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A church’s struggle to survive dark times

The New Apostolic Church in the Nazi era: recent research refutes previous misconceptions and standard platitudes. So say proven experts who have critically monitored the Church for quite some time. Four reactions to two current publications follow.

August 18, 2022

Africa America

+5

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• doctrine 
• history 
• ministry

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A divine service to still our hunger and thirst

God can satisfy those who hunger and thirst for His justice. But He does not always do this in the way one would wish. The righteousness of God and how to obtain it was the subject of a recent divine service by the Chief Apostle.

August 17, 2022

apostolate

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

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The sacraments (61): Three times a year for all

It looks no different than usual: Apostles dispense the sacraments—this time to two designated ministers—and the congregation stands and prays along silently. And yet, this is a highly solemn moment that has touched the faithful for generations.

August 16, 2022

Baptism 

+11

• Chief Apostle
• concept of salvation for the departed
• confessions
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Music
• sacraments

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Our mission and authority are modelled on Jesus

Leave the miracles to others. Today’s ministers have the mission to teach and preach the gospel to everyone and in all circumstances. At a recent divine service for ministers, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider reminded them of their tasks.

August 10, 2022

Chief Apostle

+6

• divine service
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• society

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The sacraments (60): An order for the beyond

Things got off to a turbulent start. But step by step the New Apostolic Church has put order into its sacraments for the departed. Once the practical part had been brought into line, the theory followed suit. Here is the history in fast-forward mode.

August 2, 2022

Chief Apostle

+10

• Christmas
• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• Pentecost
• sacraments

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Training ministers, building churches, and planting trees

Young people in Bolivia cleaned up a local park. In Africa and Europe ministers got together to learn how to deliver better sermons. And in Sierra Leone, Apostle Braima Saffa dedicated three churches in one day.

July 25, 2022

acts of blessing Africa

+13

• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• investiture
• ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2022)

Thanks to relaxed Covid restrictions, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider was once again able to travel and perform retirements and ordinations himself in the last six months. A District Apostle also went into retirement. Now there is one less District Apostle Area worldwide.

July 6, 2022

Africa

+16

• America
• apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• grieving
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• retirement

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Compassionate end-of-life care

The very idea of dying can be frightening: suffering, loneliness, and being at the mercy of others are terrifying thoughts. Some people therefore want to determine themselves how their lives should end: a balancing act for which the Christian faith offers orientation.

July 4, 2022

Pastoral care

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Faith that lives up to its name

Sunday, 22. 05. 2022 – important moments in Berlin: Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider released District Apostle Wolfgang Nadolny into retirement, appointed a new District Apostle, ordained a new Apostle, and amalgamated the Regional Church of Berlin-Brandenburg with the Regional Church of Northern and Eastern Germany.

June 15, 2022

Chief Apostle

+7

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

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Ministry (16): Interwoven with its bearer

It is quite obvious that a ministry requires a bearer. Otherwise it would remain invisible and incapable of action. But what demands does it place on the person in question? And how are the ministry and the minister interconnected?

June 15, 2022

Baptism 

+6

• congregation
• doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• investiture
• ministry
• sacraments

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The Church nails its colours to the mast

One earth, many people; one Christianity, many denominations; one congregation, many hands. There are many ways to foster fellowship and in the process profess one's beliefs, whether in cleaning up the environment, ecumenism, or putting women in the spotlight.

June 10, 2022

Africa

+9

• charity work
• confessions
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• history 
• Music
• Palm Sunday
• Pentecost

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The sacraments (56): The rise of Christ’s descent into hell

God wants to help all human beings, both the living and the dead. This conviction can already be found among the earliest Christians and is confirmed by the biblical motif of Christ’s descent into the realm of the dead—and corroborates the New Apostolic concept of the departed.

June 9, 2022

concept of salvation for the departed

+7

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Music
• sacraments

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What the District Apostles talk about

The International District Apostle Meeting in Buenos Aires ended today, two years later than planned. The agenda included a wide variety of topics. Here is an overview.

June 4, 2022

Africa

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• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• history 
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Decision-makers at work

Close on two days of hard work. Yesterday and today, the central governing board of the New Apostolic Church, the International District Apostle Meeting, met for discussions. A report on the topics discussed will follow. Here is a look behind the scenes from the photographer’s perspective.

June 4, 2022

District Apostle

+1

• Organisation

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District Apostles meet starting today

Everything is ready: the preparations in the conference room were completed yesterday. Today the International District Apostle Meeting will convene here. Discussions will be conducted primarily in English, but also in Spanish and German.

