The activities in our Church show that New Apostolic Christians are committed. People campaigned against political violence or met to provide a safe and supportive environment for all. Others raised their voices for the victims of war and racism.
For peace and harmony
Ghana is worried about election-related unrest. Things are heating up and not only because the country is currently experiencing temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius. There are fears of disruptions in the course of the elections this Saturday. Young brothers and sisters from the Techiman Apostle district have been taking to the streets since 19 October 2024 to raise their voices for peace. They were not alone: dignitaries and leaders from the various political parties and churches took part in the campaign for peace. The activists carried posters, raised awareness, and advised everyone to remain calm and tolerant throughout the election process. They also educated the youth on penalties for acts of violence during the elections. Apostle Paul Kyeremeh was also present and motivated the young people to help promote peace and harmony and prayed for the country.
Stumbling stones are a stark reminder
Four stations were planned, but then the organisers of the memorial tour to commemorate the November 1938 pogroms in Germany against Jews stumbled across a fifth stone. Stolpersteine (or stumbling stones) are small brass stones that are embedded directly underfoot, in the streets, to commemorate victims of the Holocaust who lived in the neighbourhood. The Reichspogromnacht, a series of pogroms against the Jewish population in Germany on the night of 9–10 November 1938, claimed many victims. To remember them, around twenty Christians from various denominations, including New Apostolic Christians, took to the streets in Bergedorf in Germany on 9 November 2024. The group stopped at all the memorials to focus on the lives of the individual victims. At the unplanned fifth stumbling stone, they simply did some quick research on the Internet. Some songs and a prayer concluded the tour.
Making a difference in war
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, human aktiv, the aid organisation of the New Apostolic Church Southern Germany, has repeatedly sent medicines, medical equipment, other aid, and financial donations to hospitals in Rivne and Zaporizhia. The aid organisation last provided financial support for a children’s clinic in Kharkiv at the beginning of November 2024. The 20,000 euros will be used to help children in the city’s paediatric clinic No. 5 who require palliative care. The money was used to purchase medical and rehabilitation equipment and to put security window film on the windows to protect the children from shattering glass during rocket attacks.
Together against sexual misconduct
The Church in Southern Africa takes a no-tolerance stance on any form of sexual misconduct. This has been made clear by the Safe Guarding Committee of the New Apostolic Church Southern African on their visit to Gauteng from 8 to 10 November 2024. The committee is made up of professionals from various fields, including psychology, social work, law, and pastoral leadership. Over the three-day meeting, the committee reviewed current safeguarding measures, identified areas for improvement, and discussed strategies to strengthen prevention, support, and reporting systems. This year, a special invitation was extended to the District Apostle Area’s youth and Sunday School leaders, allowing for a more integrated approach to safeguarding. All victims are encouraged to report any sexual misconduct by a member or minister and are assured that all matters are treated with the utmost confidentiality. The meeting ended with a joint divine service.