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Brazzaville/Zurich. Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider conducted his first divine service in his new ministry in his French mother tongue. Together with District Apostles Mark Woll (Canada), Michael Deppner (Congo West), and Tshitshi Tshisekedi (South East Congo) he visited his brothers and sisters in Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of Congo.
Chief Apostle Schneider based his sermon on a Bible text from John 15: 26: “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Concerning this he explained that the Holy Spirit comforts us by testifying of Jesus Christ. “We do not expect the Holy Spirit to open up mysteries that we alone can know, or to reveal to us the future of mankind down to the tiniest detail,” he said. “The Spirit seeks to strengthen us by helping us grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ,” emphasised the international Church leader. For example, we can grow in knowledge through the word of God—as it strengthens our trust in God—or through awareness of the sacrifice of Christ, which promotes our own willingness to serve.
Gratitude for all prayers
Like his predecessor in ministry, Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider always sends a so-called ‘B-Circular’ or ‘Monday fax’ to all Apostles of the New Apostolic Church around the world after each of his trips. He concludes the report on his trip to Brazzaville with words of gratitude. On the occasion of his ordination he received many expressions of love and trust. “For this I thank you with all my heart, and assure you of my love and my prayers,” he writes to the Apostles.
The District Church of Canada is in charge of the administrative and pastoral work of the New Apostolic Church in the Republic of Congo. District Apostle Helper John Sobottka is responsible for this country as well as the Central African Republic, Rwanda, and Chad. Today the Republic of Congo is home to over 80,000 New Apostolic Christians in 750 congregations.