apostles.today

Changes in the circle of the Apostles (2/2017)

Twenty-two Apostles were ordained in the past year by Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, and eighteen went into retirement. Three active Apostles passed away in 2017.

08 01 2018

Africa Apostolate

+12

• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Retirement

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Real people, real opinions: the 2018 poster series

New year, new posters. The year 2018 brings a fresh set of posters for the display cases of the congregations in Europe. It is a proven recipe: people like you and me, who underpin the annual motto of the New Apostolic Church with authentic statements.

05 01 2018

Annual motto

+5

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Media
• New Year

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Excellent prospects

Good news from God: He allows human beings a glance into the future. What this means for us today is something we can learn from the past. Follow us on a journey through time with the Chief Apostle.

04 01 2018

Chief Apostle

+1

• Divine service

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2017: Glory be to God, our father!

Let us recognise the glory of God in His works, thank Him for His gifts, and proclaim His glory! These are the three tasks for New Apostolic Christians in the coming year. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider’s New Year’s message:

31 12 2017

Annual motto

+3

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• New Year

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People in the news in 2017

Chrissandra, Paxton, Julia, and Sam: four names, four people, four different stories right from the heart of reality of New Apostolic Christians: sometimes sad, sometimes wonderful, but always strong in faith.

30 12 2017

Africa

+11

• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Event
• Grieving
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Youth

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The New Apostolic map is being redrawn

The New Apostolic Church is changing at the global level, not only from a doctrinal point of view, but also from a structural point of view: succession plans have been developed and District Churches are merging. Here is a brief look back at the year 2017 and an outlook on the immediate future.

29 12 2017

Africa America

+12

• Apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• New Year
• Organisation
• Retirement

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Divine services in 2017: key messages

“What does the Chief Apostle say about that?” This is a question that people often ask. Following is a review of some of the divine services celebrated by Chief Apostle Schneider in the past year.

28 12 2017

Australia / Pacific

+10

• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Three drops with a hundred-year history

The year 2017 marked an anniversary year. Exactly one hundred years before, the New Apostolic Church had started to officially celebrate Holy Communion without sharing the cup. Here is a brief recap of our wafer history.

27 12 2017

Africa

+10

• Anniversary
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Interim update on the concept of ministry

The concept of ministry was one of the high priority topics of 2017—with a very special emphasis: the Chief Apostle himself gave an interim update on the ongoing efforts on this new doctrinal understanding. Following are some insights into the developments to date.

26 12 2017

Apostolate

+11

• Baptism 
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Sacraments

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New Apostles and churches around the world

Without movement there is stagnation. This also applies to the structure and the organisation within the Church. New ministers and churches are constantly needed. Only then can the congregations around the world be properly cared for. Following is an overview.

22 12 2017

Advent

+7

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

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The Divine Service Guide addresses children

The thousands of teachers of the New Apostolic Church are not the only ones who have a heart for children. The Chief Apostle does too, and this is reflected in the Divine Service Guide. Starting in the new year, the guide for ministers will also provide impulses for divine services especially for children.

21 12 2017

Advent

+8

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

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The Church’s social media policy

Not sure what the Church’s position is regarding Facebook and Co.? A little unclear on how to handle the blurry boundaries between professional, private, and religious use when you post? The District Apostles have ratified The Social Media Guideline of the New Apostolic Church to provide guidance on the wise and appropriate use of social media.

20 12 2017

Chief Apostle

+3

• District Apostle
• Media
• Social commitment

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The secrets of a feel-good congregation

A congregation in which everyone feels welcome and loved. How is that supposed to work? The Chief Apostle’s answer: everyone can contribute. Here are ten reasons to rejoice and five building blocks that contribute to a feel-good congregation.

19 12 2017

Chief Apostle

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Luther 2017: a new Bible translation arrives

Martin Luther left his mark on both church theology and the German language with his translation of the Bible. A revised edition appeared on the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Starting in 2019, the 2017 Luther translation will be the official German-language Bible of the New Apostolic Church.

18 12 2017

Congregation

+4

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Media
• Society

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Pastoral visits: a full calendar

They travel by air, sea, or land and log mile after mile as they bump over rough terrain and potholed dirt tracks in four-wheel drives. Getting to their congregations can be exhausting for Apostles and even dangerous.

15 12 2017

Acts of blessing

+17

• Advent
• Africa
• America
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Retirement
• Youth

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Blessing. What does it mean exactly?

What is blessing? There are many answers. But some of the more popular notions miss the point. Chief Apostle Schneider in an interview of sorts.

14 12 2017

Acts of blessing

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Childhood in God: not an award, but an exhortation

Are you already a child of God? Or do you first want to become one? A divine service by the Chief Apostle on a key concept of the New Apostolic faith.

12 12 2017

Chief Apostle Congregation

+1

• Divine service

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Charting the course for a joint future

The two independent District Apostle Areas in South America will merge in 2019. This announcement was recently made by the Church leaders.

11 12 2017

America

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Retirement

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Do not forget to do good and share with others

People who do good get more out of life. Doing good, especially in the days leading up to Christmas, opens our eyes for new perspectives and wonderful experiences. Following are some examples of all that is being done for the less fortunate.

08 12 2017

Africa

+8

• Buildings
• Charity work
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• History 
• Music
• Social commitment

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New Year, new motto – Attention! You’re on

Monday, 27 November. A session of the International District Apostle Meeting has just ended, as has a meeting of the Finance Committee. By the time the Chief Apostle arrives in the recording studio it is already three o’clock in the afternoon.

07 12 2017

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• New Year

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We cannot help but love

There are many reasons to ignore, despise, or even hate our neighbour. “But be steadfast in love, don’t give up,” the Chief Apostle says. “We believe in the final victory of love. That is our conviction.”

06 12 2017

Asia

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Society

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Kinshasa: people build their own churches

Seventeen-hundred congregations and ten Apostle districts in one city alone. A look at a New Apostolic stronghold which the Chief Apostle will visit this coming weekend.

05 12 2017

Buildings Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care

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Ministers between church and their families

Ministry and person. This may sometimes pose potential for conflict. The two roles, the one as minister and the one as husband and father, do not always coincide. What does the Chief Apostle say about this?

02 12 2017

Apostolate

+5

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

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Our congregations around the world

On Sunday Christianity observes the first Sunday of Advent. Here are some of the different ways our brothers and sisters around the world will start off the new church year.

01 12 2017

Advent

+14

• Africa
• America
• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Denominations
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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Christmas signifies: “God is with us!”

December ushers in Advent, Christmas, and the end of the year. These periods determine the contents of our sermons in December. The focus is on admonition, expectation, and joy—also in our divine services.

30 11 2017

Advent

+6

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

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A look ahead: International Youth Convention 2019

The District Apostles were given a tour of the exhibition grounds where the International Youth Convention (IYC) will take place in 2019. Before the tour, the District Apostles—who had convened for their fall session—were informed about what the participants would see, hear, and do at the Youth Convention.

29 11 2017

Africa

+7

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