Ongoing training of ministers everywhere: this is the idea behind a new programme offered by the New Apostolic Church International, which is primarily aimed at ministers.
nak.org, nac.today, and nac.photos have received some company. nac.academy is the name of the new e-learning platform. Like the other websites, its name is also its Internet address. If you enter nac.academy in your web browser, you can register straight away or log in with your existing Church account (single sign-on, SSO).
In theory and for practical application
Pastoral care, preaching, prayers in divine service, salvation for the departed, and our concept of ministry. These are the courses that are currently available. Further topics are in the pipeline such as understanding the sacraments, conflict resolution, and acts of blessing. There are also direct links to the Catechism (CNAC), the Catechism in Questions and Answers (CNAC-QA), the Liturgy of the New Apostolic Church, and the Guide for Ministers.
The courses on nac.academy are currently available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Indonesian, Tagalog, Swahili, Albanian, and Romanian. Translations into Latvian, Lithuanian, and Portuguese are in progress.
Learning at your own pace
The modules are multimedia-based: in addition to texts that can be read or listened to, there are infographics and videos, and users can check on their progress with multiple-choice tests. Everyone can access the content at their own pace, anywhere and any time, on their desktop, tablet, or smartphone. The technical basis is “Illias”, an open source software that is used internationally by universities, government agencies, and companies.
And how was nac.academy able to launch such diversity quickly and cost-effectively? With the help of AI, of course. However, only the conversion to audio and video uses artificial intelligence. The content is based on the official, current doctrinal statements and publications of the New Apostolic Church and has been reviewed and approved by the Chief Apostle and the Coordination Group.
Creating opportunities for all
The training and ongoing education of ministers is nothing new in the New Apostolic Church. However, the opportunities vary greatly around the world. The project manager explains this in the welcome video on nac.academy.
In 2023, the District Apostle Meeting discussed a corresponding survey. “Some areas have good resources, in others there are just fewer capacities and opportunities.”
That is why Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider gave the go-ahead for nac.academy. Almost four hundred users from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia have registered to date. Some 96 per cent were convinced by the modules, and 97 per cent expressed the desire for more training of this kind. Anyone interested can now form their own opinion.