Ban on church services

a record-breaking number of participants in a divine service that was broadcast in nigeria, the disappearance of two district churches in germany, and a ban on divine services in zambia … news from around the world that makes people listen up. photo: nac nigeria. photo: nac nigeria. photo: nac nigeria. photo: nac nigeria. photo: frank schuldt. photo: jennifer lennermann. photo: jennifer lennermann. photo: world health organization. photo: world health organization. photo: world health organization. broadcast reaches nearly a 100 million people. video broadcasts of divine services are nothing unusual in the new apostolic church. a national broadcast on public television, however, as happened just recently in december in nigeria is something special. the divine service was not celebrated by the chief apostle—normally the reason that many people tune in, for example, in zambia or in the democratic republic of the congo—but by district apostle michael ehrich, who is responsible for pastoral care in nigeria. nigerian television authority (nta) calls itself the largest television network in africa by number of viewers. about one hundred million people would have been able to watch the broadcast on tv. new on the map: nac western germany. the district churches north-rhine westphalia and hesse/rhineland-palatinate/saarland have disappeared from the new apostolic map. the two districts were merged on 1 january 2018 and have been renamed district church western germany. from an organisational point of view, the merger is nearly complete. there is, however, still quite a bit of work for the staff in the administrative offices. on account of the merger, the designations of the working areas of the now seven apostles have changed. on 21 january 2018, youth services will be celebrated at various locations throughout the district church to mark the beginning of a new year. the youth will then have the chance to get to know the apostles from the respective other area. cholera outbreak forces the suspension of divine services. for the time being, there will be no divine services in lusaka. the reason is a renewed cholera outbreak in the capital lusaka. the initial outbreak was declared at the beginning of october 2017. by the end of october, less than five cases were reported each week, but by the end of the year an increase in the number of cases was observed, the world health organisation says. most churches have agreed to comply with it. in a press release, district apostle charles s. ndandula informed the members and the general public of the suspension of divine services.