church.today

Preparation for the service for the departed

God loves all human beings and God wants to save every single one. So what does He need believers for? A divine service packed with Christian basics, a little poetry, and above all pure joy.

26 02 2021

Chief Apostle Concept of salvation for the departed

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Music
• Sacraments

Listen to it

Across congregational boundaries

Most of our congregational life has moved online because of the pandemic. This also includes divine services that are being offered in live webcasts globally. Here is the updated overview for Sunday.

05 02 2021

Acts of blessing

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

Listen to it

Church construction is a community effort

There are many New Apostolic congregations who still harbour the wish for their very own church building. With a support programme worth a few million and some personal initiative, such a dream can indeed come true for many.

26 01 2021

Africa

+13

• America
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Youth

Listen to it

A District Apostle Helper for Northern Europe

Only a few weeks after the most recent retirement, the circle of District Apostle Helpers will receive a new addition: to support one of the largest District Apostle Areas.

25 01 2021

Africa

+14

• Apostolate
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Retirement

Listen to it

Pastoral care (09): reaching out to the youth

“Shaping the future of the Church” can be achieved by those who win young Christians over to be active in the Church, says Chief Apostle Schneider. Following are some thoughts on the challenges, the opportunities, and a win-win situation.

19 01 2021

America

+8

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Event
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

Listen to it

Learning from Jesus

“We spread the message of God’s kingdom. Christian faith is designed to be shared with others.” This is what the Catechism says, and this is how we practise it; also with online services on Sunday.

08 01 2021

Africa Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Music

Listen to it

At what point are body and soul joined?

When exactly does human life begin and when does it end? The boundaries are not always clear. But clear answers are important, because sometimes critical personal decisions need to be made. Here is some help from the Church.

07 01 2021

History 

+1

• Society

Listen to it

The story of the man who was Chief Apostle for 30 years

These were difficult times in the history of the New Apostolic Church. They included two world wars, internationalisation, consolidation, division, and realignment—a little bit of everything. And he stood firm like a rock in the pounding surf: Chief Apostle Johann Gottfried Bischoff was born 150 years ago today.

02 01 2021

America

+11

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Ministry
• Organisation

Listen to it

nak.org 3.0 is online

All the latest features, and the best of the old to boot: as of today, nak.org, the website of the New Apostolic Church International, has been completely redesigned. A lot has happened, not only in terms of design, but also under the hood.

01 01 2021

Chief Apostle

+1

• Congregation

Listen to it

A church without borders or walls

Locked church doors, divine services on YouTube, mouth and nose protection at the altar: the pandemic really shook up church life in 2020. It was the year of COVID-19. Following is a chronicle of the year’s events.

28 12 2020

Africa

+13

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Local news
• Organisation
• Sacraments

Listen to it

Bethlehem, the barricaded city

There is a great barrier that separates Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Although it is indeed possible to pass through its gates, visitors require a passport, and must submit to customs control. For many, however, it has become a wall of death. Bethlehem today has become a symbol of political unrest and human error.

24 12 2020

Chief Apostle

+6

• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• History 
• Organisation

Listen to it

An engineer of the Church in tune with the times

Whenever innovations were in the offing, he was front and centre—and he was never shy to apply his international perspective. In retrospect, this allowed him a special view of God’s work: District Apostle Helper John Sobottka from Canada is retiring this Sunday.

17 12 2020

Africa

+9

• Asia
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation

Listen to it

Church continues a course of consolidation

The New Apostolic Church is continuing its process of consolidation: in the year 2022, the District Apostle district of Northern and Eastern Germany will merge with the District Apostle district of Berlin-Brandenburg. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider made the announcement yesterday.

14 12 2020

Africa

+11

• America
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Ministry
• Organisation

Listen to it

Equally created in the image of God, and equal in commission too

Both in terms of organisation and content, the most recent District Apostle Meeting was dominated by the coronavirus crisis. Yet not even the pandemic was able to stop the work that needed to be done on the future-oriented topics on the agenda of this conference.

02 12 2020

America

+10

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

Listen to it

Law and justice—two completely different beasts?

Who is in the right? An often heard question. Whom will the law favour? That is already a more difficult question to answer. But having the law on your side is not necessarily the same thing as actually being right. And what is justice anyway? Where does it start? Where does it end? A few words on the subject...

