apostles.today

Between a new start and emergency aid

The Swiss relief organisation NAK-Diakonia had to deal with two major events in 2022 which meant considerable expenditures. The recently published annual report shows that joy and sorrow are never far apart.

10 08 2023

Charity work Congregation

+6

• District Apostle
• Europe
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Dimensions of faith

At first the Bible text seemed rather confusing: those who humble themselves will be exalted and vice versa. This is what it says in Luke. But Chief Apostle Schneider went on to explain what exactly this means.

09 08 2023

Chief Apostle

+2

• Congregation
• Divine service

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Ministry (34): A brief history of Deaconesses

Were the Deaconesses in the New Apostolic Church ministers or not? To answer that we first have to look at how this function developed in the first place, historically that is. Join us on our search for historical evidence.

08 08 2023

Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care

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Where faith is at home

You do not necessarily need a church building for a divine service. This was demonstrated by a congregation in South Africa, where ministers come to the homes of brothers and sisters for midweek services. Meanwhile, others are building churches with a difference.

03 08 2023

Africa

+4

• Asia
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service

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God blesses trust

We have to do something for God’s blessing. This is what the story of Elijah and the widow teaches us. However, the story reveals much more: namely, how, when, and whom God blesses.

02 08 2023

Apostolate

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Society

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What counts today is reconciliation

He had been designated as the next Chief Apostle. Even so, he was excommunicated from the Church. Seventy-five years ago today, District Apostle Peter Kuhlen was installed as Chief Apostle Helper and successor—an occasion to pay tribute. But what exactly to? Here are a few personal words on the subject.

01 08 2023

Chief Apostle Congregation

+5

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry

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Spotlight 12/2023: A tutorial in serving and reigning

Already today we receive extra lessons from the Holy Spirit on the subject of serving and reigning. How exactly He goes about this is explained by District Apostle Helper John Schnabel from the United States in his Spotlight article.

31 07 2023

Annual motto

+3

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Pentecost

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The architect of the New Apostolic Church

He was not the first to hold this office, but the first with to bear the title. Chief Apostle Hermann Niehaus was born on 28 July 1848, 175 years ago. This is the story of the man who turned individual New Apostolic congregations into a church.

27 07 2023

Africa

+8

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments
• Youth

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What Sunday is made for

Keeping the Sabbath holy? Well of course, and the divine service is part of it. But what exactly was the reason for the Sabbath again? The Chief Apostle gave more than handful of good reasons during his recent visit to Italy.

26 07 2023

Chief Apostle

+1

• Divine service

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Ministry (33): A lost tradition

Did the New Apostolic Church really ordain only men as ministers until last year? What about the Deaconesses who were active in Europe, America, and Africa for a period of eighty years? Here are some facts and figures to give an initial picture.

25 07 2023

Africa

+10

• America
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Holy Sealing
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Taking the future into their own hands

Hairdryers are doing overtime, hammers are banging away, and heads are spinning: the church building in Parkwood in South Africa has been converted into a skills development centre for disadvantaged young people. And they learn far more than technical skills there.

24 07 2023

Africa

+7

• Buildings
• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Youth

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Brick by brick: how faith moves a church building

Sure, the ancient Israelites moved around with their tabernacle quite a bit. But that was more like a better tent. The congregation of Kananga, which the Chief Apostle is visiting this weekend, has shown that this how this can actually be done with a solid brick building.

21 07 2023

Chief Apostle

+2

• Congregation
• District Apostle

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Snapshots from Kinshasa

Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider is currently in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His first stop was in of congregation of Limete Central. Here are a few impressions from the concert and divine service with 2,100 participants locally. Another 97,000 watched the coverage on television.

20 07 2023

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Music

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Through thick and thin with God

The story has a happy ending: “Never forget that no matter what happens, now is not the end of the story,” says the Chief Apostle. Blessing can, however, be experienced already before that as the story of Joseph shows us.

19 07 2023

Africa

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• History 
• Music
• Pentecost

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A church building with character

It’s official: the building of the New Apostolic Church in Eppendorf is one of the most remarkable buildings in Hamburg, Germany. It has lots of stories to tell, for example, about the new organ, the moving altar, or the little piece of their church that people can carry around.

