Would people cut back on donations during the pandemic? This was the anxious question that confronted the New Apostolic relief agency NAK-karitativ in 2020, the year when COVID-19 first reared its head. The answer is to be found in the organisation’s most recent annual report, which is now available.

Things got off to a turbulent start. But step by step the New Apostolic Church has put order into its sacraments for the departed. Once the practical part had been brought into line, the theory followed suit. Here is the history in fast-forward mode.

Eight believers in an attic room: this is how the now twenty congregations in the city of Berlin (Germany) started. And closely connected to it all is one name in particular: Ernst Traugott Hallmann, who died hundred years ago on 20 March 1922.

Although there is a lot of suffering in the world, people also have reasons to celebrate—some more, some less, and sometimes for no particular reason at all.

Dogs in the church or motorcycles in the Philippines—sometimes help comes in unexpected ways. Over the last few months, natural disasters and explosions were the top stories in world news. What didn’t make the headlines was the good news, namely the help that came.

Christmas is the feast of love. Believers do not only celebrate this feast for themselves, but also want to spread the spirit of Christmas. And this they did with music and toys. Not even hygiene protocols could keep them from passing on Christmas cheer.

When we think of Christmas we often imagine a snowy wonderland, white-capped mountains, and frozen lakes. If not from personal experience, then from pop culture. However, given the global mood, this is a never-never land. Behind the façade, Christmas looks different.

Christmas is a feast of joy and love even if numerous things can cloud this joy. For Christians, however, there is always a reason to celebrate: namely the birth of Jesus.

The charity human aktiv supports a thrift shop. NACRO and NAK karitativ have made a difference in people’s lives with water pumps. And brothers and sisters wrapped presents for children. Christmas can come.

Christmas is coming. The joy of anticipation is rising, but so are coronavirus cases in many countries. Some do not want to join the Advent services in their local congregation despite hygiene measures.

As parents wait for the birth of their child the excitement builds. It is a time of intensity: the child will change their life completely. It is similar with the weeks leading up to Christmas. It is an intense time of commemorating the birth of the Son of God and of expecting His return.

Holger Hantke (70) worked as a composer in the creation of a number of sheet music collections for the New Apostolic Church. Born in Lübeck and today a resident of Hamburg, he talks about his life and what he thinks of New Apostolic music.

Figuring out the correct dates of his life is a challenge. But then the pioneers of those days had more important things to do than writing down numbers for posterity. What matters is the spiritual legacy: Apostle George Henwood Mkandawire would have celebrated his 120th birthday in a few days.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. This is something our brothers and sisters in El Bolsón were able to experience first-hand. And they made more than just one new friend—it was more like 120 friends all at once. Following is a story well suited to the International Day of Friendship, which is observed on 30 July.

The generosity of New Apostolic members from the District Church of Western Germany has made it possible to provide much needed relief to people in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Now the local congregation is expressing warm thanks for the donations.

The partner for eternal life… Those who build a relationship with God and foster it benefit already today: they receive inner freedom, spiritual balance, and a healthy sense of self. And building such a relationship is not really all that difficult.

Bühl is a city in south-western Germany, close to the border with France. Even though the Chief Apostle conducted the divine service there on 6 December 2020, his sermon was intended for parts of the English-speaking world.

When the shepherds in the field heard the good tidings of Christ’s birth, they perceived two calls: they were to have great joy and no fear! The birth of the Son of God was to bring joy to all people and make the fear of the individual recede into the background. Do we hear this too?