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- Jesus Christ – the foundation of our faith
Zurich/Herne. Every two years, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber, the leading minister of the New Apostolic Church, assembles all ministers and wives from all over Europe for a special divine service. Yesterday, this long-awaited divine service took place in the church in Herne-Wanne-Eickel (North Rhine-Westphalia), from where it was transmitted to more than 550 European congregations. The important message from this Sunday was: Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which our faith should be built.
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” - Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber used these words from Holy Scripture as the basis for his instruction to the brothers in ministry in their various and diverse tasks. “The Son of God, His resurrection, and His return are central tenets of the New Apostolic faith,” he said. “That is our topic: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, tomorrow, and forever” (Hebrews 13: 8), said the Church leader. He went on to express that it is extremely important that we, as New Apostolic Christians, build upon this foundation: “We are those who build!” He then quoted the following verses from Apostle Paul’s letter to the congregation in Corinth in order to explain to his brothers in faith what really counts (1).
To begin, he mentioned the importance of faith: “Without faith nothing will work.” A deep faith is stubborn and clinging. “Our faith is not Aladdin and the magic lamp, but it nevertheless holds many miracles in store,” said the Chief Apostle. The Church leader also placed special emphasis on love for God and one’s neighbour. Using the biblical example of the lost sheep (2) he explained that it is part of our pastoral care duty to look after all the sheep—even the difficult ones or those who are on the fringes. “It is one of the most important tasks of New Apostolic ministers to see the brethren of the congregations in their very own individual situations, and to take them as they are.” The best way to achieve this is to work in humbleness, composure, and patience, he said.
At the end of the divine service, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber read out some information points which will be published at a later date.
(1) “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear” (1 Corinthians 3: 11-13, excerpt).
(2) “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18: 10-14).