• Can you please tell me about the origins and history of your church?
  
• Does the Holy Spirit ever leave an individual?
  
• We would like to know more about Service for the Departed.
  
• If Jesus Christ is the head and we are the body, how can it be that an apostle is the head?
  
• I have never attended a New Apostolic Church service and am a little apprehensive about attending for the first time. Would you please describe the order of service for me?
  
• Does the New Apostolic Church ask for monetary pledges from its members?
  
• What are the fundamental beliefs of the members of the New Apostolic Church?
  
• What is the church's viewpoint on celebrating Halloween?
  
• I would like to ask a question.
  

A - In the 1830’s faithful Christians from several denominations shared a longing that the Lord would restore to the church what had been so vital in the first church, the full activity of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the Apostle ministry. They fervently prayed for the restoration of these divine gifts. In response to this intense longing and these sincere prayers, spiritual gifts of prophesy and healing were awakened. On October 31, 1832 the first Apostle of the second sending, John Bate Cardale, was called by divine prophesy. Over the next three years, eleven more men from various denominations, social positions and religious training were called to the Apostle ministry.

These Apostles withdrew for a year to study the Scripture and insure a complete understanding of their apostolic commission. When they emerged, the Apostles immediately began traveling, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, sealing souls with the Holy Spirit, ordaining ministers for the care of the congregations and working to fulfill their commission of preparing souls for the coming of Christ. That work of Grace and Apostleship continues to this day.

The above is the short version of our origin and history. For those that are interested, the following is a more complete explanation.

The Fullness of Time –

The Apostle Paul wrote the following about the sending of Jesus Christ: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son … to redeem those who were under the law, that they might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 2:4,5) The promise of the Redeemer had been made to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but the promise was not fulfilled until the time was right. Political, cultural and technical conditions had to be such that Jesus Christ could establish His Kingdom and the glad tidings be spread.

During a short window of history called Pax Romana, conditions were right. There existed a world wide peace. The Romans had built a network of excellent roads; they had established well traveled trade routes across the Mediterranean Sea; a reliable postal system was in place; there was a single international language; the Old Testament had just been translated into Greek and thereby read throughout the empire. The fullness of time had come. It was within the protection of this peace, on these roads and in these ships that the Apostles of Christ traveled to spread the gospel and establish congregations. The postal system enabled the Apostles to send the letters that now make up most of the New Testament. In this propitious time, the church of Christ, God’s Kingdom, was established and the gospel proclaimed. Jesus Christ, Himself, acknowledged it; “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand.” (Mark 1:15)

We review this history because it gives us an insight into divine planning and timing. Jesus Christ promised that He would come again. When? In the fullness of time!

Jesus Christ had commissioned the Apostles; “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…and I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19,20) In regard to His return He said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.” (Matthew 24:14) Did this prophecy apply only to the nations in the known world at that time, or did He really mean “all the world” and “all the nations”? How could it be possible for His Apostles to go to all nations to teach the gospel? When the fullness of time was come, all would be possible.

Let us consider what would fulfill the time. Again, political, cultural and technical conditions had to be right.

With the death of the last Apostle of the first church the world, not coincidentally, fell into the dark ages. (See Matthew 5:14) In the 14^th century the world began to awaken from its dark slumber. The era called “Renaissance” (rebirth) began.

The world began to open. Christopher Columbus discovered America. Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa to Asia. Magellan circumnavigated the world. Christ’s reference to “all the world” and “all the nations” took on meaning.

A new political era began with the American and French Revolutions. With democracy came freedom of religion.

Consider the changes in technology in the last decades. We live in an era of continuing and rapid change but it was not always such. In 1800 nothing moved faster on earth than the speed of a horse – no cargo, no person, no message. It had been that way for thousands of years. By 1830 everything had changed. Communication was revolutionized - a message could be sent over telegraph lines almost instantaneously. Transportation was revolutionized - the steam engine provided rail travel at “breakneck” speed. These were only the beginning of the technological developments that we have witnessed into our time. The fullness of time had come. The gospel of Christ could be preached “in all the world as a witness to all the nations.”

One final aspect of this fullness of time needs to be considered. As a part of this awakening came the spiritual revival called the Reformation. Guttenberg invented the printing press; the Bible was printed and gained widespread distribution. It was translated into the various languages. Men and women of faith read of the church as Jesus Christ had established it and longed for its restoration. Heroes like Luther, Melanchthon, and Zwingly were way preparers in this cause.

It was out of this same longing that the faithful Christians we spoke about in the first paragraph, prayed for the sending of the Holy Spirit and the reestablishment of the Apostle ministry. The world was prepared – the fullness of time had come where the gospel could be preached “in all the world as a witness to all the nations.” Now the Lord would send Apostles again with the commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” and Christ would fulfill His promise, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The New Apostolic Church, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the leadership of Apostles of Jesus Christ, strives to complete the spiritual work of preparation for Christ’s return. Out of the ranks of those first believers in the 1830’s, the church has grown to over ten million members world wide.

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A - There are two aspects of Holy Sealing that we need to consider.

