faith.today

God helps when we have to sail against the wind

There are days when we turn on the spot and simply make no progress. “Don’t worry,” Chief Apostle Schneider says and explains how God helps even when we seem to get nowhere.

March 17, 2021

Chief Apostle concept of salvation for the departed

+7

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

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Father, doer, and caring minister

His death was a shock for his small flock in Europe and his big flock in Africa. District Apostle Higelin passed away 25 years ago to the day. He was a man of action and a father figure of a unique build.

March 16, 2021

Africa

+12

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• grieving
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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The life of women in the Old Testament

Woman and man— created equal in the image of God? The Old Testament tells us about female rulers and slaves, about female prophets and prostitutes. They were often unnamed, but there are a few exceptions. Here is a close-up of four women from the lineage of Jesus.

March 10, 2021

grieving

+1

• Pastoral care

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The sacraments (29): The clash over the cup

There is to be bread and wine at Holy Communion. Jesus said so. But what about children, people with allergies, and alcoholics? Will one of the two elements do the job just as well? Church history provides some answers.

March 9, 2021

congregation

+4

• doctrine 
• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Tribute to a US pioneer

J. P. is short for John Peter, and the name Fendt has gone down in American Church history. Today John Peter Fendt would have celebrated his 125th birthday. Here is a portrait in tribute of a pioneer.

March 3, 2021

America

+11

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

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“Do you still remember why I had to suffer?”

Lent and Passiontide… It can feel like pain and sorrow. Compassion is what is called for! At the same time, however, it becomes clear that Christians must never forget why their Saviour Jesus Christ had to suffer: it was for them!

March 1, 2021

concept of salvation for the departed divine service

+8

• doctrine 
• Easter
• grieving
• history 
• Holy Communion
• Palm Sunday
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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Preparation for the service for the departed

God loves all human beings and God wants to save every single one. So what does He need believers for? A divine service packed with Christian basics, a little poetry, and above all pure joy.

February 26, 2021

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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The sacraments (28): What the churches are serving with supper

Red wine, white wine, grape juice? Pure or mixed with water? As with the bread, Christendom has also come up with a multitude of variants for the second element of the Lord’s Supper. And each has its reasoning—sometimes based on theology, sometimes based on more worldly factors.

February 25, 2021

congregation

+5

• doctrine 
• Europe
• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Pastoral care (10): Aging with dignity and how to succeed at it

Once the pinnacle is reached, everything begins to go downhill. At least that is the picture society throws at us all the time. Callous public advertising is constantly telling us that everything has an expiration date. Thank God that our ministers see things differently. It is not one’s age, but rather one’s essence, that defines a person.

February 23, 2021

congregation

+4

• doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• society

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Life in the crisis

The generosity of New Apostolic members from the District Church of Western Germany has made it possible to provide much needed relief to people in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Now the local congregation is expressing warm thanks for the donations.

February 22, 2021

Christmas

+3

• congregation
• Local news
• Pastoral care

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God is only too glad to respond to our supplications

Impudent, brazen, pushy: a few key words to describe the protagonists in the parables of Jesus on the subject of “prayer”. And these adjectives are not necessarily inconsistent with humbleness and the fear of God! A friend, a father, and a judge bear witness.

February 16, 2021

Bible study

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The sacraments (27): Definitely something to chew on…

Are you serious, Leonardo? Dinner rolls? The bread on the menu of Da Vinci's famous painting of Jesus’ Last Supper does not quite correspond to the historical reality. And the whole question of what kind of bread was served at the Last Supper is already tricky enough. Nevertheless, let us attempt a foray…

February 9, 2021

confessions

+5

• doctrine 
• Easter
• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Music sets the mood

There is hardly anything else that can unleash as much power as live music. But what if a person can no longer participate in concerts and performances due to high age? Anette Zanker-Belz has a solution: musical house calls.

February 8, 2021

congregation

+9

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• history 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Profile
• Seniors
• Youth

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Across congregational boundaries

Most of our congregational life has moved online because of the pandemic. This also includes divine services that are being offered in live webcasts globally. Here is the updated overview for Sunday.

February 5, 2021

acts of blessing

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

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A missionary with roots firmly planted at home

Fifty years ago to the day he was ordained as a District Apostle. At that time Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia. He was also responsible for Zambia and Malawi: Andrew James Fernandes was born in Cape Town in South Africa and became an international traveler in Africa.

