The size says nothing. What matters is that there is an atmosphere of joy. That the size of a congregation is not necessarily crucial is proven by many examples around the globe. Our trip takes us from Asia to Brazil and on to Africa and Italy.
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Indonesia
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Photo: NAC Brasilia
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Photo: NAC Brasilia
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Photo: NAC Brasilia
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Photo: NAC Brasilia
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Photo: NAC Brasilia
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: NAC Cape
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Photo: INA Italia
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Photo: INA Italia
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Photo: INA Italia
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Photo: INA Italia
New church in Jambi
Jambi is a city on Sumatra in Indonesia with a population of about half a million. In mid February 2016 Apostle Samuel Hadiwidagdo dedicated a new church building there. It is a small edifice but all the more welcome because the services of the New Apostolic Church had been taking place in someone’s house. The new church was erected on a palm plantation. The piece of land that it was erected on belongs to the Church. The building was erected by the members of the congregation in self-help. It measures 4×6 metres and is devoid of any frills: no stone walls, no ceiling, no stone floor. The congregation is very thankful. The members are cared for by a Priest and two Deacons.
Divine service in Rio Branco
At the other end of the world, in Brazil, District Apostle Raúl Montes de Oca conducted a divine service in Rio Branco on 28 February 2016, a city some 3,000 kilometres north-west of Brasilia. It is the capital of the state of Acre. The District Apostle visited the New Calafate congregation to prepare the members for the service for the departed that was to take place a week later. He spoke about three aspects of preparation: worship, humbleness, intercession. Toward the end of the service, District Apostle Montes de Oca baptized a child and sealed a young man.
Distinguished guests in Gaylee
A surprise visit by the District Apostle is always very special. And District Apostle Noel Barnes was not alone when he visited the Gaylee congregation in Cape Town (South Africa) recently. He was joined by District Apostle Helper João Uanuque Misselo from Angola and the Apostles Stanley M. Munsaka from Zambia and Apostle Michael Dimba from Johannesburg (South Africa). They are part of a working group involved with the new Guide for Ministers and were in Cape Town for meetings from 29 February to 3 March. This was the first of a series of meetings which will take place over the next two years. The congregation was overjoyed. They were only informed about the District Apostle’s visit during choir practice the evening before.
Apostle visits Tuscany
Apostle Jürg Zbinden is responsible for the New Apostolic Church in Italy. He recently visited the congregations of Fosciana and Santa Croce sull’Arno in the heart of the region of Tuscany. The Saturday evening, 13 February 2016, he spent with the congregation of Fosciana, where he conducted Holy Sealing. On Sunday morning, 14 February, he conducted a divine service for the congregation of Santa Croce sull’Arno, where 19 believers gathered.