world.today

Pastoral care survey: women for women

Is there a need for women in pastoral care? There sure is! This is the conclusion reached by an official work group in the New Apostolic Church Western Germany—and the group has concrete figures to demonstrate the need for a response to this demand in the congregations.

13 07 2021

Congregation District Apostle

+7

• Doctrine 
• Event
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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A sceptic as an example

He was a doubter, a man who seemed to fail because he did not endure to the end. At times history depicts him as an antihero—and yet there were so many things he did manage to get right.

08 07 2021

Bible study

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• History 
• Society
• Youth

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Across borders

“There is no place like home.” This is something that many people have discovered also in terms of online services. If you cannot be together with the members of your own congregation, you can draw joy from the plurality of languages and personalities.

02 07 2021

Africa

+8

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Music

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The best help is independence

Earthquakes, cyclones, and tsunamis again and again destroy people’s lives in South-East Asia. Emergency relief and rebuilding are not the only way to help them, though. In the long run, something else is important.

08 06 2021

Asia

+2

• Charity work
• Local news

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On a humanitarian mission in South Kivu

After an accident he decided put his plan into action: Robert went to Central Africa to work for Doctors Without Borders and to help build a clinic. But things did not quite go as expected. This is the rest of his story.

18 05 2021

Africa

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe

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nak.org bans data leeches

Not everything that comes along as being free is free: in fact, in the World Wide Web users often pay a high price with their personal data. nak.org is trying to make a difference. The website of the New Apostolic Church International is tracker free.

11 05 2021

Congregation

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God’s word instead of games: streamers at work

Two who know what they are talking about: Priest Steven Willmer and his son, Damian, are investing their technological know-how to stream divine services for their congregation.

03 05 2021

Congregation

+2

• Divine service
• Music

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Pastoral care (11): Confession and the quest for relief from guilt

Confession is a touchy subject. It is a highly sensitive and personal matter and often involves unresolved guilt. It is a difficult subject for all concerned.

15 04 2021

Congregation

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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At what point does the body separate from the soul?

Whether it has to do with organ donation, euthanasia, or measures to prolong life, modern medicine repeatedly confronts us with existential decisions. Following is an orientation guide from the point of view of the New Apostolic faith.

06 04 2021

Pastoral care

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Christian faith is not just a badge

It’s terrible when people don’t practise what they preach! We are so quick to point a finger but completely forget to look in the mirror. Only when words and deeds coincide is a person authentic.

22 03 2021

Divine service

+1

• History 

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God helps when we have to sail against the wind

There are days when we turn on the spot and simply make no progress. “Don’t worry,” Chief Apostle Schneider says and explains how God helps even when we seem to get nowhere.

17 03 2021

Chief Apostle

+8

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Music
• Sacraments

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Father, doer, and caring minister

His death was a shock for his small flock in Europe and his big flock in Africa. District Apostle Higelin passed away 25 years ago to the day. He was a man of action and a father figure of a unique build.

16 03 2021

Africa

+12

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Grieving
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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∃x.G(x) = God exists

God exists: and a math genius has proven it. And computers have confirmed it. But the calculation doesn’t quite work out—an equation with permanent unknowns on UNESCO’s World Mathematics Day on 14 March.

13 03 2021

Concept of salvation for the departed

+1

• Doctrine 

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Help on a global scale

Not a drop in the ocean, but valuable help for people in desperate need: many helping hands and a series of small projects have brought a little warmth, a full belly, and put a smile on children’s faces.

02 03 2021

Congregation

+2

• Local news
• Youth

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Pastoral care (10): Aging with dignity and how to succeed at it

Once the pinnacle is reached, everything begins to go downhill. At least that is the picture society throws at us all the time. Callous public advertising is constantly telling us that everything has an expiration date. Thank God that our ministers see things differently. It is not one’s age, but rather one’s essence, that defines a person.

