Dresden. “Let us walk in the light of the Holy Spirit” – it was with this message that the international leader of the New Apostolic Church, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, addressed the congregations around the world in the Pentecost service 2011. Traditionally, the feast of Pentecost is celebrated in a big way in the New Apostolic Church, and on this occasion all 53 European Apostles gathered in Dresden. Many thousands of congregations on all continents were connected by satellite transmission.

“The Pentecost greeting for this year is found in Isaiah 2: 5. Permit me to express it in somewhat more modern terms: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, come and let us walk in the light of the Holy Spirit.’” It was with these words that Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber addressed all New Apostolic Christians around the world. In so doing he also took a concrete look into the congregations. The situation is not good everywhere, he noted. There are various disturbances, personal concerns, needs, and members in suffering. “Many are also concerned about the question as to how things are to carry on.” Particularly in Europe it has been observed that the congregations are becoming smaller and that there are shortages of ministers. “This does not necessarily look so rosy,” conceded the Church leader. Nevertheless he reminded the believers of the so-called farewell discourses of the Son of God (cf. Matthew 24). There Jesus Christ described many unpleasant circumstances, but His counsel was nonetheless: “But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 24: 13). These words of the Lord also apply to us, said the Chief Apostle. And as at all times, faith is also what counts today!

Come and walk in the light!

He went on to add how important it is to walk in the light of the Holy Spirit. For this one must leave behind certain attitudes. A “wait and see” is not a solid commitment, not a decisive attitude. “Let us not be unbelieving or take a ‘wait and see’ attitude,” he appealed to his listeners. Declining or even rejecting the Lord’s offer is just as inconsistent with our faith as a hesitant or passive mindset.

This year we will again make a video of the divine service available for download. You can also find an excerpt of the service on the OF-online website.