Gems from the treasure chest

the motto for the year 2019 has exposed a true vein of gold: the annual watchword “rich in christ” has inspired many valuable thoughts. here are some highlights from spotlights as we bid farewell to the old year. the gold ring from south-east asia. photo: nac southeastasia. the brazilian treasure chest. photo: ina brasil. the canadian twin. photo: nac canada. the canadian twin. photo: nac canada. the tree from the congo south-east. photo: ena dr congo sud-est. the congolese coin. photo: ena dr congo quest. the diamond from argentina. photo: ina argentina. the european interpretation. photo: nak westdeutschland. the logo from westpacific. photo: nac westpacific. the logo from columbia. photo: nac columbia. a play on words from south africa. photo: nac southern africa. “we can share our wealth in christ without becoming poorer ourselves as a result. this is not only a possibility or a need for us. in fact, it is our very purpose.” (chief apostle jean-luc schneider ). “may the lord help us that we never become so poor that all we have is money.” (district apostle john kriel , southern africa). “we know from experience that where there is wealth thieves are not far. let’s be vigilant! if we stay close to jesus, our divine wealth is safe.” (district apostle jürg zbinden , switzerland). “true wealth has to do with appreciation. we should take time to reflect on the wealth that has been given to us.” (district apostle enrique minio , south america). “we are part of the strongest community there is: the fellowship with the triune god. in the benediction, god the holy spirit gives us the assurance that we are incorporated into the fellowship.” (district apostle michael ehrich , southern germany). “to be rich in christ implies humility and submission to the will of god, and this does not only apply to the ministers. the decisive element in this context is the love we have in our hearts for god and jesus christ, the bridegroom of our soul.” (district apostle rüdiger krause ,northern and eastern germany). “although jesus christ was rich, he became poor for us so that could become rich through his poverty.” (district apostle mark woll , canada). “aligning one’s life with the example of jesus, being there for one’s brothers and sisters in faith … many commit themselves to the cause of the lord and even put their own needs aside. many regard this as their personal wealth.” (district apostle edy isnugroho , south east asia). “true disciples of christ have a necessary urge to share the riches they have received, just as christ did, with their contemporaries and neighbours.” (district apostle leonard r. kolb , usa). “god is rich, he has an abundance of everything. everything that we see or perceive in the natural as well as in the spiritual comes from him.” (district apostle wolfgang nadolny , berlin-brandenburg). “a child who can grow up in a peaceful and stable environment has the opportunity to tap into all the gifts and talents it possesses and develop and use them for its own well-being and for the well-being of others. seen from this perspective, one should attach a great deal of importance to jesus’ statement: “‘peace i leave with you.’” (district apostle rainer storck , western germany). “rich in christ means having developed certain virtues that make one appear more like jesus christ.” (district apostle joseph opemba ekhuya , east africa). “the greatest and most important of these riches is grace, god’s undeserved love. grace is actually the source of all the other riches in christ.” (district apostle michael deppner , democratic republic of congo west). “our differences are a source wealth, provided we accept our neighbour as he or she is, just as jesus accepted us as we are.” (district apostle tshitshi tshisekedi , democratic republic of congo south-east). “those who are rich in christ can appreciate and distinguish between the true riches that lead us to eternal fellowship with god and those that don’t.” (district apostle raúl montes de oca , brazil/bolivia). “our joy is that in the richness of christ, we can receive both the gold of salvation as well as the precious minerals that can be found with the presence of god in our natural life.” (district apostle peter schulte , western pacific). “these riches in our lord jesus christ must motivate us to keep our faith in him and be prepared for his imminent return.” (district apostle kububa soko , zambia/malawi/zimbabwe).