light after darkness. comfort and solace was offered in a recent concert by the wilhelmshaven chamber choir. it was given in memory of the tsunami in south-east asia ten years ago. how did those affected by the tsunami, either directly or as helpers, experience the disaster? following are some personal accounts. 08 01 2015

an advent wreath with six candles. merry christmas! pardon? christmas is long gone. but not in russia. according to the russian calendar christmas is today, 7 january. for new apostolic christians this time of the year is a bit of a balancing act between the cultures. 07 01 2015

a celebration of faith in kenya. zurich/nairobi. the international leader of the new apostolic church, chief apostle jean-luc schneider spent the last weekend of june in kenya. this was the first time that he had ever come to the country as chief apostle. hundreds of thousands of members had long been looking forward to this visit. 09 07 2014

east london, the first congregation in africa. cape town. the exact date on which evangelist carl klibbe arrived in cape town is not known. he spread the message of salvation as preached in the new apostolic church. this, in time, served as the springboard for the church into the whole of africa. 07 07 2014

the new apostolic church draws a positive conclusion: the icc was a successful festival of faith! munich/zurich. the first ever international church convention of the new apostolic church came to an end on sunday evening. blessed with beaming sunshine and, for the most part, high summer temperatures, christians from many parts of the world celebrated their faith with great enthusiasm over the space of three days. some 50,000 participants assembled in munich’s olympia park for the international church convention, which took place over the pentecost weekend from 6-8 june 2014. organisers have concluded that the event was a great success. 13 06 2014

pentecost 2014: “it is more blessed to give than to receive”. munich/zurich. a divine service from munich transmitted around the world by satellite—millions of new apostolic christians on all continents witnessed the pentecost service conducted by their church leader, jean-luc schneider. in the olympia stadium in the bavarian capital alone there were 50,000 believers. in his pentecost message, the chief apostle called upon the believers to become even more active in love for god and their neighbour, emphasising that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” 12 06 2014

the starting beat to a celebration of faith. munich/zurich. chief apostle jean-luc schneider officially opened the international church convention (icc) in munich as a celebration of joyful fellowship with a prayer that all might experience the presence of god. tens of thousands of visitors in the olympia stadium witnessed the starting beat to this large premiere for the new apostolic church. 09 06 2014

international church convention: global transmission of the pentecost service. zurich. the divine service which chief apostle jean-luc schneider will conduct on pentecost sunday on the occasion of the international church convention of the new apostolic church will be transmitted to over 100 countries on all continents with the help of satellites, fibre optic cables, and radio broadcasters. his sermon will first be interpreted into english at the altar phrase by phrase, and then interpreted simultaneously into over 20 other languages. 27 05 2014

chief apostle schneider will lead a divine service for pentecost 2015 in lusaka, zambia. a concert at pentecost in 2015 will take place in the olympia park. the news was given by district apostle charles ndandula that chief apostle jean-luc schneider will visit lusaka, zambia at pentecost 2015. 09 04 2014

a school with 6 classrooms. in 2006 a basic primary school was built in “mile 9” in sierra leone, 91 miles away from the capital city of freetown, through the initiative of members of the new apostolic church. 02 04 2014

the name of the new district apostle is rainer storck. dortmund/zurich. “we praise god and give thanks to his servant”—it was with this simple statement that the international leader of the new apostolic church, chief apostle jean-luc schneider, opened sunday’s divine service in dortmund’s westfalenhalle. with emotional words he retired district apostle armin brinkmann, who had served in ministry for many years, before going on to ordain his successor, the new district apostle rainer storck. 25 02 2014

the anniversary year of the new apostolic church comes to an end. zurich. the past year 2013 was an anniversary year for the new apostolic church. it was celebrated with numerous national and international events. having emerged in 1863 from a small catholic apostolic congregation in hamburg, germany, the new apostolic church today numbers over ten million members around the world. new apostolic christians gather to worship in over 60,000 congregations. following are some excerpts from a year in motion. 31 12 2013

memorial service for retired chief apostle richard fehr. zurich. chief apostle jean-luc schneider called his predecessor in ministry a “wise man with great vision”. the majority of new apostolic district church leaders from around the world attended the memorial service for the highly respected and popular chief apostle, who had directed the affairs of the new apostolic church over the seventeen years from 1988 to 2005. it was in gratitude and sadness that they gathered in the zurich-hottingen church to take leave of richard fehr, who passed away on 30 june 2013, shortly before his 74th birthday. 19 07 2013

obituary for chief apostle richard fehr. zurich. it is with great sadness that new apostolic christians around the world have learned of the passing of chief apostle richard fehr, who had served in ministry for many years. expressions of sympathy have begun to arrive from all parts of the globe. chief apostle jean-luc schneider describes his predecessor in ministry as a man of great wisdom and vision. “he always had a feel for the global church and promoted its internationality. his time in office always stood—and still stands—for openness and tolerance.” 02 07 2013

the name of the new chief apostle of the new apostolic church is jean-luc schneider. hamburg/zurich. as of this pentecost sunday 2013, the new apostolic church has a new spiritual leader: jean-luc schneider is the new chief apostle and successor in ministry to wilhelm leber, who retired from ministry on this occasion. it was a special highlight when the new chief apostle discharged the previous chief apostle from his ministry with the words: “in our hearts you will remain our chief apostle!” 20 05 2013

pentecost 2013: “surely your salvation is coming!”. hamburg/zurich. chief apostle wilhelm leber, international church leader since 2005, conducted his last divine service in hamburg-borgfelde this pentecost sunday (we reported). several million people around the world shared in this sermon live via satellite and internet transmission. he called upon the believers to engage and exhibit the power of the holy spirit in their everyday surroundings. 20 05 2013

pentecost 2012: jean-luc schneider appointed chief apostle helper. zurich/cologne. after many years, the new apostolic church once again has a chief apostle helper. in the pentecost service on 27 may 2012 in cologne chief apostle wilhelm leber appointed the french district apostle jean-luc schneider with this new commission. he will in future provide support to the chief apostle and also take on some of his travels. “the transition is to proceed in as continuous a manner as possible,” said the chief apostle. he himself is already looking toward his own retirement, he explained, and is working early to address the matter of his succession. 29 05 2012

district apostle johann r. kitching suffers fatal accident (update). zurich / johannesburg. only five weeks after his festive retirement, district apostle johann r. kitching from johannesburg, south africa has died. he lost his life yesterday afternoon in a tragic accident. chief apostle leber’s initial reaction: “we are very, very sad.” 08 03 2012