faith.today

They’re not heroes, but volunteers with a heart

When the TV cameras move on and the crisis disappears from the headlines, NAC SEA Relief stays and continues to provide relief aid. In its 2019 report, the South-East Asian relief organisation also looks back on a special operation outside its usual jurisdiction.

March 12, 2020

charity work Christmas

+9

• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• doctrine 
• Event
• Local news
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Get up and speak – about faith, love, and hope

A story with three different meanings: a signal to the world, a comfort for many, and an exhortation to the whole church. Following is the Chief Apostle’s analysis of the story of the widow of Nain.

March 11, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• Europe
• grieving
• Pastoral care

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Personal hygiene and spiritual health—both are important

A novel type of virus that can cause respiratory disease is spreading and making people everywhere anxious. It has made us take a whole new look at hygiene measures such as washing our hands. However, we must also keep our spiritual health in mind.

March 6, 2020

Africa

+11

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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The sacraments (4): outward signs of an invisible reality

A sacrament without signum and without res? That’s impossible. At least that is what the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church says. Sounds strange? Maybe, but there are good reasons for it. Join us for an excursion into the fifth century.

March 5, 2020

doctrine 

+2

• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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Gratitude – service – Holy Communion: the focus of our sermons in March

According to the liturgical calendar, Christians are currently observing Lent, a period of fasting and penitence that ends shortly before Easter. Soon we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, reason enough to reflect on all that God means to us and does for us.

March 3, 2020

anniversary

+8

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• sacraments

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“A sensitive man with a heart for eternity”

A true protector who engaged his gifts with all his might for the sole mission of “perfection and completion”: that was District Apostle Arno Steinweg. On 28 February, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. A portrait…

February 28, 2020

apostolate Buildings

+10

• Chief Apostle
• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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Spotlight 3/2020: You think you are free?

Jesus makes free — but what happens if a person fails to realise that he is still bound? For example, in thoughts or in prejudices? Some reflections from District Apostle John Kriel, South Africa.

February 25, 2020

Africa

+8

• annual motto
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• New Year
• sacraments

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Now also available in Spanish: “Photography in Divine Service”

“In the divine service, the photographer should be practically transparent”—relates a South American cameraman. This is a wish that photographers around the world often hear. An e-book on the subject offers helpful tips—and it is now available in the Spanish language too.

February 24, 2020

acts of blessing

+7

• America
• Confirmation
• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• sacraments
• Social commitment

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Rediscovering your mother tongue

A universal language for all? Forgetting your mother tongue? Is that even possible? Sure it is! Fortunately, there is a common solution to both problems. A reflection on today's International Mother Language Day.

February 21, 2020

divine service

+3

• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• sacraments

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The sacraments (3): the doubly mysterious origins of the term

The term ‘sacrament’ and the Bible—it’s just one of those things: the idea is there, but not the actual word. The term only made its way into Christian vocabulary later on—and it even took two tries! Here is a story about semantics.

February 18, 2020

Africa

+5

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

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Five dimensions of freedom

Love, return, inheritance, responsibility, coping: these are five kinds of freedom that Jesus Christ has available for us. It was in Nzagi, Angola that the Chief Apostle presented the key to all of this. And that is being a child.

February 13, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• sacraments

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From the wrong way to the way home

In both faith and life, everyone must find his or her own way: an elaborate film by young people from Eastern Germany—which missed its premier, not once, but three times—tells of precisely this experience.

February 10, 2020

congregation

+6

• divine service
• Easter
• Event
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Youth

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Stops on the way through life

The time between birth and death is filled with different experiences. There are many stops along the way through life: coming and going, becoming and passing away, first and last—all of this comprises life.

February 7, 2020

Chief Apostle

+7

• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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A whirlwind of a weekend in Bogotá and Lima

Travelling to individual countries can certainly be strenuous, especially if the responsible District Apostle has announced his visit to congregations that are quite distant from one another. It is on just such a weekend in Colombia and Peru with District Apostle Leonard Kolb that Bishop Manfredo Stegmann reports.

