The church pew is half empty, congregations are being amalgamated, and children haven’t been seen in ages—are we to simply sit idly and sadly by and wait for change? How do you bring life into a congregation? And how does a congregation even come into being in the first place?

Are we a church of consumers who just sit back and allow themselves to served? A group of young Austrians, Slovaks, Czechs, and Hungarians demonstrated just how different things can be at their most recent youth convention: a divine service in the do-it-yourself style.

Youth and faith work well together. And if the local culture can still be factored in, all the better. Here is a kaleidoscope of ideas from Asia, Africa, and South America.

These photos are no works of art, but they tell a touching and an encouraging story, and send a beautiful message: make the best out of what you have.

Not quite a year from now, the Church will be celebrating its International Youth Convention 2019. For the young people—who are in the process of graduating, starting their first jobs, or moving in with their first roommate—this is still a long time. But for the organisers, who are doing their best to plan an event that is to thrill some 30,000 participants, time is short.

It is a country of superlatives—also for the New Apostolic Church. It is also a country of striking contrasts between rural and urban Africa: the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Here are some insights from a District Apostle whose best bet is often a motorbike.

When faith creates music, it will be in more than one key! The “Show Your Talent” song contest already proved that quite clearly at the International Church Convention 2014. Now a new edition is scheduled for the IYC 2019. The call going out to young musicians today is: “Show us what you’ve got!”

The ambassadors are on their way. And the base is on the move: a spotlight on all the preparations for the International Youth Convention (IYC) 2019 around the globe. Some examples from Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Heeeeeey! — A joyful shout provides a foretaste of things to come in 2019: at the end of May, eight young New Apostolic Christians tested out the positive atmosphere in the Düsseldorf arena. They are ambassadors for the International Youth Convention (IYC).

What would the Church be without its youth? A church without a future! The Chief Apostle and District Apostles repeatedly emphasise the importance of our offers to young people. But what does this mean in concrete terms? What offers are these?

Divine services can be held in a church or in the open air. But that a service is transmitted to a congregation that worships under a tree does not happen very often.

“Move closer! No, not with the camera. Zoom in,” Tim Schaefer-Rolffs prompts the cameraman with the black vest. But by then he had already started to make his way to the altar and was now standing directly in front of it.

Resolving conflicts and working together constructively … Ministers in Ghana recently came together for a capacity building workshop. And that can mean that they slip into a role other than theirs.

Youth gatherings everywhere … In this week’s review, we will focus on some of these events and see just how rich and varied our faith is.

It is a year of united Youth Days. There was a double premiere this past weekend in Germany. The start, however, was made in South Africa at the beginning of the year. Join us as we look at three events celebrating the love of life and the joy of faith.

There is no better time for youth gatherings than summer. These special events are meant to speak to the younger generation, and offer an exciting programme in nice weather—the best ingredients for a few enjoyable hours.

Hylton Memorial Chapel, just outside of Washington, is an ideal venue not only for the first US Church convention but also for the divine service today, Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, the Christian event centre hosted the exhibition NAC Talks.

An extensive area of low pressure has been dumping rain on the American capital for days. The atmosphere is quite different at the International District Apostle Meeting, which is in session. The discussions of the Church leaders are taking place in a cheerful and warm atmosphere.