More on our 2024 motto

Connecting with God always works

Children from the Cologne East district in Germany learned about the importance of a good connection with a conventional corded telephone. On 28 January 2024, the 6- to 14-year-olds met in the church in Cologne Rath for their first children’s service in 2024. The officiant explained how a telephone call works and then transferred this to prayer. He emphasised that God can be called upon at any time and that He is always available.

Two children were allowed to try out a string telephone to show how important a good connection is. A model ear drum was intended to encourage the children to tell God everything. Together, the young congregation worked out the effects of prayer and how one feels afterwards. It is important to trust in our prayers, even if we may not always like the answers to our prayers. After the service, everyone stayed together for a special lunch.

Praying in the family has a double effect

District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi invited around 450 newly ordained ministers and their spouses from the Mwene-Ditu and Bondoyi districts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the church in Bukasa. They talked about the annual motto and reflected on Romans 12: 12: “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” They came to a joint conclusion: family is important for learning and practising prayer. And prayer is also important for the family. On Sunday, 18 February, the District Apostle conducted a divine service for the ministers and the members in Ciamala. He based his sermon on Luke 6: 36: “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” More than 2,500 people attended the divine service.

Praying together has a unifying effect

Protestant, Catholic, and New Apostolic Christians met for a day of prayer in Schwetzingen, Germany, on 28 January. It was the seventh time this year that the Christian churches in Schwetzingen celebrated the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The 2024 motto of the New Apostolic Church fit in perfectly with the motto of the ecumenical Week of Prayer: “Praying moves, praying unites, and praying works”. In the joint divine service, a minister of the New Apostolic Church also gave a short talk on the Bible passage 1 Thessalonians 5: 17: “Pray without ceasing.” Then prayers and intercessions were recited together. The hosting church not only provided a delicious lunch, but also a worship element on the topic of “Praying with modern songs” afterwards. ‌In the Protestant community centre there was a meditative dance lesson on the theme “Dancing in prayer”, and in the New Apostolic Church there was a devotional that focused on our annual motto. Priest Uwe Lang used the Lord’s Prayer to explain the motivation behind prayer to the numerous guests. The choir of the congregation sang some songs. Refreshments were served afterwards.