“When you look at a construction site, you might think, ‘What will this become?’ But sometimes there is a picture that shows what the building will look like in the end. The picture is Christ,” District Apostle Michael Deppner said on Pentecost. Following is an overview of church buildings and other facilities under construction. The […]

He was a doubter, a man who seemed to fail because he did not endure to the end. At times history depicts him as an antihero—and yet there were so many things he did manage to get right. Six months before the birth of Jesus, a boy was born. His parents were considered old and […]

“It is the same everywhere, only different,” Chief Apostle Hans Urwyler once said many years ago. Life and faith differ greatly in the congregations around the world, yet there is so much we have in common. community presents some of these commonalities in its latest issue, 03/2021. The same faith: focus on Jesus Christ “As […]

Even though the Earth is a ball it has lots of corners and ends. And this is where the glad tidings are to be carried. Here is a road map from a divine service by the Chief Apostle to show us where this will lead. Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: Marcel Felde Photo: […]

How wonderful it would be if there were a love that never stops and forgives everything? This is the kind of unconditional affection that people long for. Here is a Good Friday sermon on extraordinary manifestations of love and the human pitfalls. Photo: NAK Süddeutschland Photo: NAK Süddeutschland Photo: NAK Süddeutschland Photo: NAK Süddeutschland Photo: […]

Suddenly in charge and in trouble. This is what Hendra Tansahsami experienced time and again. As District Apostle he merged the two New Apostolic sister churches in Indonesia. Here is a look back in tribute to a man who would have been 100 years old today. 5 August 1951: The 30-year-old District Apostle Tan Bian […]

Woman and man—created equally in the image of God? The question of who, or what, women represent has always been defined by men over the centuries. Only in the modern age has this image begun to shift closer to the original intent of creation. Some excerpts from history will illustrate. A series of manuscripts dating […]

Woman and man—created equally in the image of God? There is no shortage of evidence supporting that women were active participants in the early church. The question, however, is what these facts have to say about the role of women in the church. The position of women in Roman-Hellenistic antiquity was defined by the alleged […]

Communion during COVID: it would be a non-starter if we all shared the same wine chalice. So how can the sacrament nevertheless be celebrated “under both species”—that is, with both bread and wine? For an answer, we turn to history—namely that of the New Apostolic Church! The chatter was everywhere: the German Press Agency and […]

It’s terrible when people don’t practise what they preach! We are so quick to point a finger but completely forget to look in the mirror. Only when words and deeds coincide is a person authentic. Many talk the talk, but do they also walk the walk? Talking alone achieves nothing. You also have to practise […]

There is to be bread and wine at Holy Communion. Jesus said so. But what about children, people with allergies, and alcoholics? Will one of the two elements do the job just as well? Church history provides some answers. It was number two on their list of demands: according to the reform movement of the […]

The New Apostolic Church professes equality and equal rights for both women and men. This is one of the conclusions that derives from its most recent doctrinal paper, which includes an appeal for both men and women to accept responsibility in the state, the church, and in society together. As we read in section 3.3.2 […]

J. P. is short for John Peter, and the name Fendt has gone down in American Church history. Today John Peter Fendt would have celebrated his 125th birthday. Here is a portrait in tribute of a pioneer. Photo: Zentralarchiv NAK Westdeutschland Photo: Zentralarchiv NAK Westdeutschland Photo: Zentralarchiv NAK Westdeutschland Photo: Archiv Bischoff Verlag His parents […]

Lent and Passiontide… It can feel like pain and sorrow. Compassion is what is called for! At the same time, however, it becomes clear that Christians must never forget why their Saviour Jesus Christ had to suffer: it was for them! The Son of God is considered as an example that illustrates that people who […]

Red wine, white wine, grape juice? Pure or mixed with water? As with the bread, Christendom has also come up with a multitude of variants for the second element of the Lord’s Supper. And each has its reasoning—sometimes based on theology, sometimes based on more worldly factors. Wine? Strictly speaking, there is no mention of […]

Bible experts tell us that the Sermon on the Mount is the gospel in short form. There is certainly quite a lot of substance to it! In the space of very few pages, Jesus Christ describes what really matters for Christians: trusting in God and becoming a witness of His love! Photo: Dietmar Calmbach Photo: […]

Today is a special awareness day, the World Day of the Sick. Do we really need such a day of observance? Yes, because they should not be forgotten or feel excluded or, worse, lost. The sick among us belong in the middle of the congregation, in the middle of our hearts. It was instituted as […]

Are you serious, Leonardo? Dinner rolls? The bread on the menu of Da Vinci’s famous painting of Jesus’ Last Supper does not quite correspond to the historical reality. And the whole question of what kind of bread was served at the Last Supper is already tricky enough. Nevertheless, let us attempt a foray… This much […]