The countdown is on: 32 days to go to this year’s Pentecost celebrations. This time in Frankfurt (Germany). The preparations are in full swing and there is growing excitement. There is even a dedicated website.

It is time for confirmation services. Between Easter and Pentecost adolescents around the world step before the altar and profess their belief in God. The congregations take a keen interest. Following is a look at the District Church of Canada.

A sermon … It is far more than a discourse of a religious nature. It is the assurance of God’s nearness and His help. It is the proclamation and explanation of the will of God. A sermon encourages, edifies, comforts, and offers perspectives.

When the Chief Apostle visits a congregation, he is usually the only Chief Apostle there. Not so in the congregation of Nordheide. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider celebrated the divine service while the retired Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber played the organ—something rare indeed.

Soon young Christians will step up to the altar to be confirmed. Just before this act of blessing they recite a doctrinal text from the early church that deserves to be given a closer look.

“Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language that they may not understand one another’s speech.” Six thousand languages have developed since then, and everyone speaks at least one of them: their mother tongue.

Like many other Christians we attend divine services. It seems like something completely normal. But why do we go? And what exactly is divine service?

True to the motto “Educating the leaders” a new training programme has been initiated. This follows a decision by the Chief Apostle who stipulates that the Church leaders need more than firm faith and a good knowledge of the Bible.

Articles, photos, and videos documenting the life of faith of New Apostolic Christians around the world were viewed at least 38 million times over the past year. That is the assessment of nac.today’s first year. A look behind the scenes.

Such messages need space! They need an occasion to present themselves: New Year, Christmas, or Pentecost are ideal. Pentecost has long been a popular occasion for a uniform message. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider is taking a somewhat different approach.

Youth development of a different kind, generational change in leadership, and a celebration of faith with a whole lot of “paaaahhhhh”: such was the year 2015 in Africa. The continent with the most New Apostolic Christians in the world opens our series of annual reviews here on nac.today.

“It can never be said that the Apostle was a coward. I risked everything to help in the quick movement and furtherance of the Church work.” These words were written by the Chief Apostle’s right hand: Apostle Heinrich Franz Schlaphoff. Fifty years ago today he passed away.

Globalization even has an effect on liturgical implements. The communion cups used in our New Apostolic congregations are globally sourced these days. One manufacturer from whom the Church buys is in the state of Tamil Nadu in India.

Theological topics and organizational matters … Whenever the District Apostles who work in Africa come together there is a full agenda. This time, the African Joy newsletter was a central topic. Read more about the conference of African District Apostles taking place in Johannesburg in South Africa.

The new edition of community is online and ready for download. On 32 pages, the issue looks back on the 2015 Pentecost festivities, reports about divine services on four continents, and features an excerpt from the recently published Catechism in Questions and Answers.

Doing the will of God: that is the objective of each and every believing Christian. Yet each and every one of us must make personal decisions for ourselves. This was something that Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider made clear recently in Tbilisi in Georgia: “God expects us to be mature children of God.”

Every tenth person in Zambia is New Apostolic. Such numbers is something that the Hamburg native, Nicole Ide, is not familiar with at home. The New Apostolic sister from northern Germany was in Africa for the first time at Pentecost this year and, together with a cameraman, documented the Pentecost events in Zambia; also for nac.today.

What does a congregation need to be able to function and live its faith? The wishes around the world are as broad and diverse as the living conditions are. But what is really required? We are going to take a look at an ongoing project that has come up with some surprising answers.