Photo: nacworld

Hamburg/Zurich. As of this Pentecost Sunday 2013, the New Apostolic Church has a new spiritual leader: Jean-Luc Schneider is the new Chief Apostle and successor in ministry to Wilhelm Leber, who retired from ministry on this occasion. It was a special highlight when the new Chief Apostle discharged the previous Chief Apostle from his ministry with the words: “In our hearts you will remain our Chief Apostle!”

Hamburg/Zurich. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, international Church leader since 2005, conducted his last divine service in Hamburg-Borgfelde this Pentecost Sunday (we reported). Several million people around the world shared in this sermon live via satellite and internet transmission. He called upon the believers to engage and exhibit the power of the Holy Spirit in their everyday surroundings.

Hamburg/Zurich. Retiring Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber opened the European Apostle Meeting in Hamburg the Saturday before Pentecost with warm thanks to all the Apostles for their work and support, all their prayers, and all their willingness to contribute and help along in the various developments. With emotion he went on to add: “I would also like to thank my predecessor in ministry, Chief Apostle Fehr. I would like to thank him in particular because he made the transition so easy for me. His attitude left its mark upon me and I have always been able to relate to it. It has been my endeavour to continue his work.”

Zurich. There are only about four more weeks to go before Pentecost, when a new Chief Apostle will be ordained for the New Apostolic Church. The current international Church leader, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, will retire at the age of 65 and will be succeeded in ministry by a French national, namely Jean-Luc Schneider (53). The preparations for this change have already been made, and all Church members around the world are aware that it is coming.

Cologne/Zurich. It was a high point of the church year for New Apostolic Christians around the world: Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted the Pentecost divine service in Cologne on 27 May 2012. The spiritual leader of all New Apostolic Christians called out to the believers with a special Pentecost message: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” The sermon revolved around the question as to how children of God are to lead their lives in our time. What is important is to keep faith, always be willing to make peace, subordinate our will to God’s will, and draw strength for daily life from the resurrection of Christ.

Zurich/Cologne. After many years, the New Apostolic Church once again has a Chief Apostle Helper. In the Pentecost service on 27 May 2012 in Cologne Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber appointed the French District Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider with this new commission. He will in future provide support to the Chief Apostle and also take on some of his travels. “The transition is to proceed in as continuous a manner as possible,” said the Chief Apostle. He himself is already looking toward his own retirement, he explained, and is working early to address the matter of his succession.

Cologne/Zurich. One of the items in the program for the Saturday of the Pentecost weekend in Cologne was a meeting of the European Apostles A total of 45 Apostles from Europe, as well as all the District Apostles and District Apostle Helpers of the world, had assembled for this occasion. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber began with an emotional prayer for the unity of the Church and the welfare of all congregations. A comprehensive spiritual portion followed.

Zurich. In the divine service on Pentecost Sunday, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber will appoint a Chief Apostle Helper. “I would like to set an early course for the future,” stated the international Church leader, who will turn 65 this year. The date when he himself will retire remains open—perhaps in 2013 or 2014—however the work of a Chief Apostle Helper will already lighten his load quite perceptibly now.

Dresden. “Let us walk in the light of the Holy Spirit” – it was with this message that the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, addressed the congregations around the world in the Pentecost service 2011. Traditionally, the feast of Pentecost is celebrated in a big way in the New Apostolic Church, and on this occasion all 53 European Apostles gathered in Dresden. Many thousands of congregations on all continents were connected by satellite transmission.

Zurich/Cape Town. With a seating capacity of 4,000, the New Apostolic congregation in Tafelsig (Cape Town) has the largest church building of the New Apostolic Church anywhere in the world. It was there that Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted the divine service on Pentecost 2010, which was transmitted by satellite to approximately 5,000 other New Apostolic congregations around the globe.

Cape Town. District Apostle Noel Barnes expressed it best after the divine service: “I may not be able to look into the future, but I believe that this will remain a unique event for us in Cape Town!” The Pentecost service had just come to an end. Some 1.2 million believers had been able to participate in it live, either by satellite or internet transmission. Four thousand of these had been seated in the congregation of Tafelsig, the largest New Apostolic Church building in the world.

Zurich/Chicago. The Rosemont Theatre near Chicago’s metropolis of millions was fully occupied for this special event, the Pentecost service 2009. The service was transmitted to North and South America via satellite. For the first time, it was also available through live audio-video streaming over the internet.

Chicago. It is Pentecost Sunday 2009, and Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber finds himself in Rosemount, near Chicago. This is where the Pentecost service is scheduled to take place at 11:00 AM. From here it will be transmitted to North and South America via satellite. For the first time, the divine service will also be available through live audio-video streaming over the internet. This year’s message of greeting from Chief Apostle Leber to the New Apostolic congregations around the world is: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”

Zurich. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber chose this year’s Pentecost greeting from 1 Corinthians 15: 57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” In a letter addressed to all congregations of the New Apostolic Church around the world, the Church leader writes: “Christ attained the greatest victory of all on Golgotha, namely the victory over death. Those who belong to Christ can share in this victory.”

Berlin. With the exception of two Apostles, all European District Apostles and Apostles were able to take part in this year’s Apostle Meeting in Berlin. In his hour-long address, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber focused on the beatitudes recorded in the fifth chapter of Matthew in the Holy Scriptures.

Berlin. For three days over the Pentecost weekend of 2008, Berlin served as the “capital” of the New Apostolic world. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber had invited all European Apostles to the German capital for the occasion. In the Pentecost service, which was translated into English at the altar - and into 20 other languages via mixing board - he appealed to the over one million divine service participants to recognise the “signature of God” in the present. “Recognising the Lord personally is an important task for each and every individual,” said the Chief Apostle.

Hamburg. The festive concert in the Hamburg Congress Centre celebrating the visit of Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber and all European Apostles on the Saturday before Pentecost offered a very interesting musical program. The performers were the symphony orchestra of the New Apostolic Church Hamburg and the project choir of the New Apostolic Church of Northern Germany, under the direction of Jörg Michael Paul and Björn Leber, respectively.