First, when the Apostle of Christ lays his hands on us and we are sealed a new creature in Christ is generated in us. We become children of God,life of His life and Spirit of His Spirit.

Secondly, through Holy Sealing the Holy Spirit becomes resident in us with the commission to be caretaker of that life of Christ and to help us in our striving to discourage and over come the old nature of Adam in us and to encourage and develop the new nature of Christ.

That we are a child of God through Holy Sealing is irreversible and unchangeable. Once born of His Life and Spirit we are forever His child.

The Holy Spirit remains influential and active in us at ourpleasure. It is at our discretion to call on Him to depend on Him to accept from Him comfort and counsel. Or, we can make Him inactive and dormant in us when we disregard Him or ignore His presence.

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A - The doctrine of Service for the Departed is based on the teaching of Jesus Christ and His Apostles. The most powerful proof that souls in eternity can be helped is that Jesus Christ entered eternity, immediately after His victory on the cross, to preach the gospel to those who were in captivity there. “For this reason the gospel was preached also to those that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (See 1 Peter 3:19,20 and 4: 6) That Jesus Christ would preach the gospel to these souls is demonstration of His longing to minister to them and proof that they can be helped. This was the first time that service was rendered to the departed.

Scripture tells us that Jesus Christ is “Lord of both the dead and the living.” (See Romans 14:9) He would that all would be saved (See 1Timothy 2:4). The souls in eternity are part of that “all”. He told His disciples, “Most assuredly I say to you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” (John 5:25) Ministering to these souls in spiritual misery and captivity is perfectly consistent with the nature and intention of Jesus Christ. He wants to minister to all souls. He has proven that He can.

The Apostles of Jesus Christ continue this ministry today. It was the commission of Christ that His Apostles continue in all of the works which He began. In the Service for the Departed, the sacraments of the church are dispensed to living proxies for the blessing and benefit of the departed. The faithful in the world wide congregations pray and intercede for these departed souls that they are able to find grace. There is a great outpouring of compassion and invitation from the living in favor of the departed. Again, this is perfectly within the mind and spirit of Jesus Christ.<

We understand that there are many indiscernible mysteries regarding eternity. But there are certain truths to which we hold. We believe that eternity is not simply divided between heaven and hell; that good people go to heaven and bad people go to hell. Can mankind really be divided that simplistically? Rather, eternity is comprised of many realms. Souls enter those realms, upon their physical death, depending on the condition / development of their soul. Jesus Christ gives us an insight into eternity with His explanation of the state of Lazarus and the rich man in eternity. They find themselves in very different realms. The rich man is in torment. Lazarus is in fellowship with Abraham. Lazarus is not in heaven. We consider heaven to be that place, prepared by Jesus Christ, where we can be forever together with Him (See John 14:1-3). This text from John provides further illumination of eternity in that, besides this place that Jesus is preparing, there are many other mansions (realms) in the Father’s house. Revelation also affords us glimpses into eternity where we see different realms and various spiritual conditions revealed (See Revelation 6:9-11). Even the Old Testament gives us a hint of the diversity of eternity’s realms. Commenting on the death of Moses and Aaron, we read that Moses was gathered to his people and Aaron to his people (See Deut. 32:50). On first consideration we would say that each was gathered to their own family members in eternity until we consider that Moses and Aaron were of the same family, they were brothers. Could it mean that both were gathered to their own spiritual kind?

Our celebration of Service for the Departed is in no way contradictory to Old Testament prohibitions against spiritualism and calling up the dead (See Deuteronomy 18:10,11). There is a tremendous difference between necromancy and ministering to souls in eternity. Jesus did not defy biblical prohibition when He went into eternity to minister to souls or when He called Lazarus out of the tomb. These were not acts of darkness or superstition but rather acts of love and compassion. It is love and compassion that motivates us in the Service for the Departed. Souls in eternity need to receive the treasures of Jesus Christ. Their condition is not hopeless. They are not beyond the loving reach of the Lord. He began this ministering in eternity. The Apostles of Christ and believing souls continue it.

Services for the Departed are held on the first Sunday of March, July and November.

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A - An Apostle is not the head. Jesus Christ is the head of the body. He is the foundation of the Kingdom of Heaven that He established on earth. He is the Chief Corner Stone of the building He erected on that foundation. He is the Center and Theme of our faith; our Lord, our Master, our Bridegroom.

He is also the Son of God who ordained and sent Apostles to continue His work; with the commission to preach the gospel to all nations; with the promise that whoever would receive them would receive Him and whoever would hear them would hear Him; and that He would be with them until the end of the age.

We believe Christ so intently and so deeply that we believe in what He said and what He established.


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A – We certainly understand your apprehension and we will try our best to explain how a divine service is conducted so that you will feel comfortable.

When you enter the church you will be greeted by an usher, who will offer you a friendly handshake, give you a hymnal and take you to a seat. Don’t worry, he will not seat you in the front of the congregation where you might feel conspicuous but somewhere in the middle or rear so that you can observe and follow the lead of the other worshipers.

