Bonn/Dortmund. During a festive divine service, Apostle Armin Brinkmann was ordained the new district apostle for the District Church of North Rhine - Westphalia. His ordination by Chief Apostle Dr. Wilhelm Leber took place amid the historic backdrop of the chambers of the former West German Parliament in Bonn.
Early Monday morning a press release was issued to all newspapers and spokespersons throughout the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It begins as follows: District Apostle Armin Brinkmann (56) is married and the father of three children. Since 1983 he has been active as an apostle in the second largest New Apostolic District Church of Germany.
The new district apostle outlined his feelings in the face of the new tasks awaiting him by stating that humbleness and the fear of God, along with courage, joy, and confidence would constitute the foundation upon which he sought to effect his new ministry. District Apostle Armin Brinkmann's message: "It is my intention to serve the triune God and to be there for the members of the New Apostolic Church here in North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as the foreign regions in our care".
For the church districts of Aachen, Bonn, and Cologne, Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber ordained the hitherto Bishop Franz Wilhelm Otten (44) an apostle.
More than 1,500 New Apostolic Christians personally witnessed the ordination of the new district apostle in the Parliament chambers. The festive service and ordination was transmitted via satellite to 300 congregations throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. Beyond that, congregations in Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Portugal were also able to enjoy the satellite transmission of the divine service.
For more details from the divine service, please visit:www.nak.de/nrw/p_6_1.html.
27 June 2005