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Spotlight 13/2023: Serving the future today

Who is supposed to benefit from serving and reigning with Christ? This is the question District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi from the Democratic Republic Congo asks in his article as he reflects on our 2023 motto and takes a look at the coming generations and what we are leaving our children.

17 08 2023

Annual motto Apostolate

+5

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Voluntary commitment helps protect children

When it comes to the prevention of sexual abuse the New Apostolic Church is undeterred. The most recent example is the introduction of a mandatory code of conduct published by the New Apostolic Church Western Germany.

15 08 2023

Africa

+10

• Charity work
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

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What Sunday is made for

Keeping the Sabbath holy? Well of course, and the divine service is part of it. But what exactly was the reason for the Sabbath again? The Chief Apostle gave more than handful of good reasons during his recent visit to Italy.

26 07 2023

Chief Apostle

+1

• Divine service

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Ministry (32): Done rather than thought out

This much is clear: in areas where the Bible is not clear, it will be sorted out by the Church. This then gives rise to the next question regarding the matter of the ordination of women: how were things sorted out until now? The answer: in a variety of ways and based on weak arguments.

13 07 2023

Apostolate

+11

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Society
• Youth

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On the way towards an active apostolate

Called and consecrated, but not yet separated: 14 July marks the anniversary of a milestone in the history of the Apostles in modern times. Read on to find out what’s with this date and what it means for the New Apostolic Church today.

11 07 2023

Apostolate

+8

• Christmas
• Congregation
• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry

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A lifework of reforms

“If we want to preserve what we have, we will have to change many things,” was the guiding principle of Chief Apostle Richard Fehr, who died ten years ago today on 30 June 2013. Many of the innovations today can be traced back to his initiative.

30 06 2023

Acts of blessing Africa

+17

• Apostolate
• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Grieving
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Profile
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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Ministry (31): The authority to establish order in the Church

The Bible does not give a clear answer regarding the question of the ordination of women. Therefore the apostolate must decide. Can they just go ahead and decide something like this? The Bible has clear answers to this.

26 06 2023

Apostolate

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Sacraments

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Answering the call to ministry

Motivated by the changed concept of ministry in the New Apostolic Church, the Regional Church USA developed a preparatory process for potential ministers. Alberto Marquez was one of the first to go through it. He has been serving as a Deacon in his congregation in the Bronx, in New York City, since May 2022.

13 06 2023

Congregation

+4

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry

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Ministry (30): Contradictions make it into a matter of order

What about the position of women in the early Christian churches? The biblical findings are riddled with contradictions. How does the New Apostolic Church see this? Here is the second interim conclusion on the question of what the New Testament says about the ordination of women.

12 06 2023

Apostolate

+8

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation

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A compass for those at the helm

The Church is more than just faith, doctrine, and community. It also involves organisation. By what principles is the institution to be governed? And how can these be implemented on a global scale? This is the current focus of the Church’s leadership.

08 06 2023

Chief Apostle

+5

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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How divine services will continue to reach believers

In the end, it was only one link that changed: after almost three years, our Friday list of online services is no longer necessary, thankfully. Here is a look back on an eventful period.

02 06 2023

Africa

+9

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Local news
• Organisation

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Unity in Christ does not exclude diversity

God in His triune nature is not a mental construct, but is someone who can be experienced directly. Despite the diversity of the individual members, the church of Christ comprises a single entity. The power and authority of Jesus Christ extend into the beyond. These are the subjects of our divine services in June.

01 06 2023

Apostolate

+8

• Ascension Day
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Pentecost

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Lubumbashi celebrated Pentecost

How did the Pentecost service get to the various congregations? In very different ways. And some, like the Democratic Republic of Congo, made a celebration of their own out of it.

31 05 2023

Africa

+9

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Local news
• Music
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Church leaders at work

Working with heart, soul, and mind: discussions by the District Apostle Meeting were on the agenda for day two and three of the 2023 Pentecost council in Cape Town.

