Website color:

apostles.today

New Apostolic Church USA to make changes to midweek services
Zurich. Changes will soon be coming to the structure of midweek divine services in the New Apostolic congregations of the USA. The usual midweek service with its celebration of Holy Communion will in future only take place once each month. District Apostle Leonard Kolb plans to supplement this with non-sacramental divine services, home devotionals, Bible studies, Catechism instruction, musical evenings, and discussion evenings. Concerning this Chief Apostle states: “I really welcome this proposal, as the circumstances of the Church in the USA cannot be compared to those in Europe.”
16 01 2014
America

Listen to it

“Labour in love!” – The new motto for 2014
Zurich. The new year 2014 has a new motto: “Labour in love!” In his divine service on New Year’s Day in Stuttgart, Germany, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, the spiritual leader of the New Apostolic Church, used the words of the Lord Jesus as an appeal to all Christians to make a special profession of faith: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
04 01 2014
Apostolate

Listen to it

The anniversary year of the New Apostolic Church comes to an end
Zurich. The past year 2013 was an anniversary year for the New Apostolic Church. It was celebrated with numerous national and international events. Having emerged in 1863 from a small Catholic Apostolic congregation in Hamburg, Germany, the New Apostolic Church today numbers over ten million members around the world. New Apostolic Christians gather to worship in over 60,000 congregations. Following are some excerpts from a year in motion.
31 12 2013
Anniversary

Listen to it

A copy of the Catechism for the Pope
Rome. Pope Francis regularly receives many believers for general audiences in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Recently a Priest from Argentina took this opportunity to hand him a Spanish edition of the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church. Concerning this, Argentine District Apostle Norberto Passuni writes: “It is advantageous for us as Argentines that the Pope comes from our country.”
24 11 2013
America

Listen to it

Memorial service for retired Chief Apostle Richard Fehr
Zurich. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider called his predecessor in ministry a “wise man with great vision”. The majority of New Apostolic District Church leaders from around the world attended the memorial service for the highly respected and popular Chief Apostle, who had directed the affairs of the New Apostolic Church over the seventeen years from 1988 to 2005. It was in gratitude and sadness that they gathered in the Zurich-Hottingen church to take leave of Richard Fehr, who passed away on 30 June 2013, shortly before his 74th birthday.
19 07 2013
Asia Chief Apostle

Listen to it

Obituary for Chief Apostle Richard Fehr
Zurich. It is with great sadness that New Apostolic Christians around the world have learned of the passing of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who had served in ministry for many years. Expressions of sympathy have begun to arrive from all parts of the globe. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider describes his predecessor in ministry as a man of great wisdom and vision. “He always had a feel for the global Church and promoted its internationality. His time in office always stood—and still stands—for openness and tolerance.”
02 07 2013
Asia

Listen to it

Chief Apostle Richard Fehr has passed away
Zurich. In the early evening hours of this Sunday, 30 June 2013, retired Chief Apostle Richard Fehr passed into the beyond. He is survived by his wife Sonja and his family. In his official notice to the District Apostles, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider informed them that his predecessor in the Chief Apostle ministry closed his eyes peacefully at around 5:00 PM. In mid-July he would have been 74 years of age.
01 07 2013
Apostolate

Listen to it

Farewell reception from the NACI head office
Zurich. “It does me good to know that my predecessor is here. It brings me special joy that our retired Chief Apostle Fehr is feeling better again.” Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider had invited both of his predecessors in ministry to Zurich. He had done so in order to bid an official farewell to his immediate predecessor, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber—who retired on Pentecost Sunday of this year—from the head office of the Church.
13 06 2013
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

The name of the new Chief Apostle of the New Apostolic Church is Jean-Luc Schneider
Hamburg/Zurich. As of this Pentecost Sunday 2013, the New Apostolic Church has a new spiritual leader: Jean-Luc Schneider is the new Chief Apostle and successor in ministry to Wilhelm Leber, who retired from ministry on this occasion. It was a special highlight when the new Chief Apostle discharged the previous Chief Apostle from his ministry with the words: “In our hearts you will remain our Chief Apostle!”
20 05 2013
Apostolate

Listen to it

Pentecost 2013: “Surely your salvation is coming!”
Hamburg/Zurich. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, international Church leader since 2005, conducted his last divine service in Hamburg-Borgfelde this Pentecost Sunday (we reported). Several million people around the world shared in this sermon live via satellite and internet transmission. He called upon the believers to engage and exhibit the power of the Holy Spirit in their everyday surroundings.
20 05 2013
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

European Apostles ring in Pentecost with a meeting in Hamburg
Hamburg/Zurich. Retiring Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber opened the European Apostle Meeting in Hamburg the Saturday before Pentecost with warm thanks to all the Apostles for their work and support, all their prayers, and all their willingness to contribute and help along in the various developments. With emotion he went on to add: “I would also like to thank my predecessor in ministry, Chief Apostle Fehr. I would like to thank him in particular because he made the transition so easy for me. His attitude left its mark upon me and I have always been able to relate to it. It has been my endeavour to continue his work.”
18 05 2013
Apostolate

Listen to it

Pentecost 2013: A new Chief Apostle for the New Apostolic Church
Zurich. There are only about four more weeks to go before Pentecost, when a new Chief Apostle will be ordained for the New Apostolic Church. The current international Church leader, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, will retire at the age of 65 and will be succeeded in ministry by a French national, namely Jean-Luc Schneider (53). The preparations for this change have already been made, and all Church members around the world are aware that it is coming.
19 04 2013
Apostolate

