At home around the world

Brockton, Massachusetts (USA)

Brockton is a city in the state of Massachusetts and has a population of about 95,000. Interestingly, several New Apostolic families from the Cape Verde Islands have moved to Brockton over the past few years. So that they are better able to understand the divine services, they have their own services in Portuguese on Sunday afternoons. Two Priests, Aderito and Euclides Fontes, provide pastoral care and conduct most of the divine services. June 7 was the day that the congregation was formally established and mission status gave way to congregational status. District Apostle Helper John Fendt celebrated this divine service and commissioned Priest Euclides Fontes as the congregation’s first rector.

Chatsworth (South Africa)

Xenophobia (a deep antipathy to foreigners) is a phenomenon which immigrants are facing all over the world. In Chatsworth (KwaZulu-Natal Province) in South Africa, not far from the city of Durban, a number of New Apostolic members were affected by a recent wave of xenophobia. For quite a while they were too terrified to leave their homes and had to go hungry. Bishop Naidoo took the risk and visited his brothers and sisters at a time when the hatred and the violent attacks were at their climax. He prayed with the members and was able to give them some assurance. On his return he sent out an urgent appeal for food, blankets, and baby nappies, and the members responded generously. Donations were also presented to the South African Red Cross.

Independent newspapers report that five people were killed and thousands displaced during these attacks. The wave of violence even spilled over into Johannesburg. Such attacks happen time and again.

Kaulungu (Zambia)

Kaulungu is located on the newly tarred and widened road connecting Lusaka and Chirundu. That was also the reason that a new church had to be built in the town. The old building would have been too close to the new road and had to be demolished. A new building was built further away from the main road. District Apostle Charles Ndandula visited the congregation on 14 June 2015 to dedicate the new church.The new church is part of a strategic plan that calls for one new church building per year in every Elder district. Some 740 people attended the festive divine service. The congregation in Kaulunga was founded in 2001.

Ramstein (Germany)

The New Apostolic Church was represented at the annual Rheinland-Pfalz Tag—taking place in Ramstein from 26 to 28 June 2015—through its Sozial- und Bildungswerk (SBW), an association that is affiliated with the Church and addresses the social needs of members who fall on hard times. The most prominent guest at the three-day event was Maria Luise Dreyer, the prime minister, and Irene Alt, her minister for Integration, Family, Children, Youth, and Women. They learned about the numerous offers of the SBW, including training courses and counselling sessions, “I am glad that you are here and do this kind of work,” the prime minister said. And her minister added, “This is important work, and I am very impressed with the commitment of the SBW and its counselling and information services.”

Sorsogon (Philippines)

Sorsogon und Albay are two congregations in the Philippines that are located in the region looked after by Apostle Catan. From 19 to 21 June 2015 he welcomed two special guests there: District Apostle Urs Hebeisen and Apostle Edy Isnugroho from Indonesia. The congregation in Sorsogon is still suffering from the aftermath of Typhoon Glenda. As the powerful typhoon swept over the region in July 2014 it killed 94 people and affected more than 1.6 million people, leaving many homeless. Many of the people hope to be able to move into their new homes soon, which the town has promised them. The District Apostle thanked the congregation for its faith and loyalty.