What moves a person who takes on the Chief Apostle ministry? In the first part of the interview with the editorial team of neuapostolisch, Chief Apostle Helge Mutschler speaks about his first few weeks in office, the weight of responsibility, and his trust in God.
Editorial team: Dear Chief Apostle, you have been in ministry for a few weeks now. Is there a moment, an encounter, or a feeling you would like to share with us?
Chief Apostle Helge Mutschler: There have been so many special moments. For example, when Chief Apostle Schneider stepped down from the altar after his retirement—and I remained standing there alone. This was not a matter of thinking—it was an experience that affected me bodily. At that moment, the responsibility became real, as something that was now present and would not go away.
And then, after the closing prayer came the final hymn—and I was simply overwhelmed. The things I experienced in the weeks that followed are also part of it all. So many brothers and sisters wished me well. They shared in the moment. They rejoiced with me. They prayed. I may have been standing alone behind the altar—but I am not alone.
The first time you said “yes” as a Sub-deacon, your District Elder at the time told you: “Ministry is ministry” What would you tell him today?
Probably: “You were right” (laughs). “Ministry is ministry”—this was not a means of exerting pressure on me. It was a promise. He was trying to tell me: “It doesn’t depend on you. It is not about your abilities, your stature, or whether you feel worthy. It is all about the One who calls you—and He is someone you can trust.”
What advice would you give to sisters or brothers who are facing the decision of whether to say “yes” or “no”?
Take your time. Give careful thought to your answer. Pray that the Holy Spirit grants you clarity in the form of inner peace. After all, everyone has practical objections. I felt exactly the same way back then. The mind is always calculating: what is this going to cost me? Will this fit into my life? That is normal—and it is allowed. But the Spirit of God can do something the mind alone cannot: He creates peace. He creates calm. Not because all your questions are suddenly answered, but because the way you deal with them changes. When that peace is present, you can decide calmly. And whatever the answer turns out to be, you are not deciding out of pressure or fear of making a mistake. If it ends up being a “yes”, then know this: the One who calls you will never leave you alone with this calling.
Were there moments on the path to your new ministry when you had doubts or felt afraid?
I never questioned the task itself, because I knew how long and how intensely Chief Apostle Schneider had grappled with the question of his succession—and how he had wrestled with God in prayer over it.
Why me? I cannot answer that question. The ministry is so great, and the person so small. Chief Apostle Schneider once said that. Who am I to step into this role? There are two feelings—or thoughts—that I have had, and still have: it is impossible. And yet: with God, it will work out. I simply trust that God will protect, accompany, and guide me—and grant success. His grace is sufficient. It is precisely where my own strength ends that His begins.
What surprised you the most during your first few weeks as Chief Apostle?
I had underestimated the degree to which the Chief Apostle is the focus of attention. After all, I was close to the role for years: I saw what Chief Apostle Schneider had to carry. But seeing it and standing in that position yourself are two different things. There is hardly a sentence anymore that is just a sentence. Hardly a trip that is just a trip. Everything is heard, everything is interpreted. That is something I am currently trying to get used to.
The conversation continues: you can read the second part of the interview with Chief Apostle Mutschler on 15 October 2026.