seasons.today

Ministry (5): How we arrived at a third level

What sort of ministerial order does the church need? Beyond the apostolate, the New Testament does not give us a clear answer. The structure we consider so self-evident today only developed gradually over generations.

08 08 2019

Apostolate Concept of salvation for the departed

+5

• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Pastoral care

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It has been an honour

When the District Apostle Meeting was in session, he always sat in the first row, there where the Spanish-speakers sat. Because although he is the District Apostle of Brazil—where Portuguese is spoken—he speaks Spanish and is a native of Uruguay. A man with many talents is retiring.

03 08 2019

America

+11

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Europe
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation

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The “Chief”—way ahead of his time

The Church’s own health insurance, a football league of congregational teams, and a working area that spanned half the globe: today we celebrate the 125th birthday of Heinrich Franz Schlaphoff—an Apostle unlike any other.

02 08 2019

Africa

+14

• America
• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Thanksgiving Day
• Youth

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CTM means “Children’s Teaching Material”

Abbreviations like CTM have the advantage of conveying content without constantly having to repeat a long series of words. To make a long story short, the new textbooks for Sunday School are now also being introduced in Europe.

01 08 2019

Acts of blessing

+5

• Children
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Europe

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Getting the picture (8): Demanding subjects

From portraits to group photos, from the concert hall to the church building: every subject has its own requirements. But there are tips and tricks for any situation in which divine service photographers may find themselves.

29 07 2019

Buildings

+5

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Music

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When communion is not a foreign concept

A lively and active Church always produces surprising news. This week we look at an architectural prize, an additional Bible reading, and a full-time position for a youth worker.

26 07 2019

Acts of blessing Bible study

+12

• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• History 
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Seniors
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Changes in the circle of the Apostles (1/2019)

Currently there are 350 active Apostles. Fifteen Apostles were retired in the first half of 2019. In the same period, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider ordained ten new Apostles.

19 07 2019

Africa

+12

• Apostolate
• Asia
• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Retirement

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Meeting points

Building bridges—between denominations and continents, but also between this world and yonder world. This is part of the daily life of faith of New Apostolic Christians all over the world. Here are three examples.

12 07 2019

Africa

+9

• Buildings
• Charity work
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Denominations
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Youth

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Spotlight 11/2019: Beyond the grave

In our “Spotlight” series, District Apostles share their thoughts about the respective yearly motto. This year’s “Rich in Christ” prompted District Apostle Joseph Ekhuya (Kenya) to remember a young Ugandan martyr.

09 07 2019

Africa

+6

• Annual motto
• Ascension Day
• Chief Apostle
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• History 

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It’s Sunday again …

This coming Sunday the New Apostolic Church will celebrate the divine service for the departed. This special service not only commemorates the departed, but in it the sacraments are dispensed to souls in the realms of the departed.

05 07 2019

Baptism 

+12

• Chief Apostle
• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• History 
• Holy Communion
• Holy Sealing
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Sacraments

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The concept of ministry in a nutshell

The concept of ministry is on every channel: in addition to the latest issue of community , the Divine Service Guide and nac.today are busy explaining the most current doctrinal statements—sometimes more exhaustively, and sometimes more succinctly. Here is the abridged version for those who are in a real hurry.

03 07 2019

Apostolate

+15

• Baptism 
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Retirement
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Ministry (2): The key to understanding

The divine and the human (or the all-too-human) are joined together in ministry. How are these entities supposed to fit together? We gain insight into this question by looking at the model behind it all, namely Jesus Christ, who not only defines ministry by way of word and deed, but also by way of His nature.

27 06 2019

Doctrine 

+6

• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Local news
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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“There are no dead ends for God!” Concerning the resurrection of Jesus …

Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Really? More and more doubt is being cast on this core statement of the gospel. Some think it nothing more than a nice story, others consider it to be symbolic. But for believing Christians, it is more than that.

26 06 2019

Chief Apostle

+7

• Congregation
• Denominations
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Easter
• Grieving
• Pastoral care

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Impulses from the IYC: how faith and a successful career go together

In order to be successful you have to be ruthless and selfish. So how does faith fit in there? Stephanie Tritt, a professor of radiology and neuroradiology, gave some thought-provoking impulses on how being a Christian and being a boss can be reconciled.

25 06 2019

Concept of salvation for the departed

+6

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Social commitment
• Youth

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Faith is there for everybody

New Apostolic congregations in Africa and Europe are right in the middle of public life. There are congregations who open their doors for the public, others who invite people in for discussions, and those who walk through the streets with a brass band to create awareness.

