faith.today

Divine salvation: no pain, no gain

“We are responsible for our own salvation,” the Chief Apostle said in his sermon in Niamey. God puts the necessary means at our disposal so that we can obtain salvation. Our mission is to accept these means.

March 26, 2020

Baptism  Chief Apostle

+6

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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The word of God brings light during the lockdown

A congregation without walls and borders—this is how hundreds of thousands of New Apostolic families experienced the past Sunday. Even though the doors to our churches were locked, the Church itself was more open than ever before.

March 25, 2020

Africa

+14

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Local news
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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SOS: pastoral care is as varied as the people who need it

The body needs care and so does the soul. The image of the duality of man is shared by all churches. A priest is both a preacher and a shepherd. And both are legitimate. Pastoral care at a glance.

March 24, 2020

Congregation

+1

• Pastoral care

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Spotlight 5/2020: A healthy relationship between mankind and God

In order to attain freedom in Christ, there must be a relationship between mankind and the Lord. This is the foundation of spiritual freedom. That is how District Apostle Kububa Soko from Zambia describes it.

March 23, 2020

Annual motto

+7

• Apostolate
• Ascension Day
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Chief Apostle: “Just have courage: we will move on!”

There is a curfew in France. Even Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider is housebound—and will also be without Holy Communion for weeks. But he has not become discouraged: “I know that God will not abandon His children, especially in difficult situations.”

March 21, 2020

Africa

+6

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

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The sacraments (5): Valid first, then effective

Let’s suppose a Priest proves unworthy and loses his ministry: are the baptisms he has performed still valid? The question of the efficacy of the sacraments has different answers.

March 19, 2020

Doctrine  Holy Communion

+2

• Ministry
• Sacraments

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Europe and Canada switch over to transmissions

All activities in all New Apostolic congregations throughout Europe have been cancelled with immediate effect. This was the decision made by the Chief Apostle and District Apostles earlier today. And still there will be divine services—but of a somewhat different nature.

March 16, 2020

Africa

+10

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Grieving
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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Praying that the situation will soon improve

COVID-19 is keeping people around the world on tenterhooks. The New Apostolic Church too is doing its utmost to counteract the spreading of the virus. Despite all the alarming news, there are still events that give rise to joy.

March 13, 2020

Chief Apostle

+6

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

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They’re not heroes, but volunteers with a heart

When the TV cameras move on and the crisis disappears from the headlines, NAC SEA Relief stays and continues to provide relief aid. In its 2019 report, the South-East Asian relief organisation also looks back on a special operation outside its usual jurisdiction.

March 12, 2020

Charity work

+10

• Christmas
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Local news
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Get up and speak – about faith, love, and hope

A story with three different meanings: a signal to the world, a comfort for many, and an exhortation to the whole church. Following is the Chief Apostle’s analysis of the story of the widow of Nain.

March 11, 2020

Chief Apostle

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Personal hygiene and spiritual health—both are important

A novel type of virus that can cause respiratory disease is spreading and making people everywhere anxious. It has made us take a whole new look at hygiene measures such as washing our hands. However, we must also keep our spiritual health in mind.

March 6, 2020

Africa

+11

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (4): outward signs of an invisible reality

A sacrament without signum and without res? That’s impossible. At least that is what the Catechism of the New Apostolic Church says. Sounds strange? Maybe, but there are good reasons for it. Join us for an excursion into the fifth century.

March 5, 2020

Doctrine 

+2

• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Gratitude – service – Holy Communion: the focus of our sermons in March

According to the liturgical calendar, Christians are currently observing Lent, a period of fasting and penitence that ends shortly before Easter. Soon we will be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, reason enough to reflect on all that God means to us and does for us.

March 3, 2020

Anniversary

+8

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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“A sensitive man with a heart for eternity”

A true protector who engaged his gifts with all his might for the sole mission of “perfection and completion”: that was District Apostle Arno Steinweg. On 28 February, he would have celebrated his 100th birthday. A portrait…

February 28, 2020

Apostolate

+11

• Buildings
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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Spotlight 3/2020: You think you are free?

Jesus makes free — but what happens if a person fails to realise that he is still bound? For example, in thoughts or in prejudices? Some reflections from District Apostle John Kriel, South Africa.

February 25, 2020

Africa

+8

• Annual motto
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• New Year
• Sacraments

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Now also available in Spanish: “Photography in Divine Service”

“In the divine service, the photographer should be practically transparent”—relates a South American cameraman. This is a wish that photographers around the world often hear. An e-book on the subject offers helpful tips—and it is now available in the Spanish language too.

February 24, 2020

Acts of blessing

+7

• America
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Sacraments
• Social commitment

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Rediscovering your mother tongue

A universal language for all? Forgetting your mother tongue? Is that even possible? Sure it is! Fortunately, there is a common solution to both problems. A reflection on today's International Mother Language Day.

February 21, 2020

Divine service Doctrine 

+2

• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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The sacraments (3): the doubly mysterious origins of the term

The term ‘sacrament’ and the Bible—it’s just one of those things: the idea is there, but not the actual word. The term only made its way into Christian vocabulary later on—and it even took two tries! Here is a story about semantics.

February 18, 2020

Africa

+5

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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Five dimensions of freedom

Love, return, inheritance, responsibility, coping: these are five kinds of freedom that Jesus Christ has available for us. It was in Nzagi, Angola that the Chief Apostle presented the key to all of this. And that is being a child.

February 13, 2020

Chief Apostle

+4

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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From the wrong way to the way home

In both faith and life, everyone must find his or her own way: an elaborate film by young people from Eastern Germany—which missed its premier, not once, but three times—tells of precisely this experience.

February 10, 2020

Congregation

+6

• Divine service
• Easter
• Event
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Youth

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Stops on the way through life

The time between birth and death is filled with different experiences. There are many stops along the way through life: coming and going, becoming and passing away, first and last—all of this comprises life.

February 7, 2020

Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Pastoral care
• Profile

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A whirlwind of a weekend in Bogotá and Lima

Travelling to individual countries can certainly be strenuous, especially if the responsible District Apostle has announced his visit to congregations that are quite distant from one another. It is on just such a weekend in Colombia and Peru with District Apostle Leonard Kolb that Bishop Manfredo Stegmann reports.

February 6, 2020

Acts of blessing America

+13

• Asia
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Local news
• Ministry
• Sacraments
• Youth

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The sacraments (2): one blueprint, four cornerstones

Sacraments — what is required for these? Wouldn’t faith be sufficient all on its own? The answer to this comes from Jesus Christ Himself. But how do they actually function, these doors that bring us close to God?

February 4, 2020

Doctrine 

+4

• History 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Sacraments

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Pastoral journey into new territory

Right at the start of the New Year, the international Church leader will travel to Angola. There are two unfamiliar stops awaiting him in Nzagi and Dundo, two cities in the north and northeast of the country, respectively. Here are some impressions.

January 9, 2020

Apostolate

+11

• Charity work
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• Pastoral care

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The year 2020 will be a good one

A new year brings new reasons for gladness. Will 2020 be an “acceptable year”? Yes—because grace means we are permitted to experience fellowship with Jesus Christ. And there is always so much grace with Him—enough for everyone.

January 6, 2020

Ascension Day

+6

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

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Where yesterday is already today

The New Year had already begun at 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 31 December 2019—relative to Coordinated Universal Time: UTC + 14—while the corks only began popping in London on Wednesday, 1 January at 12:00 AM. And it’s all because of the International Date Line!

January 4, 2020

America

+7

• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Local news
• New Year
• Pastoral care

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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

+1

• Africa

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