After 20 years in ministry, District Apostle Michael Ehrich is retiring. His ministry took him behind the altar, into congregations, among young people, and into international responsibilities—and each time it brought him back to his mission of proclaiming Christ.
On 23 April 2006, Apostle Michael Ehrich was ordained as District Apostle for Southern Germany in divine service in Karlsruhe. Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber described the mission of a District Apostle using words from Isaiah 52: one who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who preaches good things, and who proclaims salvation. He also cited maintaining unity, providing the congregations with ministers, and solving problems.
From the very beginning, Michael Ehrich described his role in pastoral terms. He regarded his primary mission as helping members of the Church to attain the goal of faith. And he said he wanted to encourage people to live a life of faith, guided by the values of the gospel. And he added a sentence that sounds a bit like a mission statement: “We have a place at the heart of the congregation!”
This focus remained a spiritual priority of his ministry. This commitment was also evident in the outward reliability of his serving: service after service, journey after journey, congregation after congregation.
Prepared, focused, sent
When asked what a Sunday morning was like for him, he once said that his preparations for a divine service were already completed on Saturday evening. He used the drive to the congregation to seek inner peace, he said. He was never nervous, he said, but he did feel a sense of stress in view of the task ahead of him. God’s word must be strictly distinguished from one’s own opinion and must always centre on Jesus Christ.
Perhaps this ministry can be summed up in a sentence that was once spoken at a very personal moment. When Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider dispensed a blessing on Michael and Elke Ehrich on the occasion of their silver wedding anniversary, he spoke about serving: “out of love and for the Lord”. It was a tribute to the couple’s shared journey.
Spiritual lines
More than two decades later, the mission entrusted to him in Karlsruhe is not merely a matter of data, responsibilities, and travel. It has also left its mark on the spiritual reflections that Michael Ehrich contributed to nac.today.
There is a joy that does not depend on favourable circumstances. In the article “Joy is strength”, he described joy in the Lord as a source of strength: a joy that can be experienced in divine service, in Holy Communion, in prayer, and in trust in God. For him, joy was not merely a mood, but a spiritual force.
There is the future that does not arise primarily from the security of planning, but from trust in God. In the article “Shaping our future!” he wrote that we should not simply wait for the future, but to prepare for it in faith and shape it.
Then there is the aspect of his inner attitude. In “Learning from our role model”, he focused on the example of Jesus Christ. It is not outward appearance, ministerial rank, or the ability to assert oneself that are decisive, but orientation towards Christ.
Then there is serving. In the article “True greatness is revealed in serving others”, he made it clear that the annual motto at the time, “Serving and reigning with Christ”, did not mean that we should strive for power. He wrote that Jesus rules differently than the powerful of the world. “After all, He did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Then there is prayer. In “Praying with faith and persistence”, Michael Ehrich showed how prayer finds a willing ear with God. This, too, reflects something of how he understands ministry: spiritual guidance does not begin with feasibility, but with an orientation towards God.
And finally, there is love as a motivation. In “Out of love and for the Lord”, he wrote that love for one’s neighbour is not limited to words. This fits well with ministering that sought to focus on care: strengthening people, fostering trust, bearing witness to Christ, and helping one another to reach the goal of our faith.
Scope and proximity
His working area was vast. Upon assuming the leadership of the Church in Southern Germany, District Apostle Ehrich was entrusted with the responsibility for one of the largest New Apostolic Regional Churches in Europe. In addition to this, there were countries in Africa and Asia which are served from Southern Germany.
For Michael Ehrich, interaction with young believers was also part of being in the middle of the congregation. For years, he consistently sought direct contact: at youth meetings and round-table discussions in various locations within his working area. The format was simple: the young people prepared questions, led the discussions, and spoke about faith, the Church, everyday life, the future, doubts, and hope.
Some moments capture the spirit of these encounters well. He welcomed the young people personally with a handshake and, after the question-and-answer sessions, often stayed on for further conversations— and even a few rounds of table football.
These gatherings became a recurring hallmark of his ministry: places where faith was not only proclaimed, but explored together in conversation.
In the service of the universal church
Even in areas where his service was less visible to the public, Michael Ehrich took on responsibility. He served on numerous committees and working groups within the International Church such as the Coordination Group of the New Apostolic Church International, the newly established Finance Committee and, later, the Board of Directors of NACI.
Not all of these roles were in the spotlight. Yet they all form an integral part of a long-standing commitment at the helm of a Regioal Church: listening, advising, weighing up options, strengthening structures, and assuming responsibility not only for one’s own area, but also for the Global Church.
Continuing with gratitude
On 21 June 2026, District Apostle Michael Ehrich will retire. District Apostle Helper Martin Rheinberger will succeed him. This marks the end of a term of office, but not the end of what this service has always stood for. For those who bring good news do not proclaim themselves. They point to the One from whom joy, peace, goodness, and salvation come.
Perhaps this is precisely where the quiet dignity of this departure lies: in gratefully acknowledging what has been done out of love for the Lord, while continuing to move forward with confidence, knowing that Christ leads His church.