faith.today

A pastoral trip ends fatally

Four dead, two survivors: a boating accident on the Kahamba River leaves a huge void. Many congregations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are deeply saddened. Those killed in the accident were their ministers.

July 2, 2021

Congregation District Apostle

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• Divine service
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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community 3/2021: Unity in diversity

“It is the same everywhere, only different,” Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler once said many years ago. Life and faith differ greatly in the congregations around the world, yet there is so much we have in common. community presents some of these commonalities in its latest issue, 03/2021.

July 1, 2021

Charity work

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Music
• Organisation
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (37): The Lord’s Supper in four dimensions

Let each celebrate Communion in their own way? The leap over the church fence is still rather difficult, but there is substantial common ground. This is outlined by the words of consecration and explained by the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church.

June 29, 2021

Ascension Day

+4

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Fellowship with God and with one another

Wambel is one of the congregations in the city of Dortmund in Germany. On 30 May 2021 Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider preached about God’s love there and what our response to His love can be like.

June 28, 2021

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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Proven a million times over

Divine service broadcasts are part of the Church’s past and its present. Following is this Sunday’s streaming offer.

June 25, 2021

Chief Apostle

+7

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

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Pastoral care (13): anything from boring to exciting

“Bah, was that ever a boring evening!” The Priest had announced his visit and blabbed on and on about nothing more than personal preferences. The verdict on that visit was devastating. Real pastoral interest looks quite different.

June 24, 2021

Doctrine  Investiture

+3

• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Society

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Without men

“God, help the widows and orphans.” This petition has become somewhat of an empty phrase in many prayers. The UN observes 23 June as International Widows Day, and it is an opportunity to take a special look at women in biblical times who had to take charge of their lives.

June 22, 2021

Congregation

+5

• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Society

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Women in ministry: a debate full of contrasts

There was certainly plenty of buzz on the social media sponsored by the New Apostolic Church. The subject of women in ministry generated hundreds of comments. And the reactions could hardly have been more different.

June 17, 2021

Africa

+13

• Apostolate
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Society

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The sacraments (36): A leap over the church fence?

Some call it the Eucharist, others the Lord’s Supper. For some it is ministers acting in Christ’s stead, for others it is the universal priesthood. For some it is a transformation, for others the body and blood of Christ are joined to the substance. Here it is Christ, there it is a symbol. Although Holy Communion is celebrated in all churches, it is celebrated differently everywhere.

June 15, 2021

Congregation

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• Denominations
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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A man of many talents

Wilhelm Sebastian was a man who was entrusted with special missions. He was barely 25 years old when he was sent from Hamburg to Brunswick to establish a congregation there. One of the special assignments given him is still of importance to the Church today.

June 14, 2021

Apostolate

+8

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

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Online services at a glance

The central divine services that the Church broadcasts are a global and multilingual offer that is independent of time and place and the current development of the pandemic.

June 11, 2021

Chief Apostle

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Music
• Sacraments

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Fellowship is both the way and the goal

Training in the fellowship of the believers for eternal fellowship with God: this is how the Chief Apostle understands salvation in Christ and our preparation for it. What this means he explained in his annual interview 2021.

June 3, 2021

Chief Apostle

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• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (35): Who is allowed to the table and where?

Taking a seat at the Lord’s table—that can involve a lot of hurdles: all Christian churches attach conditions to participation in Holy Communion. Anyone who decides to visit another denomination can easily get tangled up.

June 1, 2021

Acts of blessing

+7

• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Getting to know the church of Christ

“I believe in…the one, holy, universal, and apostolic church…” Such is the New Apostolic Church’s understanding of church. But what exactly does it mean by that? The sermons in June shed some light on the matter.

May 31, 2021

Apostolate

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• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Pastoral care (12): Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t…

From “I don't need a visit” to “Come over more often”—traditional family visits from ministers are still valued. What is required, however, are more creative ways to get together, as well as a return to more conventional values.

May 25, 2021

Congregation

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• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Society

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The Sacraments (34): Ambassadors of divine initiative

Now that we have answered the what, how, where, and when, we still have to ask the question of who: who is permitted to dispense Holy Communion? And this time, the Christian churches actually all seem to have very similar answers—albeit with differing justifications.

