The year 2023: Serving and reigning with Christ

It has been a year of serving and reigning with Christ. There were highs and lows. As the year winds down to its close, we invite you to take a look back with us at the key points of the District Apostles’ Spotlight articles.

December 30, 2023

Africa America

+7

• Annual motto
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Easter
• New Year

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The power of faith: people in the spotlight in 2023

Music and fellowship: this is how you could summarise the people profiled in nac.today in 2023. Owen and Anna bridged continents. Brandon studied with the aim of giving something back to the Church and became famous. And the students on the university campus in Winneba, Ghana, share their faith with others.

December 29, 2023

Africa

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Music
• Profile

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For the individual and the Global Church – the divine services in 2023

Whether in Helsinki, Nairobi, New York, or Bad Sassendorf, the Chief Apostle served New Apostolic Christians all over the world in 2023. While every believer could feel personally addressed in these divine services, the sermons also contained impulses for the Global Church.

December 28, 2023

Africa

+9

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music
• Palm Sunday
• Pentecost

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Farewell to ‌Unsere Familie

The year 2023 marks the end of an era: after almost exactly 90 years, Bischoff Publishers is discontinuing the German magazine ‌Unsere Familie‌.

December 27, 2023

Africa

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Europe
• Youth

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A new generation of leaders in the Church

The generational shift has begun at the highest levels of the New Apostolic Church: over the course of this year that is now drawing to its close, two District Apostle Helpers have been appointed as District Apostles, and a new Helper has been assigned—all according to plan.

December 26, 2023

Africa

+9

• America
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation

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Four words that help!

There is a message that weaves its way through the Christmas story. And Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds are not the only ones to have heard it. Jesus Himself repeats this greeting again and again—and in so doing brings us new courage even today.

December 25, 2023

Christmas Divine service

+3

• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Ministry

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Making the Church and our faith young

Songs of praise fill the streets of Nigeria, ring out in a retirement home in South Africa, and come from the mouths of children at a special service in Spain. When young people are involved in shaping things, there is always something going on in the congregation and in society. Here’s a glimpse of what the younger generation is up to.

December 22, 2023

Advent

+10

• Africa
• Children
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Seniors
• Society
• Youth

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When the painter rang at the second-last door

The Chief Apostle will hold the end-of-year service in a Bauhaus-style church building. Manfred Bayer, affectionately known as Manne, is a man who really knows the church, the congregation, and the city. Today the urban guide shows off his favourite city: Tübingen.

December 21, 2023

Chief Apostle

+6

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Ministry

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We can do no greater

The works of God are great. Well yes, that is how we praise God in prayer and song. But the Most High has no need of such praise. “We do this for ourselves, not for Him,” the Chief Apostle says and goes on to explain that those who believe in God will experience the greatest work of God upon themselves.

December 20, 2023

Chief Apostle

+4

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Ministry (41): Effective even when it fails

God is the one who designates an individual for a ministry. And yet sometimes it does not work. The problem then lies at the human level. What if something goes wrong?

December 19, 2023

Apostolate

+5

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Committed to a good cause

Men in dark leather jackets on motorbikes that make a throaty growl – and pink cuddly toys. Sometimes you come across images in the context of the Church that at first glance don’t seem to go together. But they do and there is a good reason for it all.

December 15, 2023

Africa

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Pastoral care

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Stay focussed on the great things God is doing

Just a little more suffering, the Bible text promises, and then the grace of God will be revealed. It is better to focus on all the good things God is doing for His children. This was the theme of a service recently, which the Chief Apostle conducted.

December 13, 2023

Baptism 

+7

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

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Spotlight 15/2023: With Christ

There is the story of a boy who already as a twelve-year-old led by example. It was important to Jesus to understand His Father’s will. District Apostle Peter Schulte from Australia was intrigued by the two last words of our 2023 motto, “with Christ”. He examines them more closely just as the year winds down to a close.

December 12, 2023

Annual motto

+3

• Australia / Pacific
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 

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When giving does great things

Children with autism, people with limited mobility, and refugees from Ukraine. These were the areas that NAK-Humanitas supported in 2022. The figures and the stories behind them can now be read in the charity’s recently published annual report.

December 11, 2023

Social commitment

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He knows how to win over people’s hearts

Witty, a no-nonsense type of guy, and a leader. District Apostle John L. Kriel of South Africa is a man of many talents, and he knows how to use them for the Church. He will be retiring this coming Sunday. Here is the portrait of a man who grew the Church.

December 8, 2023

Africa

+2

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 

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Ministry (40): When God designates an individual

It is a principle of faith in the New Apostolic Church: the fact that someone is entrusted with a ministry is rooted solely in God’s will. This idea is called “election”. But how does it work?

December 7, 2023

Apostolate

+6

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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The power of a small seed

Even a tiny seed can develop great power and grow big. Regardless of one’s gifts, shortcomings, and personal past, everyone can be a source of blessing.

December 6, 2023

Chief Apostle Divine service

+2

• Easter
• Society

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Where faith is a miracle

South Africa and Mozambique share a border and yet the two countries could not be more different in many respects. But there are similarities. Here are some impressions from Mozambique, which the Chief Apostle will be visiting this week.

December 5, 2023

Africa

+8

• Asia
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Profile

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Through the church year with Jesus

Welcome to the new year! What? There are still a few weeks to go before the old year ends. The calendar year, that is. But the new church year began yesterday. Advent marks the start of a journey of discovery of the life and work of Jesus.

December 4, 2023

Advent

+6

• Ascension Day
• Christmas
• Divine service
• Easter
• Palm Sunday
• Pentecost

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Christmas is just around the corner

The religious holidays in December create a bit of a muddle with our usual Sunday service times. The festive season also influences the subjects of our divine services as we anticipate Christmas.

December 1, 2023

Advent

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Society

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Reconciled diversity requires considerable effort

One faith, one doctrine – one church, many cultures: this was the common idea that hovered over almost every item on the agenda at the recent District Apostles’ Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland.

November 30, 2023

Africa

+7

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Organisation
• Society

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“The best is yet to come”

Jesus turned things upside down. And this message must be passed on and shared with everyone. Because we do not talk about the end of the world, but about a marvellous future. This message is not just for preachers.

November 29, 2023

Chief Apostle Congregation

+3

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe

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What microphone cables reveal

“Prayer works!” This is our motto for 2024. In his New Year’s message, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider explains the ideas behind it. Here is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the recording session.

November 28, 2023

Annual motto

+11

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• New Year
• Organisation

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Wafer bakery invests in the future

It is the mother of all New Apostolic wafer bakeries: the bakery in Bielefeld, Germany, is taking a technical leap into the future, even if it is only 150 metres. The 4.5 million euro project will ensure an adequate supply of communion wafers in sixty countries.

November 27, 2023

Africa

+6

• America
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Apostles underway to encourage and support

The main task of the Apostle ministry is the dispensing of the sacraments and the proclamation of the gospel. But sometimes their work also involves things such as presenting a wheelchair or going for a walk on the beach. Here are a few examples of the kind of support services Apostles offer.

November 24, 2023

Acts of blessing

+11

• Africa
• Apostolate
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Youth

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The altar: more than just a piece of furniture

The altar is the central focus in every church. But what makes it special? A conversation with architect Stephan Pfäffle about guidelines, artistic freedom, and the desire for the congregation to be enthusiastic about the design of its altar.

November 23, 2023

Asia

+7

• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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