apostles.today

A milestone in Church history

Today, 180 years ago to the day, the Catholic Apostolic Congregations in London solemnly appointed their Apostles—the birth of the apostolate of the modern era. But the further history developed a little differently than expected.

July 14, 2015

apostolate Chief Apostle

+9

• Christmas
• confessions
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• history 
• investiture
• ministry

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The love of God in all its dimensions

In a recent divine service in Vienna in Austria, the Chief Apostle elucidated the dimensions of God’s love: the width of His grace, the length of His patience, the depth of His activity, and the height of the goal. There are limits, however.

July 13, 2015

Chief Apostle

+3

• congregation
• divine service
• history 

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Congo, mon amour

“Honey, hello, you’re here!” My wife waves her hand in front of my face. “Here in Germany.” Oh, right, I am here, at least physically. But my heart is still in the Congo. I have just returned from a flying visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The country has cast a spell over me.

July 11, 2015

acts of blessing

+7

• Africa
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Youth

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At home around the world

Whether new congregations or old congregations with creative ideas … there is a lot going on in the New Apostolic world. This time we will take a look at small and large countries as we visit our brothers and sisters in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA.

July 10, 2015

Africa

+7

• Asia
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Laying the foundation on the rock

Building our house of faith on rock is an image we are all familiar with. But what does it really mean? Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider provided some new impulses in a recent divine service in Hungary.

July 9, 2015

Chief Apostle

+1

• divine service

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How the Divine Service Guide is created

The making of the divine services for 2017 has begun—at least for nearly 30 Apostles from around the world. They are the writers of the Divine Service Guide, which is distributed to nearly 200,000 New Apostolic ministers around the world. The go-ahead was given at a recent authors’ workshop.

July 8, 2015

acts of blessing Advent

+19

• Africa
• America
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• concept of salvation for the departed
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Good Friday
• New Year
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• society
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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The Catechism: a universal book of faith

The “new” version of the Catechism in questions and answers is just about to be launched. The content is the same as the long version, although divided up into questions and answers. Time to take stock and see how the Catechism has been received and understood.

July 7, 2015

apostolate

+5

• concept of salvation for the departed
• confessions
• doctrine 
• Europe
• sacraments

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Spotlight 12: Joy, a source of strength!

There are aspects of “Joy in Christ” that create spiritual strength. This is something that District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) explains in his article on our 2015 motto.

July 6, 2015

annual motto

+6

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• sacraments

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At home around the world

There are many ways of telling people about Jesus Christ, of proclaiming His gospel, and acquainting them with the New Apostolic Church. What is important here as with everything else is that we keep in mind the various countries and their cultures.

July 3, 2015

apostolate

+13

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• grieving
• investiture
• ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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A friendly challenge over two continents

When two compete it can spell trouble … sometimes. But not so with Andrew Andersen and Mark Woll. The two District Apostles have entered a special kind of competition. But they are not the only participants.

July 2, 2015

acts of blessing

+8

• Australia / Pacific
• charity work
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Seniors
• society

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A haven for the community

It is certainly one of the more unusual New Apostolic churches around. The brothers and sisters who live in Leiden—a district in the township of Delft near Cape Town—have just moved into their new church.

July 1, 2015

Buildings

+5

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

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Two sets of principles that lead to spiritual growth

Becoming more and more like Jesus—that is the goal of our faith. But how do we measure the degree of our spiritual maturity? By the extent that we keep the commandments and do good works? Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider mentions two completely different standards.

June 30, 2015

apostolate

+6

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

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Zanzibar and New Apostolic life in the Indian Ocean

Zanzibar, an island of contrasts: exotic holiday destination on the one side and extreme poverty on the other. For the most part, the religions live together peacefully, but in some parts Christians are experiencing persecution. Following are impressions from the Chief Apostle’s recent visit there.

