The Equator cuts right through the Indonesian island of Borneo. And situated directly on this imaginary line—where there is little seasonal variation in the climate, incidentally—is the New Apostolic congregation of Pontianak.
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Uruguay
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Photo: NAC Uruguay
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Photo: NAC Uruguay
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Photo: NAC Uruguay
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Photo: NAC India
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Photo: NAC India
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Photo: NAC India
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Photo: NAC India
Indonesia – Divine service at the Equator. Pontianak is on the island of Borneo. The city is the capital of the sultanate of the same name and has a population of more than half a million. What is so special about the city is that it straddles the Equator, which is why it is also referred to as Kota Khatulistiwa, meaning Equatorial City. There has been a New Apostolic congregation in Pontianak since 1983, established by the then District Elder Alfons Tansahtikno. Two additional congregations are found further west on the island.
On 5 March 2017 the congregation had a very special visitor: District Apostle Urs Hebeisen celebrated the divine service for the departed. He was joined by all the Bishops and Apostles from Indonesia.
Uruguay – Divine service in Nueva Helvecia. Nueva Helvecia is a city in south-western Uruguay known for its Swiss heritage, hence its name. It is about 60 kilometres from Colonia del Sacramento and 120 kilometres west of Montevideo. There are sixteen New Apostolic congregations in the area—a good reason for the District Apostle to come and visit his members. Some 640 brothers and sisters gathered for the divine service he celebrated on 26 February. District Apostle Enrique Eduardo Minio had brought Apostle Edwin Hermann Ernst Guigou with him. Some members covered nearly 200 kilometres to attend the service.
District Apostle Minio preached about the prodigal son. Everyone was delighted that he ordained several ministers.
Brazil – Sunday School on Saturdays. Tacaimbó is a city in north-eastern Brazil, about 200 kilometres west of Recife, the capital of the state of Pernambuco. The population is 12,800. Many people work in agriculture. The area’s main crop is cucumber, which is why the region is referred to as the Land of the Cucumber.
In mid February the New Apostolic congregation Tacaimbó had a visit from District Apostle Raúl Montes de Oca. He celebrated a divine service with them and spent time with the children in Sunday School. The congregation has fifteen children. Their lessons take place on Saturday—to be exact on Saturday evenings from 19.30 to 20.30 p.m. The teachers use the textbooks God’s Ways, Come, Lord Jesus, and the international Church magazine community as teaching aids.
India – Good writing and photography: “Creative Workshop for Journalism” was the title of a workshop in Pune attended by members from all over the country. The main focus of the workshop was to improve the writing and photography skills of the participants for the purpose of regularly updating the NAC India website. The seminar consisted of three parts: photography, writing skills, and editing and finalising articles.