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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.

30 12 2023

Africa America

+7

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

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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.

28 12 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.

27 12 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.

26 12 2023

Africa

+9

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

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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.

22 12 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.

21 12 2023

Chief Apostle Congregation

+5

• 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.

20 12 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?

19 12 2023

Apostolate

+5

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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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.

13 12 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.

12 12 2023

Annual motto

+3

• Australia / Pacific
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 

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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.

08 12 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?

07 12 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.

06 12 2023

Chief Apostle

+3

• Divine service
• 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.

05 12 2023

Africa

+8

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

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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.

01 12 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.

30 11 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.

29 11 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.

28 11 2023

Annual motto

+11

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

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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.

24 11 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.

23 11 2023

Asia

+7

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

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The Saviour and His helpers at work

God the Father sent His Son into the world to save all who believe in Him. And Jesus Christ still sends His disciples into the world today to help along. The Chief Apostle recently explained how this works.

22 11 2023

Apostolate

+6

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

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Ministry (39): Ordination of women—the consequences

What is definite is that there is gender equivalence and equality of the sexes before God. That is why, since the beginning of the year, women can also be entrusted with ministerial authority. This has both doctrinal and practical implications.

21 11 2023

Apostolate Congregation

+5

• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments
• Society

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Take a look at the world

Disaster assistance after floods, clean-up events, and a fundraiser are some of the things that have been going on in our congregations lately. A look at the New Apostolic world shows what team-spirit can achieve.

17 11 2023

Africa

+6

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

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Responding to God’s goodness

The Chief Apostle recently visited the congregation of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada to mark the congregation’s fiftieth anniversary. Denise Wright is one of the people who attended the very first divine services there. In an interview, the daughter of the man who established the congregation, remembers the beginnings.

16 11 2023

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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The flood and baptism: what old stories have to do with the new covenant

God made it rain. He saved Noah and his family with the ark. And at the end, He made a promise. These thoughts were the basis of a divine service by the Chief Apostle, which focussed on gratitude for a very particular God-given promise.

15 11 2023

Apostolate

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry

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Guide posts on the road to preaching

The Divine Service Guide is the most read and most listened to publication of the New Apostolic Church. Recently, workshops on two continents put the focus on this publication. Let’s take a look at the planning and groundwork.

14 11 2023

Africa

+10

• America
• Asia
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Retirement
• Youth

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don't miss

A leader with an open heart and mind

His faith, his foresight, and his humility made him a formative figure in New Apostolic history: Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler would have turned 100 on 20 February. Today and tomorrow, we will pay tribute to this man as a way of saying thank you.

19 02 2025

Profile Chief Apostle

+2

• History 
• Anniversary

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Faith. Fellowship. Future.

A feast that will stay: Pentecost 2025 has left deep impressions and provided an outlook for the future. Here is an overview of everything there is to know.

11 06 2025

Pentecost Investiture

+7

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Organisation
• Local news
• Buildings
• Music

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“Step by step, courageously forward” 

Twenty years ago today, Chief Apostle Richard Fehr handed over the ministry to his successor. In a video interview later, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber revealed how this came about.

15 05 2025

Investiture Chief Apostle

+2

• Anniversary
• History

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