February 6, 2020

acts of blessing

+14

• America
• Asia
• Confirmation
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• investiture
• Local news
• ministry
• sacraments
• Youth

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The sacraments (2): one blueprint, four cornerstones

Sacraments — what is required for these? Wouldn’t faith be sufficient all on its own? The answer to this comes from Jesus Christ Himself. But how do they actually function, these doors that bring us close to God?

February 4, 2020

doctrine 

+4

• history 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• sacraments

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Pastoral journey into new territory

Right at the start of the New Year, the international Church leader will travel to Angola. There are two unfamiliar stops awaiting him in Nzagi and Dundo, two cities in the north and northeast of the country, respectively. Here are some impressions.

January 9, 2020

apostolate

+11

• charity work
• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Easter
• investiture
• ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care

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The year 2020 will be a good one

A new year brings new reasons for gladness. Will 2020 be an “acceptable year”? Yes—because grace means we are permitted to experience fellowship with Jesus Christ. And there is always so much grace with Him—enough for everyone.

January 6, 2020

Ascension Day Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• Pastoral care

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Where yesterday is already today

The New Year had already begun at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 31 December 2019—relative to Coordinated Universal Time: UTC + 14—while the corks only began popping in London on Wednesday, 1 January at 12:00 AM. And it’s all because of the International Date Line!

January 4, 2020

America

+7

• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• congregation
• divine service
• Local news
• New Year
• Pastoral care

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Jesus is the reason for the season!

Just give thanks again! Right before the celebration of Christmas is a good time to do so. Why? Because Jesus Christ has come into this world and has become Man. He alone (!) is the reason we celebrate Christmas.

December 24, 2019

Chief Apostle

+6

• Christmas
• congregation
• divine service
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Ministry (14): Not without a mandate

Designated and called: but authority alone is not sufficient to permit someone to actually exercise a ministry. This requires something more—something that also plays a role in retirement and transfer from one area to another.

December 18, 2019

congregation

+8

• doctrine 
• grieving
• Holy Communion
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• retirement
• sacraments

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The path to heaven is not a dead end!

When the Chief Apostle conducts a divine service in Mulhouse, France, he is practically “in his living room”. He had packed along plenty of comfort to bring the believers, and encouraged them in their struggles.

December 12, 2019

Chief Apostle

+7

• congregation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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Fellbach, a church with global reach

Fellbach, the name rings familiar in New Apostolic circles. Chief Apostle Richard Fehr was both ordained and retired there. And his successor, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, was ordained there. On Sunday, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will visit the congregation.

December 4, 2019

Advent Africa

+13

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

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Ministry (13): Authority—with limits

Designated and ordained: the ordained minister is authorised to act and speak in the name of God. Nevertheless, these powers are anything but limitless.

December 2, 2019

acts of blessing

+11

• apostolate
• Baptism 
• Confirmation
• divine service
• doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care
• sacraments

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“I urge you to respect human life!”

New beginnings in Kasai and a jubilee in Ghana. Often, the needs of the congregations vary greatly. Sometimes there is joy and at times great sadness. Join us as we look at two congregations.

November 22, 2019

Africa

+8

• concept of salvation for the departed
• congregation
• District Apostle
• divine service
• doctrine 
• grieving
• history 
• Pastoral care

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“Everyone is to know: we will not tolerate this!”

The New Apostolic Church strongly condemns violence and sexual assault. A clear signal is now coming from South Africa. Yesterday the District Apostle Meeting Africa dealt with this issue.

November 14, 2019

Africa

+7

• Chief Apostle
• congregation
• District Apostle
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• society
• Youth

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Ministry (11): Perceiving whom God has destined for a ministry

Decisive is the will of God, but first of all humans have to perceive His will. Here are some answers to the question of how the ministry comes to its bearer.

November 7, 2019

Chief Apostle

+5

• congregation
• doctrine 
• investiture
• ministry
• Pastoral care

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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

Palm Sunday Easter

+8

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

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“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

Pentecost congregation

+3

• Youth
• Music
• New Year

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