23 02 2021

Congregation

+4

• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Society

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Grasping the world word by word

The mother tongue is the child’s hand through which the mind learns to grasp the world. This is where the words come from with which God addresses each individual in a very personal way. Here are some reflections on the UNESCO International Mother Language Day, which is observed annually on 21 February.

20 02 2021

Divine service

+1

• Doctrine 

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God is only too glad to respond to our supplications

Impudent, brazen, pushy: a few key words to describe the protagonists in the parables of Jesus on the subject of “prayer”. And these adjectives are not necessarily inconsistent with humbleness and the fear of God! A friend, a father, and a judge bear witness.

16 02 2021

Bible study

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Music sets the mood

There is hardly anything else that can unleash as much power as live music. But what if a person can no longer participate in concerts and performances due to high age? Anette Zanker-Belz has a solution: musical house calls.

08 02 2021

Congregation

+9

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Profile
• Seniors
• Youth

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Across congregational boundaries

Most of our congregational life has moved online because of the pandemic. This also includes divine services that are being offered in live webcasts globally. Here is the updated overview for Sunday.

05 02 2021

Acts of blessing

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

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A missionary with roots firmly planted at home

Fifty years ago to the day he was ordained as a District Apostle. At that time Zimbabwe was still called Rhodesia. He was also responsible for Zambia and Malawi: Andrew James Fernandes was born in Cape Town in South Africa and became an international traveler in Africa.

02 02 2021

Africa

+12

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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More than a parable: things we can learn from the sower!

The Parable of the Sower? Wasn’t that about the field of the heart? Yes and no! Actually, the focus is on something else. However, this can only be seen when looking at the whole picture—or by listening closely, as in the following overview.

21 01 2021

Doctrine 

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Pastoral care (09): reaching out to the youth

“Shaping the future of the Church” can be achieved by those who win young Christians over to be active in the Church, says Chief Apostle Schneider. Following are some thoughts on the challenges, the opportunities, and a win-win situation.

19 01 2021

America Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Event
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

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At home worldwide

Pandemic-related restrictions are unfortunately the order of the day virtually everywhere in the world. That does not mean, however, that all church activities have ceased. These gems of brotherhood still exist.

18 01 2021

Africa

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Learning from Jesus

“We spread the message of God’s kingdom. Christian faith is designed to be shared with others.” This is what the Catechism says, and this is how we practise it; also with online services on Sunday.

08 01 2021

Africa

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Music

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles: (2/2020)

There were only a few retirements and ordinations of Apostles in the second half of 2020. On account of travel restrictions, the District Apostles carried these out by mandate of the Chief Apostle. Currently, 348 Apostles are active worldwide.

06 01 2021

Africa

+12

• America
• Apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Retirement

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The story of the man who was Chief Apostle for 30 years

These were difficult times in the history of the New Apostolic Church. They included two world wars, internationalisation, consolidation, division, and realignment—a little bit of everything. And he stood firm like a rock in the pounding surf: Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff was born 150 years ago today.

02 01 2021

America

+11

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Ministry
• Organisation

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don't miss

Music offers glimmers of hope

Music can help us heal: this was the focus of a joint project in a children’s home north of the Arctic Circle. The participants came from Germany, Austria, Great Britain, and Greenland.

14 05 2024

Good Friday Easter

+11

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Holy Communion
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Divine service
• Congregation
• Youth
• Pastoral care
• Europe
• Music

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Kyrgyzstan—vast and unspoilt

Kyrgyzstan is vast and proud and situated in Central Asia. For many years, Bishop Udo Knispel has been active there. It is not easy to work there, he says in an interview with nac.today.

06 04 2017

Divine service Congregation

+2

• Asia
• Africa

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Loving, believing, and serving like Jesus

Before the divine service started, there was a spontaneous vocal number. The American, German, and Australian youth who had travelled to the Pan-American Youth Summit in St. Catherines, Ontario in Canada could hardly wait for the service to begin.

25 09 2024

Chief Apostle Apostolate

+6

• Divine service
• Congregation
• Youth
• America
• Australia / Pacific
• Event

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