June 29, 2015

Africa

+9

• America
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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At home around the world

Millions of people live in the major cities of the world. And there are also traces of a vibrant New Apostolic faith to be found. Three examples from three continents show how varied congregational life is …

June 25, 2015

America

+6

• Chief Apostle
• confessions
• congregation
• divine service
• Music
• Youth

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From street child to founding father

Many contributed to the development of the Church by preaching or doing soul care, but Apostle John Erb also laid the legal foundations for the New Apostolic Church in the United States. John Erb was born 140 years ago to the day. He had his share of ups and downs in life.

June 24, 2015

America

+10

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• retirement

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Spotlight 11: Spreading our “Joy in Christ”

Is our 2015 motto just a marketing slogan or is there more to it? This is a question posed by District Apostle Urs Hebeisen (South-East Asia), and he answers it in the same breath …

June 23, 2015

annual motto

+7

• Asia
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Event
• New Year
• Youth

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From itinerant preacher to reformer

He is not as well-known as some other pioneers of the New Apostolic Church. Yet, Apostle Friedrich Wilhelm Menkhoff had great influence on the emerging church. He would have been 120 years old today.

June 22, 2015

Chief Apostle congregation

+4

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Holy Communion is celebrated everywhere

They have lost everything: their possessions, their home, and many of their loved ones. More than 50 million people worldwide have been forced from their homes. Tomorrow, 20 June, is World Refugee Day, an occasion for nac.today to take a look at some of the refugee camps in East Africa.

June 20, 2015

Africa

+10

• Buildings
• charity work
• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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At home around the world

Retirees, young people, musicians … The New Apostolic congregations are comprised of people of all ages and with various gifts and talents. Following is a quick look around the world.

June 19, 2015

Africa

+11

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• ministry
• Music
• retirement
• Youth

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Divine services in “plain language”

The idea was born in the United States, an impulse came from our Church in the Netherlands, and a district in Germany has picked up on the idea. “Divine services in plain language” is a pilot project that is currently being tested by the New Apostolic Church North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.

June 18, 2015

congregation

+3

• District Apostle
• divine service
• Pastoral care

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Faith precedes the miracle

Which way leads to God? Miracles and signs? “In fact, things are completely different,” Chief Apostle Schneider said at the recent Day of the Youth in Northern Germany, “Without faith it just won’t work at all.” But that does not mean that we should not use our heads.

June 16, 2015

Chief Apostle

+4

• congregation
• divine service
• Event
• Youth

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A guiding theme for eye and ear

“Joy in Christ” is the motto that the Chief Apostle published for the New Apostolic Church at the beginning of the year. Since then this motto has not only accompanied the brothers and sisters around the globe orally and in writing, but it has also been illustrated in the meantime. Following is a closer look at the logos designed by the district churches and the ideas behind them.

June 15, 2015

Africa annual motto

+8

• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• New Year

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Sharing what we experience

At times there is an enormous discrepancy between what is preached from the altar and what we experience. How do we deal with this? Following are some answers the Chief Apostle provided in a recent divine service. He also made it clear why it is so important to do what is right—and not only for ourselves.

June 13, 2015

Chief Apostle

+8

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Event
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• sacraments
• Youth

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The first visit of a Chief Apostle in Africa

Crawling through archives generates the sensation of adventure. But browsing through diaries and hitting on interesting pictures is something that can also be done online these days, for instance in the digital reading room of the central archives of the New Apostolic Church North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. And we hit on something interesting: documents covering the first visit of a Chief Apostle to Africa fifty years ago.

June 10, 2015

Africa

+12

• anniversary
• Chief Apostle
• Children
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Holy Communion
• sacraments
• Youth

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Spotlight 10: The joy in the Lord is our strength

Life is not always full of joy. Sometimes we go through phases of sadness. How we can find new strength is something District Apostle Raúl Eduardo Montes de Oca Daiqui (Brazil and Bolivia) describes in his article on our annual motto.

June 8, 2015

annual motto

+6

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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From Catechism to Comic strip

A spiritual comic strip? And on the basis of the Catechism to boot?! How does that happen? —The New Apostolic youth in Makati in the Philippines simply did it—and in the process of this learning experience, also managed to have a lot of fun. Following are some insights into an experiment...

June 6, 2015

Asia

+5

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• Europe
• 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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