February 2, 2021

Africa

+12

• apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• history 
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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Around the world and round the clock

Who knows what will happen the day after tomorrow? The pandemic has shaken up many plans. One thing, however, is sure and that is the possibility of joining online services again on Sunday.

January 29, 2021

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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Good relationships for our inner life

Finding the right connection with God and our neighbour and taking care of God’s creation. This was the counsel in a recent service by the Chief Apostle. The emphasis is on networking, motivation, and comfort.

January 27, 2021

Africa America

+8

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

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Church construction is a community effort

There are many New Apostolic congregations who still harbour the wish for their very own church building. With a support programme worth a few million and some personal initiative, such a dream can indeed come true for many.

January 26, 2021

Africa

+13

• America
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Europe
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• sacraments
• Youth

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A District Apostle Helper for Northern Europe

Only a few weeks after the most recent retirement, the circle of District Apostle Helpers will receive a new addition: to support one of the largest District Apostle Areas.

January 25, 2021

Africa

+14

• apostolate
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• history 
• investiture
• ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• retirement

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Becoming strong, staying strong

The ups and downs of life often leave one feeling terribly weak. Faith can be a real pick-me-up in such situations, and this can be trained. The upcoming Sunday service offers a kind of spiritual work-out.

January 22, 2021

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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Pastoral care (09): reaching out to the youth

“Shaping the future of the Church” can be achieved by those who win young Christians over to be active in the Church, says Chief Apostle Schneider. Following are some thoughts on the challenges, the opportunities, and a win-win situation.

January 19, 2021

America

+8

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• divine service
• Europe
• Event
• Pastoral care
• society
• Youth

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At home worldwide

Pandemic-related restrictions are unfortunately the order of the day virtually everywhere in the world. That does not mean, however, that all church activities have ceased. These gems of brotherhood still exist.

January 18, 2021

Africa congregation

+6

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• sacraments
• Youth

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The sacraments (25): Being and being there

Bread and wine: “This is My” body and blood. For over 2,000 years, Christians have been racking their brains over these words spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper. “Is”—what is that supposed to mean anyway? The answers to this question have been shaped by the mindset of the respective ages.

January 11, 2021

doctrine 

+3

• history 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Teacher, example, brother

What makes a good teacher? Oodles of patience, surely a genuine capacity for sympathy, and heaps of energy. When it comes to faith, the role model effect is essential: those who practise what they preach will be remembered for a long time.

January 5, 2021

annual motto

+6

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

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Freedom in Christ: more than a ray of hope

Freedom. Where? When? How? The Chief Apostle and the District Apostles have explored the annual motto from all sides. Here are a few highlights from our Spotlight series to usher out the old year.

December 30, 2020

Africa

+13

• America
• annual motto
• apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• sacraments

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A church without borders or walls

Locked church doors, divine services on YouTube, mouth and nose protection at the altar: the pandemic really shook up church life in 2020. It was the year of COVID-19. Following is a chronicle of the year’s events.

December 28, 2020

Africa

+13

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• charity work
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Local news
• Organisation
• sacraments

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don't miss

“Always speak the language of love”

Enrique Eduardo Minio is at work as the “architect of the future” in the southern regions of South America. That is how the Chief Apostle referred to him at his ordination. What does this mean in practice? Following is an interview with both the former District Apostle and the new District Apostle.

July 27, 2016

ministry investiture

+9

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• divine service
• congregation
• Youth
• Europe
• America
• Event

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“Do you still remember why I had to suffer?”

Lent and Passiontide… It can feel like pain and sorrow. Compassion is what is called for! At the same time, however, it becomes clear that Christians must never forget why their Saviour Jesus Christ had to suffer: it was for them!

March 1, 2021

concept of salvation for the departed divine service

+8

• doctrine 
• Easter
• grieving
• history 
• Holy Communion
• Palm Sunday
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

Listen to it

“Felix Austria”: lucky Austria makes music

The stalls, the boxes, the lower and upper galleries … the Vienna Concert Hall was filled to the last seat. “We invite you to have an encounter with Jesus through music,” Franz Jochum, the musical director and conductor, said to the audience at the beginning of the concert.

June 3, 2017

congregation Music

+3

• New Year
• Pentecost
• Youth

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