Vibrant and touching … The Church spokesman, Peter Johanning, experienced a very unique divine service for children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. But the children are not the only ones who captured his heart. Join us for part two of his travel diary.

Ever been in the Congo? “I would never have thought that this country being shaken by such violent political unrest would exert such a fascination on me.” The travel diary of the Church spokesman, Peter Johanning, in three parts.

He was national district rector of the New Apostolic congregations in Japan. For nearly half a century he served the Church in a number of ministries. Sunday a week ago, District Apostle Urs Hebeisen placed Wolfgang Ade into retirement.

Without witnesses to the resurrection there would be no church of Christ today. “We hope that many people can still come to Christ,” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider said.

Peter Schulte is the name of the new man in Australia who will succeed District Apostle Andrew Andersen next year. For Australia this is a new era and for District Elder Schulte a new challenge.

They are numbered among the highest New Apostolic congregations in the world: Ghankula (2,151 metres) and Naugaon (1,435 metres) in the Himalayan foothills. Day-to-day life, getting around, and divine services—this is another world.

There is no question about it, a Church has to move forward and keep up with technology. This week we look with pride at new churches and a technological innovation that is being used in India.

Ready to help, support, and to share … serving our neighbour has many aspects. Chief Apostle Schneider calls upon all of us to put our gifts and talents at the service of our neighbour and not only think about ourselves.

Patience, loyalty, goodness, and truth—four Sundays, four virtues. They all have one thing in common: they are fruits of the Holy Spirit. And this is precisely what the divine services will be about in the month of August: the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

“The New Apostolic Church rejects any form of violence!” These were Chief Apostle Schneider’s opening words in a divine service in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo) on Sunday, 16 July 2017. Violence is still the order of the day in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A group of Canadians have been busy with a special project: weaving sleeping mats from recycled milk bags.

In the one hundred years since its introduction the communion wafer has hardly changed. There have, however, been changes in the understanding of Holy Communion in the New Apostolic Church, particularly in its relationship to forgiveness of sins.

The Orchestra Néo-Apostolique de Lubumbashi (O.N.A.L.) was established three years ago and has made good use of the time since. The orchestra gave its first public performance on the occasion of the Chief Apostle’s visit on 15 July 2017. And it was a resounding success.

A divine service for children in Lubumbashi (DR Congo). There has never been anything like it: about 40,000 children in total and a Chief Apostle who walks through the rows during the service and involves the children. An amazing experience of a very special kind!

Children are a blessing in a congregation and the youth are the future of the Church. Because we are aware of this many people are engaged in working to develop young talent—from the Sunday School teachers in the congregations to the Chief Apostle. Examples from four continents.

He makes no fuss about his person. So why bother with an article on his seventieth birthday today? Because he was Chief Apostle? And because he carried out this ministry in a very special way? And because he is a very special person who enjoys being with people and who brings people together. We are talking about Wilhelm Leber.

A tribute to the retiring Apostle and great expectations of his successor … This coming weekend, there will be a change in the Church leadership in Spain. This also affects the New Apostolic congregations in Italy.

Giving the Church a face, following divine services on television, making children with special needs feel welcome, and celebrating an apostolic anniversary … Four items of good news in this week’s review.