18 07 2023

Asia

+13

• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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Spotlight 11/2023: Practising self-restraint

Anger is a bad counsellor. All we need to do is look at the story of Cain and Abel. District Apostle Rainer Storck from Germany explains how self-restraint plays into our 2023 motto.

17 07 2023

Annual motto

+1

• District Apostle

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At home worldwide: ChatGPT and chocolates

Young people all over the world are active and committed. In Germany children made chocolates to bring joy; in South Africa young people pitted their wits against artificial intelligence. And to keep it that way, there were workshops in Argentina for all those who want to help and inspire young people.

14 07 2023

Africa Chief Apostle

+5

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Music
• Youth

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Ministry (32): Done rather than thought out

This much is clear: in areas where the Bible is not clear, it will be sorted out by the Church. This then gives rise to the next question regarding the matter of the ordination of women: how were things sorted out until now? The answer: in a variety of ways and based on weak arguments.

13 07 2023

Apostolate

+11

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Society
• Youth

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“Blessing is our relationship with God and nothing else”

“This certainty, this absolute certainty that I am loved by God. And feeling this peace in your heart despite all the temptations: God loves me. This signifies blessing.” In a divine service recently, the Chief Apostle cleared up some popular misunderstandings.

12 07 2023

Ascension Day

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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On the way towards an active apostolate

Called and consecrated, but not yet separated: 14 July marks the anniversary of a milestone in the history of the Apostles in modern times. Read on to find out what’s with this date and what it means for the New Apostolic Church today.

11 07 2023

Apostolate

+8

• Christmas
• Congregation
• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2023)

It was mainly in Africa that the Chief Apostle ordained new Apostles in the first half of 2023. But there were also two ordinations on other continents: one in America and one in Europe.

10 07 2023

Africa

+15

• America
• Apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Retirement
• Social commitment

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On sorcery, natural beauty, and anticipation

For a long time Finland was a blank spot on the New Apostolic map, until an Apostle remembered his childhood dream. This weekend, the Finnish brothers and sisters are excited to have the Chief Apostle visit them.

07 07 2023

Africa Chief Apostle

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Sealing
• Music
• Sacraments

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Jesus knows every human being

“Jesus knows you.” This is a familiar thought. But what this really means can be quite amazing. Here is a closer look at needs, limits, potential, and motives.

05 07 2023

Chief Apostle

+1

• Divine service

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Spotlight 10/2023: Reigning with Christ is serving in a perfect way

Why should we serve God and strive to reign, District Apostle Michael Deppner from the DRC Congo asks in his article on our annual motto. In the end, no one gets more than their neighbour. The effort, however, is worth it.

04 07 2023

Annual motto

+2

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle

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A lifework of reforms

“If we want to preserve what we have, we will have to change many things,” was the guiding principle of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who died ten years ago today on 30 June 2013. Many of the innovations today can be traced back to his initiative.

30 06 2023

Acts of blessing

+18

• Africa
• Apostolate
• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Grieving
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Profile
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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Giving things up for God and receiving everything

This is a kind of less is more approach: those who give things up for God will get more in the end than they ever gave up. The Chief Apostle explained the whys and wherefores in a divine service.

28 06 2023

Chief Apostle

+4

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Society

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don't miss

“A decision with long-term goals in mind”

The New Apostolic Church in Angola is growing. It was time to take another step. Since last Sunday, the country has its own District Apostle Helper: João Uanuque Misselo.

25 02 2015

Chief Apostle District Apostle

+6

• Apostolate
• Doctrine 
• Congregation
• Pastoral care
• Organisation
• Africa

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“The Lord is risen indeed!”

The Passiontide, with the death of the Lord on Good Friday, ends magnificently in the resurrection of the Lord. This is the fundamental belief of all Christians. But why is this day of the resurrection so important for us?

04 04 2015

Good Friday Chief Apostle

+9

• Apostolate
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Baptism 
• Holy Sealing
• Holy Communion
• Divine service
• Congregation
• Denominations

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“And God saw the light, that it was good”

Light is life—and truth—and goodness in general: no other physical phenomenon shines so deeply into the human soul. How a simple image can shed light on the divine—illuminated for us on the international Day of Light this 16th day of May.

16 05 2023

Pentecost

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