19 11 2020

America

+4

• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Society

Listen to it

United over thousands of kilometres

The pandemic forces people to keep a distance from one another. This also applies to the regularly occurring conference of the international Church leaders. In some respects, a digital conference of the District Apostles is uncharted territory, and the preparations for it were quite complex and involving.

16 11 2020

Africa

+5

• America
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Organisation

Listen to it

Divine service for the departed: Jesus is Lord

Christians feel a need to intercede for the dead. This coming Sunday, New Apostolic Christians will celebrate the divine service for the departed. The services will be broadcast around the world.

30 10 2020

Chief Apostle Concept of salvation for the departed

+3

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments

Listen to it

Apostle Haeck assumes the chairmanship of the CCC

The Council of Christian Churches (CCC) in Luxembourg is the official name of the round table at which the ecumenical churches of the Grand Duchy gather together to discuss Christian issues in the country. The CCC has recently appointed a new chairman: Clément Haeck, a retired Apostle.

27 10 2020

Acts of blessing

+4

• Denominations
• Doctrine 
• Music
• Organisation

Listen to it

The Divine Service Guide turns over a new leaf

Brighter, more modern, with a better overview—this is how the latest edition of the Divine Service Guide presents itself. The most frequently translated publication of the New Apostolic Church is undergoing a relaunch. And this applies to more than just its design.

20 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Event
• Youth

Listen to it

Gratitude not only on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day commemorates the creatorship of God. This is what the New Apostolic Catechism says. Once a year, a Sunday is set aside for this in the church calendar. But gratitude is something that Christians can show God on all the other days of the year as well, the Chief Apostle says.

13 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Society
• Thanksgiving Day

Listen to it

Praise and love more

The goal is still the same: the return of Christ. However, the Church is developing. This is what the Chief Apostle made clear in a doctrinal paper that was recently published. He looks back on the way we have covered so far and looks ahead to what still needs to be done.

05 10 2020

Apostolate

+7

• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

Listen to it

The sacraments (19): Eat and drink!

So far in our series on the sacraments in the church of Christ we have explored Holy Baptism. Now we are moving on to take a closer look at Holy Communion. What is the position of the New Apostolic Church?

29 09 2020

Baptism  Congregation

+5

• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

Listen to it

nacfaq: update of the Questions and Answers app

Darkmode makes it perfect for night-time reading. And it is ideal for occasional reading as it provides specific answers for specific questions. The digital version of the Catechism in Questions and Answers has just been relaunched.

07 09 2020

Congregation

+1

• Doctrine 

Listen to it

Pastoral care (05): with and without a ministry

Who can provide pastoral care? Here are some thoughts on the motivation, passion, and ministerial mandate behind pastoral care, and the fact that everyone can be active in it.

26 08 2020

Charity work

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Pastoral care

Listen to it

nacnews: an update to the news reader

New Apostolic news from around the world—but only the articles I want to read! Anyone at all can choose for himself. It’s a piece of cake with nacnews!

25 08 2020

Charity work

+1

• Congregation

Listen to it

Pastoral care must be learned

Expert skills are not imparted by ordination or appointment—these are things that must first be learned. Nevertheless, the Church strives to support and guide its ministers and teachers in their endeavours. In some ways, the various District Churches pursue this task in similar ways, but sometimes they take quite a different approach

22 08 2020

Africa

+15

• America
• Asia
• Buildings
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Investiture
• Local news
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Social commitment
• Youth

Listen to it

don't miss

Unity in diversity. The Church in conflict?

When cultures clash. Do Africans have to become more European or Europeans more African? Do those who are more conservative have to become more progressive? Or the other way around? The answer can be found in the Bible.

31 01 2024

Africa America

+10

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Society

Listen to it

When decision-makers should abstain

What if a conflict of interest arises for a member of the Church’s governing body? The Board of Directors of the New Apostolic Church International (NACI) broached this controversial question recently and set down guidelines.

24 01 2025

Organisation

Listen to it

NACI is working on an e-learning program

The New Apostolic Church would like to offer its ministers better training opportunities—and on a global level, at that. It is for this reason that the New Apostolic Church International (NACI) is working on an e-learning program. Following are some initial insights. 

19 12 2024

Ministry Divine service

+2

• Pastoral care
• Media

Listen to it