The church pew is half empty, congregations are being amalgamated, and children haven’t been seen in ages—are we to simply sit idly and sadly by and wait for change? How do you bring life into a congregation? And how does a congregation even come into being in the first place?

It is a country of superlatives—also for the New Apostolic Church. It is also a country of striking contrasts between rural and urban Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Here are some insights from a District Apostle whose best bet is often a motorbike.

Mwanza and Dar es Salaam are the cities that are on the Chief Apostle’s divine service agenda on the second weekend of August. It will be his second visit to Tanzania, and there is a lot of excitement in the congregations.

“Carl Wilhelm Louis Preuss is an outstanding personage in our Church,” emphasised District Apostle Rüdiger Krause in response to a question about him. In his time, Preuss was the Apostle from Hamburg—a courageous anchor in a stormy sea. Today is the 140th anniversary of his death.

Five petitions more than in the Lord’s Prayer and a promise that God will hear these petitions … Chief Apostle Schneider talks about day-to-day, worthwhile wishes of the believers.

Jesus makes us free! Come again? Why “makes us free”? We can already do what we want. This is probably how many people feel about this, but they are barking up the wrong tree. Because there is only one person who can offer true freedom.

“Let us give our neighbour a foretaste of the kingdom of God.” This is the 2018 Pentecost message which the Chief Apostle addressed to all New Apostolic believers across the world. What exactly does he mean?

Professing one’s faith can be a real challenge. In fact, it can even turn into a struggle for survival. This is the experience of Mankee Nag, a 27-year-old Indian woman. She gives us a candid look into her life.

When one leaves another one comes. Such is life. District Apostle Urs Hebeisen from the Philippines will be retiring this year in November. This involves a number of organisational changes.

Karl the Great is what many called him affectionately: today, 25 years to the day, one of the most influential District Apostles passed away. He did not only leave the New Apostolic Church with a historic self-image, but also with a few cultural peculiarities.

Called and chosen. This central concept from the gospel implies both inclusion as well as exclusion. How is that possible, seeing that God loves all of mankind? Thoughts from a divine service by the Chief Apostle.

It is not necessarily the big doers who leave their mark in peoples’ hearts. District Apostle Gotthilf Volz was born 125 years ago. People remember him as being warm and kind, generous, and truthful.

Deputy of the Chief Apostle, his right hand in handling official matters, and a man for all seasons. But he was far more than a bureaucrat: Apostle Arthur Landgraf. Tomorrow he would have been 130 years old.

“Christ is faithful, and we are faithful to Him.” Behind this simple message is not only the 2018 motto of the New Apostolic Church, but an answer to the question how this faithfulness reveals itself.

The country does not need mini-theologians nor saints, but young Christians who have a good relationship with Jesus and are excited about God. And this is what parents and teachers want for their children.

“What does the Chief Apostle say about that?” This is a question that people often ask. Following is a review of some of the divine services celebrated by Chief Apostle Schneider in the past year.

A determined effort to do good. This is how the believer demonstrates how important the proximity of God is for him. And what is “good”? Learn to love as God loves. Here are some thoughts from a divine service by the Chief Apostle.

The International District Apostle Meeting is in session. This is the first time since the initial resolutions concerning our concept of ministry were communicated. There are still many open questions, but this is not the only interesting subject.