faith.today

His mission: to protect and keep

He led the New Apostolic Church out of a crisis and brought it forward. Chief Apostle Walter Schmidt would have celebrated his 125th birthday today. How did he cope with this crisis? An attempt at an explanation.

December 21, 2016

Chief Apostle Congregation

+6

• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Grieving
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care

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Warm hearts in a cold part of the world

She is remote and rather isolated. Apart from snow-covered mountain peaks, there is not much else around. We are talking about the southernmost New Apostolic congregation in the world: Ushuaia.

December 12, 2016

Africa

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Opening doors with a big heart

He has changed his church: it has developed from a closed group to an open community in the middle of society. Sunday next week marks the end of an era with the retirement of District Apostle Noel. E. Barnes (Cape).

December 10, 2016

Chief Apostle

+6

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

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Building shelters, congregations, and churches

Creating a place of refuge and security—for the one it means an earthquake resistant shelter, for someone else a place to worship. Both construction projects require planning, prayer, and energy.

December 9, 2016

America

+4

• Buildings
• Congregation
• Social commitment
• Society

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Neighbouring districts to merge 2018

“Not only in Africa are there plans to merge neighbouring church districts, but also in Germany.” This is how nak.org, the official website of the New Apostolic Church, announces a pending third merger.

December 4, 2016

Africa

+10

• America
• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Organisation
• Pastoral care

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Casamance, a New Apostolic stronghold in Senegal

The region known as Casamance is the breadbasket of Senegal. Some 15,000 New Apostolic Christians live in this fertile region. When Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider visits the city of Sédhiou in Casamance in February 2017, it will only be the second visit of a Chief Apostle to the country ever.

November 28, 2016

Africa Buildings

+6

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

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Setting the future course in Switzerland

Switzerland will shortly be taking vital steps for the future: Apostle Jürg Zbinden has been chosen as Helper to assist District Apostle Markus Fehlbaum, who is planning to retire in June 2018.

November 26, 2016

Apostolate

+9

• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Ministry
• New Year
• Pastoral care
• Retirement

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The language of the heart

Music speaks to the soul—in joy as well as in sorrow. Our review this week looks at a choral competition, a choir practice, a memorial service, and a wedding anniversary.

November 25, 2016

Africa

+8

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Good Friday
• Grieving
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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The Chief Apostle in the City of Angels

Los Angeles, a fascinating city. It brings to mind images of beaches and the sun. The city is a big tourist destination. But the purpose of Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider’s trip there is not pleasure. He has a tight schedule.

November 21, 2016

Advent

+11

• America
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Christmas
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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Between here and there

Joy and sorrow are never far apart. Remembering the departed bridges the gap between this life and the afterlife. News from around the New Apostolic world about premières and farewells.

November 11, 2016

Apostolate

+10

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Grieving
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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We come in the name of God

On 5 February 1855 two missionaries arrived in Papua, the western part of the island of New Guinea, to preach the gospel to the inhabitants. Even today missionaries are active on this second largest island in the world.

November 2, 2016

Asia

+9

• Australia / Pacific
• Charity work
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Easter
• Europe
• Music
• Pastoral care

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Mentoring programme for young Priests

Being a Christian in everyday life is more than just going to church on Sundays. Christians see when their neighbour needs help during the week, they also talk about their faith, and glorify God with music.

October 28, 2016

America

+7

• Charity work
• Congregation
• Local news
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Bringing in the sheaves

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. What exactly is this harvest? And who are the workers? The Chief Apostle has two interpretations. Following is the summary of a divine service directed not only at ministers.

October 26, 2016

Chief Apostle

+3

• Divine service
• Good Friday
• Pastoral care

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How women move the church forward

They cultivate fellowship, but not only among themselves: the International Sisters’ Fellowship, comprised of New Apostolic women from Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, is an example of the role women take in church and society in this part of Africa.

October 11, 2016

Africa

+5

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Society

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The Chief Apostle in Lausanne

Lausanne is beautifully set on Lake Geneva in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Surrounded by the Jura Mountains, the city enjoys a mild climate—a good destination for Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider, who will be visiting the congregation on Sunday to celebrate a divine service.

October 8, 2016

Chief Apostle

+10

• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• History 
• Music
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost

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Mourning and comforting together

All interested parties are invited: the New Apostolic congregations in the German-speaking regions of the world will be open to the public for a service for the departed on Sunday, 6 November 2016. The preparations are already underway.

September 27, 2016

Chief Apostle

+7

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Restoring order in difficult times

He wanted no monument: New Apostolic Christians in Indonesia paid their last respects to their former District Apostle Alfons Tansahtikno. Following is a look back on the life of a man of God who was as strong as he was independent.

September 22, 2016

Buildings Congregation

+6

• District Apostle
• Event
• Grieving
• Pastoral care
• Society
• Youth

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Seeing what others hear

Using your body to speak: that is what sign language looks. Hearing impaired people can see what others can hear. In many New Apostolic congregations, divine services are also offered for the hearing impaired.

September 15, 2016

America

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Pastoral care

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“Being open to all people, to all nations”

He is at home in two countries, works for the Church on three continents, and speaks six languages: Bishop Aramik Fesdjian has been accustomed to internationality right from the cradle. In this interview he talks about his life between the worlds.

September 12, 2016

Acts of blessing

+9

• Asia
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Local news
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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Spotlight 16/2016: Faith makes all things possible

Should we struggle and fight or give up? The struggle to gain the victory with Christ can be an extreme experience. District Apostle Raúl Montes de Oca (Brazil/Bolivia) is convinced, however, that we can rise to the challenge.

September 5, 2016

Annual motto

+2

• District Apostle
• Pastoral care

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Women have the floor

A meeting of sisters bigger than any ministers’ meeting, our doctrine in theory and practice … The following examples show the role of women in the Church, and right there in the front lines is Africa.

September 2, 2016

Africa

+6

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care
• Youth

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No attempts at an explanation, no cheap comfort

Pastoral care is complex and individual. Sometimes it is a single prayer, but often it is a special and close relationship, and continued support. In a meeting of ministers, Chief Apostle Schneider talked about his conception of pastoral care.

August 27, 2016

Chief Apostle Concept of salvation for the departed

+3

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Pastoral care

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Hungry for God’s word: the Chinese community in Canada

Practising the Christian faith in China is difficult. But in Canada Chinese Christians can live their faith publicly and do so full of enthusiasm. Within the New Apostolic Church in the country they constitute a separate ethnic group.

August 20, 2016

Congregation

+3

• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Pastoral care

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A new project in Canada: “dwell”

The congregation is an assembly of people with similar goals. But a congregation is far more than a body of people who gather regularly for religious worship. It is also a place where people interact on other levels. And to help everyone feel at home, the New Apostolic Church in Canada has initiated a new project.

August 17, 2016

Buildings

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Youth

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Signs and wonders: your faith has made you well

Who would not want a sign from heaven that is as clear as day. People’s thinking has always been somewhat simplistic in this respect. Paul already referred to this, saying that Jews requested signs. What about us today?

August 15, 2016

Bible study

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“Our soul loathes this worthless bread”

Have you ever been bitten by a snake? Better be careful. Snakes can be poisonous. There is a story in the Bible about this. It starts with the Israelites complaining about their food: the same food every day—who fancies that?

August 8, 2016

Bible study

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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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