Spotlight 12/2022: Let’s not shut ourselves off

During a pandemic it is important to isolate oneself in order to avert the risk of infection. In our congregational life, however, things look very different: there isolation is a danger, District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo warns.

22 08 2022

Annual motto Congregation

+4

• District Apostle
• Grieving
• Pastoral care
• Society

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World Humanitarian Day

Floods, earthquakes, and disease… There is so much suffering in the world. Fortunately, there are people willing to help and provide aid. Much is also being done by the New Apostolic Church and its members. Today, 19 August, is World Humanitarian Day.

19 08 2022

Africa

+5

• America
• Charity work
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Youth

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Upcoming divine services

Fluctuating case numbers and adapting to changing Covid-19 measures are challenging people everywhere. But there is a comforting constant in all of this—our online and dial-in services.

19 08 2022

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Music

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A church’s struggle to survive dark times

The New Apostolic Church in the Nazi era: recent research refutes previous misconceptions and standard platitudes. So say proven experts who have critically monitored the Church for quite some time. Four reactions to two current publications follow.

18 08 2022

Africa

+6

• America
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Ministry

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A divine service to still our hunger and thirst

God can satisfy those who hunger and thirst for His justice. But He does not always do this in the way one would wish. The righteousness of God and how to obtain it was the subject of a recent divine service by the Chief Apostle.

17 08 2022

Apostolate

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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The sacraments (61): Three times a year for all

It looks no different than usual: Apostles dispense the sacraments—this time to two designated ministers—and the congregation stands and prays along silently. And yet, this is a highly solemn moment that has touched the faithful for generations.

16 08 2022

Baptism  Chief Apostle

+10

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

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Bringing faith to the campus

Practising faith together with others, spreading the gospel, and helping to shape the Church of tomorrow—that is what New Apostolic students in South Africa want. And that is the reason they have organised themselves into student societies.

15 08 2022

Africa

+4

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Where two or three gather…

…I am there with them. This is what Jesus promises all those who take part in a divine service—whether online or in person in their congregation.

12 08 2022

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music

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Singing to the glory of God

Whether young or old, many people love to make music. Music brings people together and it can create peace. The language of music is an international one and is understood across the world.

11 08 2022

Africa

+8

• America
• Children
• Congregation
• Europe
• Event
• Music
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Our mission and authority are modelled on Jesus

Leave the miracles to others. Today’s ministers have the mission to teach and preach the gospel to everyone and in all circumstances. At a recent divine service for ministers, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider reminded them of their tasks.

10 08 2022

Chief Apostle

+6

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Society

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Love others as they are, not as you would have them be!

“Indigenous” is a term that means “native”. The UN also speaks of autochthonous peoples, a reference to the descendants of the original population. The United Nations’ International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9th each year to raise awareness.

09 08 2022

Apostolate

+5

• Chief Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Ministry

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A chest that could move

It was a veritable treasure chest: constructed of acacia wood, richly adorned with gold both inside and outside, hung on two carrying poles, and closed with an exquisite lid. All of this alone would suffice to make it extremely valuable—to say nothing of the contents!

08 08 2022

Divine service

+2

• Doctrine 
• Sacraments

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Questions about the future? Ask God!

No one can see into the future, except God. But we can all plan for tomorrow. This is something that New Apostolic congregations do by minimising their impact on the environment, by being there for the upcoming generations, or seeing to sustainable development.

05 08 2022

Africa

+12

• Annual motto
• Buildings
• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Divine services on six continents

There are members everywhere who are doing what they can these days to ensure that divine services are transmitted via Internet and telephone. There is only one continent from which the New Apostolic Church does not transmit online services.

05 08 2022

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Music
• Social commitment

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USA initiates a generational shift

The New Apostolic Church in the USA is preparing to write a new chapter in its history. In little over a year, District Apostle Leonard R. Kolb (born 1956) will retire. His designated successor is to be assigned as a District Apostle Helper this coming Sunday.

04 08 2022

America

+8

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Ministry

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Moving forward with God’s help!

“This was the first time that I could travel into this part of the province of North Kivu,” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider wrote. And that is saying something, because for many years he travelled throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo as District Apostle.

03 08 2022

Ascension Day

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• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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The sacraments (60): An order for the beyond

Things got off to a turbulent start. But step by step the New Apostolic Church has put order into its sacraments for the departed. Once the practical part had been brought into line, the theory followed suit. Here is the history in fast-forward mode.

02 08 2022

Chief Apostle Christmas

+9

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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Earth, water, fire, and air: where God reveals Himself

Where does God live and how does He reveal Himself to us humans? This is an age-old question—and one that not only interests children—for which there are many answers. Some of them will be explored in the New Apostolic divine services in August.

01 08 2022

Congregation

+3

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments

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“Something very beautiful came of this, beyond the music”

Music creates bonds. This is something that four choirs and orchestras from France and Germany can testify to. Here is an excerpt to mark World Friendship Day on 30 July.

30 07 2022

Congregation

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• Divine service
• Event
• Music
• Youth

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Praying together

Hearing the word of God and the absolution, receiving blessing, and worshipping God together… These are some the key elements of divine service. And all this is possible virtually, even during the pandemic.

29 07 2022

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music

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Pleading our own cause: we want you to share!

The web, apps, and print products are all channels through which nac.today conveys information and news. Some people, however, still want to share it in their own way. Is that okay? There is a clear answer to this question—along with three little points to observe.

28 07 2022

Chief Apostle

+1

• Congregation

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United in Christ and with each other

It was “a Sunday like no other” in the Stade Martyr in Kinshasa, where the national football team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo usually plays. That is at least how the Chief Apostle felt about it. More than 35,000 young people had come to see and hear him.

27 07 2022

Chief Apostle Congregation

+6

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments
• Society
• Youth

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Ministry (17): Effective in combination

Ministry without authority? That won’t work. Ministry without a mandate? This happens more often than one might think. One is universally valid, while the other is bound to circumstances. And yet the two are closely interconnected.

26 07 2022

Apostolate

+9

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Retirement
• Sacraments

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Training ministers, building churches, and planting trees

Young people in Bolivia cleaned up a local park. In Africa and Europe ministers got together to learn how to deliver better sermons. And in Sierra Leone, Apostle Braima Saffa dedicated three churches in one day.

25 07 2022

Acts of blessing

+14

• Africa
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• 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.

22 07 2022

Africa

+9

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

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The sacraments (59): For the departed under the hands of the Apostles

Can the departed receive salvation too? The question is as old as Christianity itself. The answer of the New Apostolic Church is not even all that new—and nevertheless, it is unusual. Here is the story of how the sacraments for the departed came to be dispensed.

21 07 2022

Ascension Day

+8

• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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