Sharing joy and sorrow

Apostle Baridi of Kenya passes away

The New Apostolic Church in Kenya reports that Apostle Patrick Otuo Baridi has died of complications suffered in a car accident on 11 October 2017. He passed away in hospital a week later. Patrick Baridi was only ordainedan Apostle in June 2017.

He was born on 16 April 1954 in Central Gem, Siaya. He became acquainted with the New Apostolic Church at the age of 34 and was baptised and sealed on 10 April 1988. In 1993 he was ordained a Deacon.

District Apostle Joseph Ekhuya describes Apostle Baridi as a true servant of the Lord “very precise in making decisions, and a passionate worker for God. He built up new congregations and introduced new life wherever it was needed. We will miss him greatly”. The funeral will take place on 11 November.

Two ministers die in ferry accident

The members in Malaysia and Indonesia are in shock: District Elder Yustinus Tukiman and Evangelist Sudigdo Tedjomartono died when a boat capsized. They were enroute from one divine service to another on Lake Batang Ai when a storm came up on the usually calm lake. The boat capsized. While some of the passengers were able to hang on to the hull and were later rescued, District Elder Tukiman and Evangelist Tedjomartono were reported missing. Apostle Samuel Hadiwidagdo immediately travelled to the site of the accident to get first-hand information on the search. The bodies of the two men were recovered a week later. Hundreds of brothers and sisters have expressed their sympathy on the Facebook page of District Apostle Urs Hebeisen.

Binational DOTY in South America

The second binational Day of the Youth in 26 years was recently held in southern Brazil. A group of 53 young people from Uruguay used a public holiday in mid October—commemorating the discovery of America—to travel to Lomba Grande in Brazil to participate in the Day of the Youth there. Not even the heavy rains could dampen their cheerful mood.

The complex in which all the activities, including the divine service, took place is situated in a very beautiful but rugged region, surrounded by high hills. A total of one hundred young people from Brazil and Uruguay took part. The divine service was held by District Apostle Raúl Montes de Oca. He based his sermon on a Bible text that Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider already used in May of this year for a youth service in Berlin (Germany): “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6: 20).

International Youth Convention 2019 in Europe

Starting today anyone interested can submit ideas for the programme of the International Youth Convention 2019. After all, the motto “Here I am” also stands, among other things, for helping to shape the Church, congregation, and the youth convention. It is desired that young people are involved in deciding the programme content as far as possible.

Ninety thousand square metres of exhibition space, stages in seven halls, and 25 hours of programming need to be filled. “Apply as a band, a solo artist, or to give a talk,” the invitation says. “You can register an exhibit, run a booth, show films, perform on stage, be a street performer, and much more.”

The survey will go online shortly on the IYC website: www.ijt2019.org and a little later via app. Anyone wishing to submit ideas has to create a short profile and give the usual contact info in case there are questions. This also allows you to follow the status of the submitted proposal.