21 06 2019

Acts of blessing

+10

• Africa
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• Denominations
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Europe
• Event
• Youth

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Five good reasons to rejoice

Reaching for success is a wonderful thing. But what happens if it fails to materialise at some point? There are better reasons to rejoice: here are the top five from a divine service with the Chief Apostle.

19 06 2019

Chief Apostle

+3

• Concept of salvation for the departed
• Divine service
• Doctrine 

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Drops, applicators, technology: how the wine got on the wafer

Once things were official, the problems started in earnest: how will the wine get on the wafers? It was a long road from handmade applicators and waffle irons to today's fully automated production facilities.

17 06 2019

Africa Asia

+7

• Australia / Pacific
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Doctrine 
• Good Friday
• Holy Communion
• Sacraments

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One Pentecost and five international messages

Pentecost 2019 will enter New Apostolic history as a feast of internationality. Hardly ever before have so many impulses of such international significance been aired. Here are some of them to re-read.

15 06 2019

Acts of blessing

+17

• Africa
• America
• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• History 
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Ministry (1): Rooted in its model

Ministry, do we really need it? And why? Different denominations give different answers. This is the beginning of a series on the concept of ministry in the New Apostolic Church.

13 06 2019

Congregation

+9

• Denominations
• Doctrine 
• Holy Communion
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pastoral care
• Pentecost
• Sacraments

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Working along on our salvation

It has been twelve years since the last visit of a Chief Apostle to the Central African Republic. There was a lot of excitement and joy both in the congregations and on the part of the Chief Apostle that he was able to conduct a divine service in Bangui, the national capital, on Palm Sunday.

12 06 2019

Africa

+4

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• Divine service
• Palm Sunday

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Snapshots (3): Pentecost 2019 in pictures

No matter how many believers gather, “the Holy Spirit is active with His full power in every divine service”. Pictures from the Pentecost feast 2019, celebrated by the Chief Apostle in the congregation of Goslar (Germany).

10 06 2019

Chief Apostle

+3

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Pentecost

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The Holy Spirit works powerfully

Yesterday, today, and tomorrow … the Holy Spirit works powerfully, and can comfort in suffering and need. This is what the Chief Apostle told the worldwide congregation in the Pentecost service.

09 06 2019

Africa America

+12

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Holy Communion
• Ministry
• Pentecost
• Sacraments
• Youth

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Always, not only on Pentecost

These last few days, the focus of the New Apostolic congregations around the world has been on Goslar (Germany). On Sunday the Pentecost service by Chief Apostle Schneider will be transmitted to over 100 countries from here.

08 06 2019

Ascension Day

+9

• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pentecost

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Pentecost council of the Church leaders: all eyes are on Goslar

Immediately after the International Youth Convention in Düsseldorf, the leaders of the global Church set out for Goslar (Germany) in order to discuss some complex doctrinal topics.

07 06 2019

Acts of blessing

+13

• Apostolate
• Chief Apostle
• Confirmation
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Worldwide Pentecost transmission

The transition from the International Youth Convention to Pentecost was practically seamless. But before Sunday’s Pentecost celebration there are numerous working meetings. This year’s setting is a congregation that developed from a famous mother church.

06 06 2019

Africa

+13

• Asia
• Chief Apostle
• Congregation
• District Apostle
• Divine service
• Doctrine 
• Event
• Investiture
• Ministry
• Music
• Organisation
• Pentecost
• Youth

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Pentecost and Easter go together

Today, the Holy Spirit rules the church. The resurrection and ascension of Jesus has created space for the Spirit of God, whose powerful activity can be felt in the church pew. Here is what we can expect in the divine services in June.

04 06 2019

Ascension Day

+5

• Congregation
• Divine service
• Easter
• History 
• Pentecost

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don't miss

The donkey, that’s me

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He chose His mount to enter Jerusalem. What’s more, He sent signals right up to our own time. Here is a reflection on the theme of Palm Sunday.

23 03 2024

Palm Sunday Good Friday

+3

• Congregation
• America
• History 

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Ascension means: now it’s your turn

Pentecost is considered the birthday of the church. But like a plant that germinates underground before the first shoots emerge, the origins of the church lie deeper and earlier.

28 05 2025

Ascension Day Pentecost

+2

• Divine service
• Society

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Silent extras, active seekers 

Not everyone is in the stable, not everyone sings in the angel choir. But the silent figures in the Christmas story are more than mere extras. They show that God speaks to everyone. The question is: who will answer?

25 12 2024

Christmas Advent

+1

• Bible study

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