A drone view of a congregation waving? This may not be all that unusual these days, but the story behind it is touching. And the Chief Apostle himself tells the story.
“On Saturday, 15 February 2025, I conducted a divine service in Cúcuta, a city in Colombia bordering Venezuela.” This is what Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider wrote in a weekly circular to all active Apostles a few weeks ago. Both countries belong to the working area of District Apostle Schnabel.
“Venezuela has been in crisis for many years, and the people are suffering greatly,” he continued. “It has been ten years since either the District Apostle or I have been able to travel there. And so, more than 1,100 believers came from all over Venezuela to Cúcuta to attend the divine service.” He says that many of them travelled for 29 hours by
bus to come, and as many to return home.
“On Sunday, I conducted the divine service in Bogotá in the presence of almost 900 believers from all over Colombia. Most of them travelled twelve hours by bus to get there,” the Chief Apostle says. And then he adds, “These were two very emotional gatherings.”