It is common practice for our members to arrive at church 15 or 20 minutes before the service begins. That time is spent in quiet prayer and contemplation – an inner preparation for the spiritual message to come. During those moments the choir will sing and the organist will play several songs that help create a serene atmosphere.

At the designated starting time the organist begins the opening anthem (you will find the number posted on the hymn board on the front wall of the church), the congregation rises and sings as the minister takes his place at the altar.

At the conclusion of the hymn, the worshipers bow their heads, fold their hands and close their eyes and the minister prays aloud; the congregation silently listens. At the end of this opening prayer the minister says “Amen” and the congregation responds with “Amen.”

The minister then greets the congregation and reads the text from the Bible that will be the theme of the sermon. Following the reading of the text, the congregation which has been standing, is asked to be seated. The choir sings a hymn and the sermon begins.

At the conclusion of the sermon the congregation is asked to rise at which time all join together and pray aloud the Lord’s Prayer. Following the Lord’s Prayer the minister continues, offering forgiveness to the congregation and sanctifying wafer and wine for the celebration of Holy Communion. The congregation is then invited to come forward to take the Communion wafer and then return to their seats. The communicant then says a silent prayer of thanks and dedication. You will observe that the usual manner of taking Holy Communion is to place one hand under the other, the wafer is placed on the open hand and then placed in the mouth.

When Communion is completed the minister asks the congregation to rise, he speaks the closing prayer concluded by “Amen. This time rather than saying “Amen” the organist leads the congregation in singing “Amen, amen, amen.” The choir sings a closing hymn which concludes the divine service.

As a rule, services on Sunday morning are about an hour in duration, midweek services somewhat shorter but all follow the same order of service.

By observing the actions of the other worshipers and through the direction provided by the minister you will find no difficulty in following along in the order of service. And we know that you will find your reception warm and friendly.

Please come and share a service with us.

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A – No, there is no such thing as a monetary pledge in the New Apostolic Church. As a matter of fact the church never asks its members for any monetary contributions nor is there ever an offering plate passed. We feel that offering is a very personal and private matter, strictly between the soul and the Lord.

Let me explain offering in the New Apostolic Church. At the rear of each church building, near the entrance to the sanctuary, there is an offering box. Persons that wish place their offering into the offering box. There is no one observing or monitoring; again, offering is a very personal and private matter, strictly between the soul and the Lord.

Nor will you ever hear a solicitation of funds in the course of a service. The church certainly teaches appreciation and thanksgiving but our emphasis is always on the inner condition and attitude and not on the amount offered.

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A - It is best described by our creed:

Article 1:
I believe in God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Article 2:
I believe in Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, entered the realm of the departed, rose again from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty, from whence he shall return.

Article 3:
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy apostolic church; the community of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting.

Article 4:
I believe that the Lord Jesus rules his church through living apostles until his return, and that he has sent them into the world and still sends them with the commission to teach, to forgive sins in his name and to baptise with water and the Holy Spirit.

Article 5:
I believe that all ministers in the Church of Christ are chosen and ordained into their ministries only by apostles and that all gifts and powers must come forth out of the apostle ministry; equipped with these, the community becomes a legible letter of Christ.

Article 6:
I believe that the Holy Baptism with water is part of the rebirth, and that a person baptised with water is entitled to the Holy Sealing. It is furthermore the covenant of a good conscience with God.

Article 7:
I believe that the Holy Communion was instituted by the Lord himself, in memory of the once brought eternally valid sacrifice and the bitter suffering and death of Christ. The worthy partaking of the Holy Communion establishes our fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Lord. It is celebrated with unleavened bread and wine, such to be blessed and dispensed by a priestly ministry of the Church.

Article 8:
I believe that those baptised with water must receive the Holy Spirit through an apostle, to obtain the childhood in God, whereby they become incorporated as members in the body of Christ.

Article 9:
I believe that the Lord Jesus will return as sure as he ascended to heaven and that he will transform and take unto him the dead in Christ and the living bridal souls, who have hoped for and were prepared for his coming; that after the marriage in heaven he will return to earth with them, to establish his kingdom of peace and that they will reign with him as kings and priests. After conclusion of the kingdom of peace, he will hold the Last Judgement when all souls who did not take part in the first resurrection shall receive their part according to their conduct, be it good or evil.

Article 10:
I believe that I am obliged to obey the worldly authorities provided no godly laws are thereby transgressed.

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A - The church's concern about Halloween and the way that it is celebrated is that it often is disrespectful and denigrating to the souls in the realms of the departed.

The Halloween theme of spooks and ghosts and spirits using these as comical or frightening figures is inconsistent with our attitude toward departed souls.

Originally Halloween was set aside as a holy evening to remember the departed. The church is very serious about our commission to pray for and minister to these souls.

We are concerned that the typical way Halloween is celebrated trivializes and even perverts what should be a serious activity.

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We welcome all questions. Be assured that we will respond to each. Please click on the link below and fill out the form on the subsequent page.

We will include in this "Question" location questions which we feel are of general interest. Of course, all submissions will be held in confidence. No names will be attributed to the questions posted.

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