Listen to it

Chief Apostle officially ushers in the anniversary year 2013
Zurich/Herford. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, chose the New Year’s Day divine service in his native city of Herford, Germany to officially usher in the 150-year anniversary of the Church: “The year 2013 is to be a year of profession!” In connection with this he referred to the great accomplishments of previous generations, without which the Church, as it stands today, would be inconceivable.
03 01 2013
Anniversary

Listen to it

Official introduction of the New Apostolic Catechism!
Zurich. “For the first time ever, a systematic description of the New Apostolic doctrine has been developed. Naturally there have already been other works describing significant elements of the New Apostolic faith […] Nevertheless there have been increasing calls for a more comprehensive description of our doctrine.” So it says on the first page of the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church. Yesterday evening there was an information evening originating in Zurich to mark the work’s official introduction.
06 12 2012
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

First copy of the Catechism presented to the Chief Apostle
Zurich/Herzliya. The first print of the New Apostolic Catechism is in the hands of Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber: the international Church leader was only too happy to pick up a copy of the extensive work. This brings a year of intensive work to a close, as at least the German-language version of the Catechism is to be published by mid-December. The work is also scheduled for publication in a number of other languages in January of next year.
13 10 2012
Acts of blessing

Listen to it

Pentecost 2012: A high point of faith
Cologne/Zurich. It was a high point of the church year for New Apostolic Christians around the world: Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber conducted the Pentecost divine service in Cologne on 27 May 2012. The spiritual leader of all New Apostolic Christians called out to the believers with a special Pentecost message: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” The sermon revolved around the question as to how children of God are to lead their lives in our time. What is important is to keep faith, always be willing to make peace, subordinate our will to God’s will, and draw strength for daily life from the resurrection of Christ.
30 05 2012
Chief Apostle Congregation

Listen to it

Pentecost 2012: Jean-Luc Schneider appointed Chief Apostle Helper
Zurich/Cologne. After many years, the New Apostolic Church once again has a Chief Apostle Helper. In the Pentecost service on 27 May 2012 in Cologne Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber appointed the French District Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider with this new commission. He will in future provide support to the Chief Apostle and also take on some of his travels. “The transition is to proceed in as continuous a manner as possible,” said the Chief Apostle. He himself is already looking toward his own retirement, he explained, and is working early to address the matter of his succession.
29 05 2012
Apostolate

Listen to it

Pentecost 2012: A meeting of Apostles
Cologne/Zurich. One of the items in the program for the Saturday of the Pentecost weekend in Cologne was a meeting of the European Apostles A total of 45 Apostles from Europe, as well as all the District Apostles and District Apostle Helpers of the world, had assembled for this occasion. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber began with an emotional prayer for the unity of the Church and the welfare of all congregations. A comprehensive spiritual portion followed.
27 05 2012
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

New Chief Apostle Helper to be appointed on Pentecost 2012
Zurich. In the divine service on Pentecost Sunday, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber will appoint a Chief Apostle Helper. “I would like to set an early course for the future,” stated the international Church leader, who will turn 65 this year. The date when he himself will retire remains open—perhaps in 2013 or 2014—however the work of a Chief Apostle Helper will already lighten his load quite perceptibly now.
23 03 2012
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

Work on the content of the Catechism is complete
Zurich. At today’s meeting, the International District Apostle Meeting came to a final decision on the German text of the Catechism. This final consultation meeting was also attended by members from the project group The New Apostolic Faith (PG TNF). It was unanimously decided that the current version of the text would be used as the basis for further translations.
17 03 2012
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

Pentecost 2011: Walking in the light of the Holy Spirit
Dresden. “Let us walk in the light of the Holy Spirit” – it was with this message that the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, addressed the congregations around the world in the Pentecost service 2011. Traditionally, the feast of Pentecost is celebrated in a big way in the New Apostolic Church, and on this occasion all 53 European Apostles gathered in Dresden. Many thousands of congregations on all continents were connected by satellite transmission.
14 06 2011
Chief Apostle

Listen to it

The liturgy of the New Apostolic Church as of the first Sunday of Advent 2010
Zurich. The liturgy is what orders and governs the sequence of music, prayers, Bible readings, the sermon, and the dispensation of the sacraments within the divine service. With the start of the new church year, a reform will come into effect (we reported) in the New Apostolic Church. The celebration of Holy Communion in particular is to be structured in even more dignified fashion through the enriched liturgical elements. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the international Church leader, explained that the new liturgy is intended to bring greater solemnity to the sequence of the divine service.
03 11 2010
Acts of blessing

Listen to it

New Statutes of the New Apostolic Church unanimously approved
Zurich. The International Apostle Meeting on 21 May 2010 in Cape Town, South Africa unanimously ratified a revision to the Statutes (Articles of Association) of the New Apostolic Church International, or NACI for short. In addition to many smaller changes, a so-called Delegates’ Meeting was introduced in order to reduce the costs of these gatherings. In the meantime the revised statutes have been registered with the Commercial Register of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland.
26 10 2010
Africa

Listen to it

Festive divine service and fifty-year wedding anniversary in Zurich
Zurich. “I stand before you with a pounding heart” – it was with these words that Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber began his address to the anniversary couple, Sonja and Richard Fehr, as they celebrated their golden wedding. The large festive congregation was thankful and happy that the retired Chief Apostle Fehr had indeed been able to attend this special divine service despite the health impediments that had resulted from his recent stroke.
01 10 2010
Anniversary

Listen to it

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

Listen to it

“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

Listen to it