faith.today

Grief counselling: a demanding task

In principle, anyone can help a person who is coping with grief: the important thing is to be there, listen, and empathize. But there are also specially mandated grief counsellors with appropriate training for this task. In the District Churches of Germany there are now corresponding certification courses.

26 07 2016

Congregation Grieving

+4

• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Society
• Youth

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Heading into the monsoon season with new hope

Emergency aid was quick, but the reconstruction process is taking its time. More than a year after the devastating earthquake in Nepal, the situation in the country is still far from normal. Following is a look at a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas.

23 07 2016

Charity work

+1

• Pastoral care

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Service will be aired on national TV

It is not unusual for the Church to transmit its divine services. When a service is aired on national television, however, it is a little unusual. That is what is going to happen in East Africa this weekend .

19 07 2016

Africa

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Good Friday
• Pastoral care

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At home worldwide: from A(rgentina) to Z(ambia)

A group of people engaged in Bible study attended our services and felt right at home. More highlights this week are: children and parents on stage and a pastoral care trip to the Choma-Kalomo region in southern Zambia.

15 07 2016

Congregation

+2

• Music
• Pastoral care

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“You are not alone!” Fighting depression together

Thoughts going round and round in circles and unable to feel the slightest thing—depression is a disorder that can affect anybody, and yet it meets with little understanding. How can the ministers and the members help those suffering from depression?

14 07 2016

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Pastoral care

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Raising awareness about abuse

The New Apostolic Church in the south of Germany has issued a new policy on awareness and respect. Ministers, those in leading functions, and anyone involved in teaching will commit themselves to this code of conduct through their signature. What is behind this?

09 07 2016

Congregation District Apostle

+6

• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

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An up and down: life in Albania

Hospitality and honour, poverty and migration—these concepts define the life of the people in Albania. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider will be visiting this country in southern Europe this coming weekend, a country in which the New Apostolic runs nearly more nursery schools than it has congregations.

05 07 2016

Congregation

+4

• Europe
• History 
• Pastoral care
• Society

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“Faith in Jesus helps us cope with day-to-day concerns”

Bread is being distributed in church. No, not Holy Communion, real bread. It is the sheer poverty of the people that is making this necessary. And these scenes were experienced by New Apostolic Christians in Moldova, a country in the eastern part of Europe. The Chief Apostle will be visiting Moldova this weekend.

25 06 2016

Charity work

+12

• Chief Apostle
• Children
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Holy Communion
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Seniors
• Youth

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At home worldwide: sincere sympathy – a course for correspondents – a joyful encounter

The world knows both: joy and sorrow. Following the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, with fifty dead, the Church has expressed shock and deep sadness. We also take a look at a training programme for correspondents that took place in South America and at the national youth convention in Ukraine.

17 06 2016

America

+11

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Grieving
• History 
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Belated anniversary celebration

The New Apostolic Church in Nepal just celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary—although our faith has been known there longer. The official celebrations took place a year after the fact. There were good reasons for both of these exceptions.

15 06 2016

Anniversary

+5

• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care

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Music unites

There is harmony in diversity. Music can overcome barriers between cultures, religions, and nations. Three examples from the New Apostolic world illustrate this.

03 06 2016

Africa

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Europe
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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God’s unprofitable servants—out of love for Christ

The Chief Apostle recently spoke about unprofitable servants in a divine service for ministers. Was he lecturing the ministers? By no means. He advised them on how they can put Christ in the centre of the congregation.

02 06 2016

Chief Apostle

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Greenland: the world’s biggest island

Kalaallit Nunaat, as the island is called in Greenlandic, is full of contrasts: geologically it belongs to North America, politically to Europe. Four-fifths of the country is covered by a massive ice sheet year round. In summer, the coastal areas are green. Apostle Jörg Steinbrenner just loves the country and its people.

27 05 2016

America

+9

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care

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The Church in transition

The challenges are similar, the goals are the same, but the ways are different. How is the New Apostolic Church in Europe and North America tackling its structural reforms? An overview of a work in progress.

26 05 2016

America

+9

• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Europe
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Society

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When Christ enters the congregation

The Holy Communion debate between the churches is centuries old. What happens, and what does not? These questions attest to just how great the mystery of Christ's presence in His church really is. How does the New Apostolic Church see this?

24 05 2016

Congregation

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Sunday services at the airport

The Church offers divine services and pastoral care. Everybody knows that. Yet, offering divine services that everybody can attend or providing individual pastoral care can be quite challenging. Especially when unusual circumstances come into the picture.

06 05 2016

Asia

+6

• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment

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Forgive us our debts – on the forgiveness of sins

Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider recently invited all District Apostles and District Apostle Helpers to Zurich (Switzerland) for a session of the International District Apostle Meeting. In the divine service that he conducted on the occasion, he addressed the importance of the forgiveness of sins several times.

26 04 2016

Apostolate Baptism 

+8

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

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God’s word in human words

A sermon … It is far more than a discourse of a religious nature. It is the assurance of God’s nearness and His help. It is the proclamation and explanation of the will of God. A sermon encourages, edifies, comforts, and offers perspectives.

05 04 2016

Chief Apostle

+6

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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Mourning and comfort in Brussels

Three days after the terror attacks, Apostle Clément Haeck celebrated the Easter divine service with his brothers and sisters in Brussels: comfort and gratitude inside the church, police sirens outside on the street.

29 03 2016

Africa

+9

• Annual motto
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Mourning and comfort in Brussels

Three days after the terror attacks, Apostle Clément Haeck celebrated the Easter divine service with his brothers and sisters in Brussels: comfort and gratitude inside the church, police sirens outside on the street.

29 03 2016

Congregation

+2

• Europe
• Grieving

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Good Friday today, Anno Domini 2016

Good Friday is a sad day. Or perhaps not? Jesus died so that man might live. Seen in this light, Good Friday is a celebration of the love of God—particularly as it applies to those who must themselves suffer.

25 03 2016

Europe

+3

• Good Friday
• Pastoral care
• Society

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Renouncing Satan: the meaning of the confirmation vow

Soon young Christians will step up to the altar to be confirmed. Just before this act of blessing they recite a doctrinal text from the early church that deserves to be given a closer look.

12 03 2016

Acts of blessing Confirmation

+7

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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In the beginning was the logo

What is a logo? It is a graphic sign that represents an organization or individuals—making them unmistakable. A logo is part of the identity that is carried outside. But what does a logo contain? We asked.

22 02 2016

Chief Apostle

+3

• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Sharing their vast experience

Working with the talents one has received, and not burying them. This also applies to the many years of experience of retired ministers. An initiative was started by the Church in South Africa on how retired ministers can coach active ministers.

19 02 2016

Africa

+9

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Denominations
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Ministry
• Pastoral care
• Retirement

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Pastoral care means compassion and being there

Pastoral care should not just remain a concept. It has to be practised in order to be experienced. Pastoral care goes to heart and it takes an active interest especially in the bad moments of peoples’ lives. Such as in Taiwan after the earthquake or when congregations are scattered and regular divine services are not possible.

11 02 2016

America

+9

• Buildings
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Holy Sealing
• Pastoral care
• Sacraments

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The motivating force for ministers

What do church districts and cars have in common? Both need a motor. This is something the Chief Apostle illustrated on his recent trip to Africa where he ordained a total of eleven new Apostles.

08 02 2016

Africa

+8

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Investiture
• 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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