District Apostle

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Faith that works through love

Fulfilling the law was supposed to be the path to salvation in the old covenant. In the new covenant it is different: true discipleship, true faith, and charity. The Chief Apostle recently explained what this means.

January 3, 2024

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• sacraments

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The year 2023: Serving and reigning with Christ

It has been a year of serving and reigning with Christ. There were highs and lows. As the year winds down to its close, we invite you to take a look back with us at the key points of the District Apostles’ Spotlight articles.

December 30, 2023

Africa

+8

• America
• annual motto
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Easter
• New Year

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For the individual and the Global Church – the divine services in 2023

Whether in Helsinki, Nairobi, New York, or Bad Sassendorf, the Chief Apostle served New Apostolic Christians all over the world in 2023. While every believer could feel personally addressed in these divine services, the sermons also contained impulses for the Global Church.

December 28, 2023

Africa

+9

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Easter
• Music
• Palm Sunday
• Pentecost

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Farewell to ‌Unsere Familie

The year 2023 marks the end of an era: after almost exactly 90 years, Bischoff Publishers is discontinuing the German magazine ‌Unsere Familie‌.

December 27, 2023

Africa Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• Europe
• Youth

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A new generation of leaders in the Church

The generational shift has begun at the highest levels of the New Apostolic Church: over the course of this year that is now drawing to its close, two District Apostle Helpers have been appointed as District Apostles, and a new Helper has been assigned—all according to plan.

December 26, 2023

Africa

+9

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

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Making the Church and our faith young

Songs of praise fill the streets of Nigeria, ring out in a retirement home in South Africa, and come from the mouths of children at a special service in Spain. When young people are involved in shaping things, there is always something going on in the congregation and in society. Here’s a glimpse of what the younger generation is up to.

December 22, 2023

Advent

+10

• Africa
• Children
• Christmas
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• Seniors
• society
• Youth

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When the painter rang at the second-last door

The Chief Apostle will hold the end-of-year service in a Bauhaus-style church building. Manfred Bayer, affectionately known as Manne, is a man who really knows the church, the congregation, and the city. Today the urban guide shows off his favourite city: Tübingen.

December 21, 2023

Chief Apostle

+6

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• history 
• ministry

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We can do no greater

The works of God are great. Well yes, that is how we praise God in prayer and song. But the Most High has no need of such praise. “We do this for ourselves, not for Him,” the Chief Apostle says and goes on to explain that those who believe in God will experience the greatest work of God upon themselves.

December 20, 2023

Chief Apostle

+4

• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 

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Ministry (41): Effective even when it fails

God is the one who designates an individual for a ministry. And yet sometimes it does not work. The problem then lies at the human level. What if something goes wrong?

December 19, 2023

apostolate

+5

• congregation
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments

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Stay focussed on the great things God is doing

Just a little more suffering, the Bible text promises, and then the grace of God will be revealed. It is better to focus on all the good things God is doing for His children. This was the theme of a service recently, which the Chief Apostle conducted.

December 13, 2023

Baptism 

+7

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

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Spotlight 15/2023: With Christ

There is the story of a boy who already as a twelve-year-old led by example. It was important to Jesus to understand His Father’s will. District Apostle Peter Schulte from Australia was intrigued by the two last words of our 2023 motto, “with Christ”. He examines them more closely just as the year winds down to a close.

December 12, 2023

annual motto

+3

• Australia / Pacific
• District Apostle
• doctrine 

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He knows how to win over people’s hearts

Witty, a no-nonsense type of guy, and a leader. District Apostle John L. Kriel of South Africa is a man of many talents, and he knows how to use them for the Church. He will be retiring this coming Sunday. Here is the portrait of a man who grew the Church.

December 8, 2023

Africa

+2

• District Apostle
• doctrine 

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Ministry (40): When God designates an individual

It is a principle of faith in the New Apostolic Church: the fact that someone is entrusted with a ministry is rooted solely in God’s will. This idea is called “election”. But how does it work?

December 7, 2023

apostolate

+6

• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments

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The power of a small seed

Even a tiny seed can develop great power and grow big. Regardless of one’s gifts, shortcomings, and personal past, everyone can be a source of blessing.

December 6, 2023

Chief Apostle

+3

• divine service
• Easter
• society

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Where faith is a miracle

South Africa and Mozambique share a border and yet the two countries could not be more different in many respects. But there are similarities. Here are some impressions from Mozambique, which the Chief Apostle will be visiting this week.

December 5, 2023

Africa Asia

+7

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Profile

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Christmas is just around the corner

The religious holidays in December create a bit of a muddle with our usual Sunday service times. The festive season also influences the subjects of our divine services as we anticipate Christmas.

December 1, 2023

Advent

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• congregation
• divine service
• society

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Reconciled diversity requires considerable effort

One faith, one doctrine – one church, many cultures: this was the common idea that hovered over almost every item on the agenda at the recent District Apostles’ Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland.

November 30, 2023

Africa

+7

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Organisation
• society

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“The best is yet to come”

Jesus turned things upside down. And this message must be passed on and shared with everyone. Because we do not talk about the end of the world, but about a marvellous future. This message is not just for preachers.

November 29, 2023

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe

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What microphone cables reveal

“Prayer works!” This is our motto for 2024. In his New Year’s message, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider explains the ideas behind it. Here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the recording session.

November 28, 2023

annual motto

+11

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• investiture
• ministry
• Music
• New Year
• Organisation

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Apostles underway to encourage and support

The main task of the Apostle ministry is the dispensing of the sacraments and the proclamation of the gospel. But sometimes their work also involves things such as presenting a wheelchair or going for a walk on the beach. Here are a few examples of the kind of support services Apostles offer.

November 24, 2023

acts of blessing Africa

+10

• apostolate
• Confirmation
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• sacraments
• Youth

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The altar: more than just a piece of furniture

The altar is the central focus in every church. But what makes it special? A conversation with architect Stephan Pfäffle about guidelines, artistic freedom, and the desire for the congregation to be enthusiastic about the design of its altar.

November 23, 2023

Asia

+7

• Buildings
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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The Saviour and His helpers at work

God the Father sent His Son into the world to save all who believe in Him. And Jesus Christ still sends His disciples into the world today to help along. The Chief Apostle recently explained how this works.

November 22, 2023

apostolate

+6

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

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Ministry (39): Ordination of women—the consequences

What is definite is that there is gender equivalence and equality of the sexes before God. That is why, since the beginning of the year, women can also be entrusted with ministerial authority. This has both doctrinal and practical implications.

November 21, 2023

apostolate

+6

• congregation
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments
• society

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Take a look at the world

Disaster assistance after floods, clean-up events, and a fundraiser are some of the things that have been going on in our congregations lately. A look at the New Apostolic world shows what team-spirit can achieve.

November 17, 2023

Africa

+6

• Children
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Music
• Youth

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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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