June 2, 2022

District Apostle

+1

• Organisation

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Pentecost 2022 in Buenos Aires

Politically, economically, culturally, and ecclesiastically: the heart of Argentina beats in Buenos Aires. This is where the leaders of the New Apostolic Regional Churches from all over the world will be meeting for their Pentecost Council starting today.

June 1, 2022

Africa

+13

• America
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• investiture
• Local news
• ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Heaven is where Christ is

The descent into Hades and the ascension into heaven—both events are recorded in Holy Scripture. And both events have stirred up theological controversy to this day. Unfortunately, neither of them is well understood—and yet their significance is clear!

May 26, 2022

Ascension Day Chief Apostle

+3

• Easter
• history 
• Pentecost

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Authoritative portrayal of our concept of ministry

“The New Apostolic understanding of the spiritual ministry” is the title of the newest special edition of the Divine Service Guide, which is now making its way to the ministers. A reference work also for future questions.

May 25, 2022

apostolate

+8

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Retirement after exactly 45 years

There are times when life presents one with some astonishing coincidences: this Sunday, 22 May 2022, District Apostle Wolfgang Nadolny will retire from active ministry. It was on exactly the same day 45 years before that he received his first ministry in the Church.

May 20, 2022

Chief Apostle

+11

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• history 
• ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• retirement

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The sacraments (55): God’s boundless love

There are three pillars that support the New Apostolic Church’s understanding of salvation for the departed. The first one is the answer to the question: “What does God desire?” — The Bible has a great deal to say on that subject, namely that all human beings are to be saved.

May 10, 2022

concept of salvation for the departed

+3

• doctrine 
• Easter
• sacraments

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Walking the path together

It began with positive steps towards one another that developed into a common path forward. Much has happened since the ecumenical work of the New Apostolic Church started 22 years ago. One of the initiators who has done a lot of work in this area has now stepped down.

May 2, 2022

Chief Apostle

+5

• confessions
• congregation
• District Apostle
• Europe
• Music

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The Sacraments (54): The chances in the hereafter

Sacraments for the departed? That only makes sense if people can still change in death. Judging by the teachings of their church, the majority of Christians believe in a chance in the afterlife. But there are big differences between the churches.

April 26, 2022

concept of salvation for the departed doctrine 

+2

• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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The sacraments (53): On the way to immortality

Sacraments for the dead? It would be unthinkable without the immortality of the soul. Yet this notion is only beginning to evolve in the Bible. Here is how today’s understanding of an afterlife came into being.

April 12, 2022

Asia

+3

• concept of salvation for the departed
• doctrine 
• sacraments

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Connecting the youth

It was to be specifically for young people. That was the idea that District Apostle Norberto Batista announced in 2007 when he decided to launch a magazine for his working area. And it is still produced for the youth, every month anew.

April 11, 2022

acts of blessing

+8

• America
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Event
• Youth

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“Every human being is loved by God”

To live or let die? No one takes a decision of such gravity lightly, especially when it comes to unborn life. Here is the New Apostolic Church’s position on abortion.

April 6, 2022

Pastoral care

+1

• society

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The sacraments (52): Not only here, but also in the beyond!

The dead are not truly dead—at least not for God. For God there is no dividing line between life on earth and life in the hereafter. That is what Christians believe, and that is also what the Bible states. Here is an overview of how sacramental acts are dispensed for the dead.

March 28, 2022

apostolate

+9

• Chief Apostle
• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• sacraments

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don't miss

“Questions and Answers” will be published in fall 2015

A new variant of the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church is scheduled to appear in September 2015. This resolution was passed by the District Apostle Meeting at its most recent session. The reference work has been structured into "Questions and Answers" and is scheduled for publication in five languages to start.

March 16, 2015

Chief Apostle District Apostle

+7

• doctrine 
• divine service
• congregation
• Youth
• Organisation
• Asia
• 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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“Typically New Apostolic”—the legacy of Apostle Schwarz

Like no one else, he influenced the development of a movement that eventually became the New Apostolic Church . Not only because he played a central role in our Church's history, but also because he had a defining impact on a Christian denomination that was still in its infancy at the time: Apostle Friedrich Wilhelm Schwarz was born 200 years ago today.

April 11, 2015

District Apostle apostolate

+10

• doctrine 
• sacraments
• Holy Sealing
• Holy Communion
• concept of salvation for the departed
• divine service
• congregation
• Pastoral care
• grieving
• history 

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