May 20, 2021

Apostolate

+8

• Congregation
• Denominations
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Local news
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Potato slices and Communion

Jesus is the bread of life. This knowledge held a special significance for District Apostle Gottfried Hinz, because Jesus and bread also played a very important role in his life. Today he would have been 140 years old.

May 15, 2021

Apostolate Chief Apostle

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

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Spotlight 7/2021: Shaping our future

The idea is not to simply wait for the future, but to prepare for it and shape it. This is the tenor of the New Apostolic motto for 2021. District Apostle Michael Ehrich of Germany explains why.

May 10, 2021

Annual motto

+5

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments

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An encounter at a railway station sets the course

The New Apostolic Church in Malaysia celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year, and it all began with a love story. The story takes us from Malaysia via England to Germany and back again.

May 6, 2021

Asia

+8

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

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The greatest declaration of love

How wonderful it would be if there were a love that never stops and forgives everything? This is the kind of unconditional affection that people long for. Here is a Good Friday sermon on extraordinary manifestations of love and the human pitfalls.

May 5, 2021

Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments
• Youth

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The sacraments (33): How often should we partake?

When is the table of the Lord prepared? And how often should believers come to the table? In the past and present of the various denominations, the gamut of when to partake in the Lord’s Supper runs from once a day to once a year—let’s take a tour through some of the churches.

May 4, 2021

Congregation

+6

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

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Gratitude: the power that produces fruit

It sounds menacing: those who don’t bear any fruit will be cut down. However, the parable of the barren fig tree is not a threatening message, but a message of joy. Anyone who digs deep enough will discover how the Bible interprets itself.

April 27, 2021

Bible study

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Spotlight 6/2021: Let us stand together as a congregation

The past year brought many new challenges. How did we deal with them? Have they managed to distance us from God? What lies ahead of us? District Apostle Kububa Soko (Zambia) answers these questions in his own way.

April 26, 2021

Annual motto

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• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (32): Table manners with bread and wine

What is the real focus of the congregation when celebrating Holy Communion? Fellowship with Christ, or fellowship with one another? The answer is reflected in the manner in which the believers gather for the sacrament and receive the elements.

April 20, 2021

Asia

+4

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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He took the helm in the middle of a storm

Suddenly in charge and in trouble. This is what Hendra Tansahsami experienced time and again. As District Apostle he merged the two New Apostolic sister churches in Indonesia. Here is a look back in tribute to a man who would have been 100 years old today.

April 19, 2021

Chief Apostle

+13

• Congregation
• Denominations
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Grieving
• History 
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile
• Society
• Youth

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Pastoral care (11): Confession and the quest for relief from guilt

Confession is a touchy subject. It is a highly sensitive and personal matter and often involves unresolved guilt. It is a difficult subject for all concerned.

April 15, 2021

Congregation

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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don't miss

Why Jesus continues to make people feel uncomfortable

When a mission becomes a brand and faith becomes a success story, you lose sight of the cross. But Jesus reminds us in an unnerving kind of way that love is not measured by how many people have been exposed to it, but by true discipleship.

November 4, 2025

Good Friday Bible study

+1

• Society

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New creation rather than calling it a day

What will become of me when God makes all things new? The Ninth Article of Faith speaks of a future in which God will dwell among people—and that wounded histories will not simply be erased but healed.

November 17, 2025

Doctrine  Bible study

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Believing passionately

Easter is coming up … and the divine services in March point the way there. There will be talk about mercy and solidarity, fellowship and the rule of God, and examples and precursors. Here is a glimpse at the Passiontide.

February 29, 2024

Palm Sunday Good Friday

+7

• Easter
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Holy Communion
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Divine service
• Congregation

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Is God’s plan good for us?

God is not there to make life difficult for us. On the contrary, He does more good for us than we realise—sometimes even through trials. Are you wondering how this can work? The Chief Apostle recently shed some light on this question.

March 19, 2025

Chief Apostle Divine service

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• Africa

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