“A District Apostle for everyone and very approachable”

‌When he walks into a room, the room lights up. District Apostle Jürg Zbinden’s smile comes from inside. When he steps into the administrative offices of the New Apostolic Church Switzerland, he goes into every office, greets all his employees, talks to them, asks them about their concerns, and listens.

He knows what is good

“What makes the District Apostle stand out is his love of gelati,” says his secretary Urs Frei. When he and the District Apostle were on business trips in a Swiss city, the latter would take him aside and show him where to find the best ice cream. “He knows the best places for gelato in practically every city.”

The District Apostle has a sweet tooth. “He drinks his espresso in a pre-warmed cup and always has a chocolate with it. That gives him pleasure.” The secretary knows his boss’s habits well.

Making his way to the members

“He loves travelling by train,” Maurizio Zbinden, the District Apostle’s son, says about his father. He also liked to take the train when conducting divine services somewhere in Switzerland. “Then he was picked up from the railway station or walked to the church from the station.”

But as a District Apostle, Jürg Zbinden was not only in Switzerland, but also in the countries entrusted to him: Austria, Bulgaria, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Gibraltar, Italy, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Hungary.

Mastering challenges

The Covid outbreak occured during District Apostle Jürg Zbinden’s term of office. “That really got to him,” remembers Urs Frei. Suddenly there were rules that had to be adhered to, the District Apostle had to develop safety concepts for the churches and be there for all believers, regardless of their opinion on the subject—and regardless of the country in which they lived. “He always tried to travel. If possible, he went and did not allow it to worry him. That was his mission and he carried it out, sometimes almost to the limit of his own physical endurance.”

And yet there were also lighter moments during this time. Urs Frei remembers a situation which really made them laugh. In preparation for an online service on the topic of thankfulness, Urs Frei suggested to his boss that he should make a point of addressing the children. “The children could send us an ABC of gratitude, writing something they are grateful for for each letter,” he recommended. The District Apostle made sure that this was doable. And then a lot of letters came in. “I really landed myself a big job there,” Urs Frei remembers. “And he just laughed and said, ‘I asked you beforehand if I should really ask them.’”

A minister who can listen

“I once asked him why he always smiles like that,” says his long-time colleague Apostle Rolf Camenzind. “He said—and this has stayed with me—that when he sees the brothers and sisters who are present in a congregation it makes him happy. Of course he also saw the difficulties or was aware of those who were not there. But that is another story. He is happy about those who are there and that is why he is cheerful.”

District Apostle Zbinden’s heart is big enough for all the brothers and sisters entrusted to his care. He listens and asks questions. “He didn’t just listen or read about the problem and then nothing more was heard from him. That was always important to him: every letter, every message, was answered,” Urs Frei says. “He is a District Apostle for everyone and very approachable.”

A family man

“You can tell that the family is important to him,” says his older son, Davide. Jürg Zbinden is now a grandfather seven times over. “The family was always his safe haven, where he could relax completely.” Maurizio and Davide may have seen their father less often, but when he could, he helped Maurizio with his French homework when he was still at school, or spontaneously popped round for coffee with Davide and his family. The two sons are Priests and can always turn to their father. “He helped us with his optimistic attitude,” says Maurizio. “When we were overloaded, he was able to give us a bit of peace and quiet.”

And District Apostle Zbinden is also supported by his family, especially by his wife Esther, who lived in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland for a long time and therefore taught him Italian. “When he conducted divine services in Italian and our mum was there, she would listen to where the mistakes were and point them out to him on the way home,” Maurizio remembers.

Overcoming differences

Jürg Zbinden, who used to be a teacher, learned several of the languages spoken in his working area sort of in passing. He wanted to at least be able to speak the liturgical texts in Romanian, for example. “He never came as a stranger,” Apostle Camenzind said. “He really tried to be part of where he was.” And to do this, he not only had to overcome national and language barriers, but also cultural differences. “You have to have a huge heart to do this,” the Apostle says.

District Apostle Zbinden confided to Urs Frei that he will continue to travel in retirement. “He really enjoys travelling. And he will do that from now on with his wife. But then he will take it easy and get to know the country.”