“Bah, was that ever a boring evening!” The Priest had announced his visit and blabbed on and on about nothing more than personal preferences. The verdict on that visit was devastating. Real pastoral interest looks quite different. A cliché? Well, not quite, thankfully. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that a successful visit to fellow believers […]

“God, help the widows and orphans.” This petition has become somewhat of an empty phrase in many prayers. The UN observes 23 June as International Widows Day, and it is an opportunity to take a special look at women in biblical times who had to take charge of their lives. The loss of one’s life […]

There was certainly plenty of buzz on the social media sponsored by the New Apostolic Church. The subject of women in ministry generated hundreds of comments. And the reactions could hardly have been more different. Naturally there were some posts that used words like embarrassing and shameful to target the “old men” antagonists in the […]

The deliberations on the topic of women in ministry are entering the next round. This is what the Chief Apostle says in his annual interview of 2021. He gives a concrete roadmap and an update on the current status of the discussions. This is a vast and multifaceted topic, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider says. But […]

From “I don’t need a visit” to “Come over more often”—traditional family visits from ministers are still valued. What is required, however, are more creative ways to get together, as well as a return to more conventional values. The traditional format has been common practice for many years, and it looks something like this: the […]

Ascension Day and Pentecost are coming up. The church Jesus is looking forward to these Christian high feasts as central mysteries of the faith. The church receives testimony of this through the continuous activity of the Holy Spirit. You have to believe it. There is no such thing as proof, either in the conventional or […]

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? 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 […]

Jesus Christ still heals today. Faith is the foundation. But that alone will not do it: this is the diagnosis from a divine service by the Chief Apostle. Photo: ENA France Photo: ENA France Photo: ENA France Photo: ENA France Photo: Mike St. Denis Photo: NAC Canada/NAC USA Photo: NAC Canada/NAC USA Photo: NAC Canada/NAC […]

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 […]

Once the pinnacle is reached, everything begins to go downhill. At least that is the picture society throws at us all the time. Callous public advertising is constantly telling us that everything has an expiration date. Thank God that our ministers see things differently. It is not one’s age, but rather one’s essence, that defines […]

First comes Mardi Gras—the Tuesday preceding Lent (also known as Shrove Tuesday)—then Ash Wednesday, and then Lent: a period that stretches all the way to Easter on the calendar. It is not about food deprivation per se, but primarily about introspection, a deeper look into one’s own heart. Abundance prevails in many regions of this […]

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 […]

Wars, earthquakes, Covid-19… The same old question keeps coming up: why does God’s love allow people to suffer? More important than the answer is an absolute certainty— and the light that guides us through dark days. Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: Andreas Selter Photo: […]

They provide orientation, identification, and in many cases also enthusiasm: role models and idols define our lives from an early age on, and sometimes even into old age. But some heroes help even beyond that. “The example of Christ” is the thematic series of our Sunday sermons in February. And we are not talking about […]

“Shaping the future of the Church” can be achieved by those who win young Christians over to be active in the Church, says Chief Apostle Schneider. Following are some thoughts on the challenges, the opportunities, and a win-win situation. Most of the time pastoral care is fascinating, demanding, and, in a positive sense, unpredictable. In […]

When exactly does human life begin and when does it end? The boundaries are not always clear. But clear answers are important, because sometimes critical personal decisions need to be made. Here is some help from the Church. This much is clear: contraception and organ transplants, the wish for a child or even euthanasia… this […]

“What is God like?” children sometimes ask. A justified question. Finding an answer is easier than it seems at first. Let’s ask Jesus Christ. He knows what God is like. This will be the topic in our divine services on the second Sunday of Advent. The month of December is defined by Advent and the […]