faith.today

Giving thanks? Now is precisely the time!

Giving thanks to God? In difficult times this may not come to us so easily. Yet it is part of the battle against the crisis, says the Chief Apostle. He also explains how to manage this and what we get out of it ourselves: a divine service in two groups of five thoughts.

28 10 2020

Chief Apostle Congregation

+8

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Society
• Thanksgiving Day

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The sacraments (21): At the table with Jesus and the disciples

A farewell dinner among friends—with some far-reaching implications: for 2,000 years, Christians of all denominations have been celebrating this festive meal over and over again. Here is what the New Testament has to tell us about the last supper of Jesus Christ.

26 10 2020

Denominations

+4

• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Bringing people together again in church

From “lockdown since March” to “divine services almost everywhere” it’s all there. This is how differently Covid-19 is affecting the church life of New Apostolic Christians around the globe. And the solutions are just as varied.

22 10 2020

Africa

+11

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments
• Youth

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The sacraments (20): Too comprehensive for a single word

Lord’s Supper, Communion, the Eucharist: these are some of the most familiar designations for this sacrament. Yet these terms never appear in the Bible in this sense—other words are used instead. This article is all about the wealth of the various designations for the sacrament—and what they mean.

15 10 2020

Divine service

+3

• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Trapped inside his own body

“The only thing that lives on in me is my heart, my soul, and my eyes,” Philippe says, who has suffered from locked-in syndrome for 34 years. He gives us a glimpse of his faith, his freedoms, and his very personal bonus programme.

12 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Mountain climbers, tourists, and believers — welcome to Montreux

The English were not only the first to conquer Swiss mountain peaks, but also built churches in the Alpine region on their trips abroad. One of these is today in the possession of the New Apostolic congregation in Montreux.

08 10 2020

Buildings Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care

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Prayer needs to be learned

Actually, the Chief Apostle wanted to be in the United States for a divine service on 13 September 2020, but had to cancel his plans on account of the pandemic. Instead, he held a divine service in the congregation of Thann in France. A small group of 26 people were overjoyed when Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider walked to the altar.

07 10 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Spotlight 18/2020: As masters of our destiny, we continue to strive

At the beginning of the year, no one could have imagined what the year would hold in store. The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly changed things, but it has not affected our striving for the kingdom of God, says District Apostle Helper John Sobottka from Canada.

06 10 2020

Annual motto

+7

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

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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

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Divine service guaranteed!

Who knows what will happen the day after tomorrow? Making plans these days seems impossible. But one thing is guaranteed: our Sunday service.

02 10 2020

Buildings

+6

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

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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 

+6

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

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… And preach the gospel!

Proclaiming the gospel—that is where Christians enthusiastically do their part. After all, they have been commissioned to do so! Everyone is to know that God is near to all people and that He loves them! This can be preached, explained, and lived in practice.

25 09 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Explaining the Bible to children

Anyone who has grown up with Bible stories will likely still remember very specific images. These may have been beautiful pictures from a lovingly illustrated children’s Bible, or perhaps some especially unsettling pictures that you wanted to look at again and again in fascination as a child. This clearly shows us that telling the stories is not the only important thing.

24 09 2020

Bible study

+2

• Children
• Congregation

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Spotlight 17/2020: Free at last!

Paul und Silas had been arrested and put in jail. Around midnight they began to sing and praise God, while the other prisoners listened. Thoughts on freedom by District Apostle Helper Frank Dzur from Canada.

22 09 2020

Annual motto

+5

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Pastoral care (06): Trust needs space

Children are our future—this sentence is not only true, but it must also be verifiable. This also applies to the Church’s pastoral care, which may be confidential, but should not take place in secret. A great deal of mindfulness is required of all involved.

17 09 2020

Congregation

+5

• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Society

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Mozambique: in search of congregations (Part 2)

Alvin Witten and his wife, Jean, now live in Mozambique. They travel across the country, visiting hundreds of congregations, recording GPS coordinates, taking pictures of rectors and churches. Their to-do list has 1,326 congregations on it.

16 09 2020

Buildings

+6

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

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The sacraments (18): The whole baptism in eight sentences

Baptism—such a simple act and yet so rich in significance and history. More than half of this series so far has revolved around this sacrament alone. It is time for a summary: here are eight key statements to remember.

15 09 2020

Doctrine  History 

+2

• Sacraments
• Society

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On the air for half a year

In mid-March, the first churches begin closing in response to the corona pandemic. The Church responds immediately: from then on, members are able to participate in divine services live-streamed on YouTube.

11 09 2020

Africa

+6

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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First female Church president appointed

Esther Kompare is the new president of the New Apostolic Church Slovenia. This is the first time that a woman has taken on this responsibility in this country.

04 09 2020

Asia

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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Therapy and faith: partners on the path to healing

Anxiety, a sense of gloom, mood swings … Surely there is no one who has not experienced a low. But sometimes life can run off the rails. And then it needs more than sensitive ministers and a kind and loving congregation.

03 09 2020

Congregation

+1

• Pastoral care

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Whether celebrating or mourning, Jesus’ love is not dependent on the situation

Jesus drank wine and John the Baptist was an ascetic. In that case neither of them could have been sent by God, could they?! Nevertheless, Jesus’ actions prove that He was indeed sent by God. And whoever follows the path that Jesus established has grounds for true joy.

02 09 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments
• Society

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The sacraments (17): commonalities and differences in black and white

Naturally the churches acknowledge each other’s baptisms, even though this step has taken centuries to achieve. After all, the question of sacraments is intimately linked to the respective understanding each one has of what constitutes church. And yet they have all managed to approve sound papers on the subject.

01 09 2020

Denominations Divine service

+5

• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Only a few sentences, but so much substance!

The Lord’s Prayer is 2,000 years old and is considered the central prayer of all Christians. It has maintained its place in Holy Scripture and in Christian churches around the world to this day. So what does it express?

31 08 2020

Congregation

+4

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Challenge accepted: India celebrates

It all began with a woman who became New Apostolic while on a trip to Denmark fifty years ago. Upon returning to India, she did not keep her faith to herself, but rather told many others about Jesus and living Apostles. And against all odds, there are around 45,000 New Apostolic Christians living in India today.

28 08 2020

Buildings

+12

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Sealing
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments
• Society
• Youth

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… the church comes to the believer

Lockdown, bans on assembly, no divine services—in many places, believers cannot gather together in the church. For them the offer of divine service by video continues.

28 08 2020

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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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

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don't miss

Old truths expose new tricks

How do you deal with tempting offers and insinuations? Jesus’ temptations in the desert show how we can deal with them. The episode demonstrates the power of the word of God.

03 03 2025

Bible study

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Churros instead of Black Forest cake

Job offers, the love of one’s life, or dissatisfaction with the way things are are sometimes reasons why people look for a new home in a foreign country. Making a living and living one’s faith in a foreign country are a challenge.

15 09 2023

Profile Ministry

+7

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

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Music offers glimmers of hope

Music can help us heal: this was the focus of a joint project in a children’s home north of the Arctic Circle. The participants came from Germany, Austria, Great Britain, and Greenland.

14 05 2024

Good Friday Easter

+11

• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Holy Communion
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Divine service
• Congregation
• Youth
• Pastoral care
• Europe
• Music

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