26 05 2023

District Apostle

+2

• Organisation
• Pentecost

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District Apostles in meetings as of today

The agenda has been defined and the conference equipment is set up: starting today, the International District Apostle Meeting is in session. Yesterday, the host and the team from the New Apostolic Church International put the final touches on their preparations.

25 05 2023

District Apostle

+1

• Organisation

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A place to make music, be safe, and learn

Over the next few days, the focus of the New Apostolic world will be on Cape Town in South Africa. The Chief Apostle and the District Apostles have gathered in the city for the International District Apostles’ Meeting. They will conduct divine services, attend a concert in Silvertown, and celebrate the birthday of the church on Pentecost.

24 05 2023

Africa

+16

• Asia
• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Event
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Ministry (29): For want of a doctrine it becomes a question of order

Jesus, women, and the apostolate… While the biblical findings are indisputable, they do not provide clear answers. How does the New Apostolic Church treat this? Here is the first interim conclusion on the question of what the New Testament says about the ordination of women.

11 05 2023

Apostolate Chief Apostle

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Society

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Two Pentecost events to be streamed live

New Apostolic Christians from all over the world can tune into this year’s Pentecost celebration on two occasions. Not only will the divine service on Sunday be broadcast but also the concert on Saturday. And the hosting district is quite famous for its music.

09 05 2023

Africa

+10

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music
• New Year
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Social commitment

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God and image of God: the difference

Some Bible passages paint a very contradictory picture of God. How does the New Apostolic Church see this? Quite simply: like Jesus. This is the answer from an essay that was just published.

25 04 2023

Congregation

+4

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Organisation

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Ministry (27): A definite but unclear no

There is only one passage in the Bible that actually prohibits women from preaching the gospel. But according to biblical scholars, this statement did not come from Apostle Paul at all. How does the Church deal with this?

11 04 2023

Apostolate

+7

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Society

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Always at your fingertips: nac apps

With nac apps at your fingertips your quest for answers is a thing of the past. The New Apostolic Church provides timely answers to concrete questions such as, what is our teaching, what’s new, where is the nearest church?

13 03 2023

Charity work

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Good news from around the world

Reunions after a pandemic forced break, anniversaries galore, and a Youth Day chock full of biblical knowledge. These are this week’s news flashes from New Apostolic congregations around the globe.

09 03 2023

America Christmas

+9

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• History 
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Youth

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Online services to continue

During the Covid restrictions, the divine services that were streamed on YouTube were a lifeline. People could watch from home when churches were closed or when in quarantine. In the meantime, the District Apostle Meeting has decided that online services will continue to air publicly until further notice.

17 02 2023

Chief Apostle

+5

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Music
• Organisation

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Ministry (24): Why Jesus chose twelve men

Yes, Jesus called only men to be Apostles. But this does not answer the question of why a ministry cannot also be conferred on women. Because His choice had absolutely nothing to do with that. Christ Himself says so quite clearly.

14 02 2023

Apostolate

+4

• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Investiture
• Ministry

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Understanding the core messages

God reveals Himself step by step: from God the Creator, through the man Jesus, to the activity of the Holy Spirit. And this also applies to the correct understanding of Holy Scripture. Here is the second part of the Chief Apostle’s handout.

07 02 2023

Chief Apostle

+3

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Organisation

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Reading with the Spirit and reason

In the Bible, people testify of the revelations of God. These testimonies are of course inspired by the Holy Spirit, but are also influenced by the knowledge and culture of the people of the time. And this has consequences especially for the reader today. Here is a handout by the Chief Apostle.

06 02 2023

Chief Apostle

+4

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Organisation

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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

Chief Apostle District Apostle

+10

• Doctrine 
• Divine service
• Congregation
• Pastoral care
• Organisation
• Europe
• America
• Africa
• Australia / Pacific
• Society

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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

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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

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