At the International Level

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 the 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 second coming of Christ. That work of Grace and Apostleship continues to this day.

When according to God's counsel the time for the commencement of redemption had come, God sent His beloved Son; and when the time was fulfilled in which, according to God's counsel, His work was to be completed, He first of all awakened the longing for His word, the same as it could be heard in the early Christian period. Thus the words of the Prophet Amos fulfilled themselves: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord" (Amos 8:11).

The Spiritual gifts in Scotland

A humble carpenter in Scotland, James Grubb, was the first man through whom God spoke, and he proclaimed wonderful messages. He spoke about the coming of the Lord, and that He would still perform a special work in his church before this would come to pass; He spoke of a shining light that would enlighten them about a cloud resembling the shape of a human hand, which would grow and cover everything. Grubb uttered all these prophecies through the activities of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21.)

Near the cottage of James Grubb, in the lovely Clyde Valley in Scotland, lived a family by the name of Campbell. This man Campbell was a farmer; he had two unmarried daughters, Isabel and Mary, two God-fearing souls. God had endowed all three of them with the gift of prophecy. Besides this both girls had the gift of visions. One of the two sisters, Mary Campbell, fell seriously ill. A severe tuberculosis of the lungs brought her to the verge of death. She was unable to lift her head off the pillow. In this condition she was already confined to bed for several weeks. One evening she lay there without uttering a word, absorbed in silent prayer. Two friends had come to pay her a visit. Suddenly she arose and stood before them. She spoke in a tongue which non of those present could understand. She was filled with power and strength, for she could not have uttered these special and secret words out of her own power. Then she lay down again on her bed and was weak as before. This happened on 21 March 1830.

Campbell had very good friends in Port Glasgow, and on the other side of the Clyde: two brothers and one sister, George, James and Margaret Macdonald. They possessed a strong faith, continued in earnest prayer and led a god-pleasing life. They too possessed the gifts of prophecy and the speaking in divers tongues. One day shortly after the aforementioned event, James Macdonald felt himself inspired by the Holy Spirit to write to Mary Campbell. The latter was still confined to bed and on the verge of death. He commanded her in the name of Jesus to arise and come to him. As Mary reported later, she was filled with a divine power when she read this letter. She arose and hastened to the ferry boat to meet Macdonald, who was convinced that she was healthy again, and on her way to him. She was indeed cured and remained healthy.

God began to revive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Scotland, first of all through prophecy, then through the speaking in divers tongues, as well as through healing. This movement expanded rapidly, and more and more men and women prophesied, spoke in divers tongues and healed the sick.

The awakening of Spiritual gifts in England

The Lord had moved the hearts of the faithful men and women in Scotland, and thereafter He did the same in England. It was only natural that seriously minded and sincere, believing people united themselves and became friends. They frequently met in the house of one or the other and pondered over the question which was of the most greatest importance to them all: the coming of the Lord.

One man in particular, Henry Drummond, was completely convinced of the coming of the Lord and need to prepare oneself for this day. He used to invite ministers and laymen from various denominations to read the scriptures and to discuss important matters of faith with them. They came to the conclusion that prophecies, healing and divers tongues must again be manifested as they were in the early church. They prayed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. More and more people began to await the coming of the Redeemer, and prepared themselves.

Drummond and others heard about the wonderful events in Scotland, and they visited Campbell and Macdonald to investigate these matters. Among them were the famous London advocate Cardale and Doctor Thomson. Thereafter, they returned to London and declared to their friends that they were perfectly convinced that these reports were true, and that the Holy Spirit had indeed spoken through the mouth of these believing people. They prayed and searched the scriptures with greater diligence.

God answered them in different ways and from among various classes of people.

In the year 1830, God strengthened the faith of these seeking souls in England through a wonderful instance of healing. One daughter of a minister called Elizabeth, had been ill since birth. She suffered from a weak and curved spine and was permanently confined to bed. With joyful faith and true patience every Sunday she was carried to church where she lay on a pillow. Her father did not want to admit that the gifts of the Holy Spirit had again become manifest. She had a friend who belonged to these searching people and who was convinced that the wonderful life-giving power of the Holy Spirit can even reveal itself in our day through people prepared for such, though their faith was only as small as a mustered seed.

One day this friend visited the minister and his family. When he saw the ailing daughter he felt sad at heart and was filled with the earnest desire to become a tool in the hand of the Lord so as to heal the girl. He prayed for her secretly and was granted the assurance that his prayers had been heard. One evening when they had all retired from her room, after wishing Elizabeth "Good night", her friend remained behind. The girl had no idea that something extraordinary was going to happen. She thought that he too would say "Good night" and follow the others. But he stood next to her bed and asked her very seriously whether she could wholeheartedly believe that Jesus can still cure the sick as He used to when He was still on earth. She was greatly astonished about this question. However, she answered him earnestly that she never yet doubted this. "Now then," he said, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to stand up and go to your parents."

Thereupon the girl immediately felt strength and new life in her limbs. The pain disappeared, she arose and could walk, whereafter she went to her parents. Who can describe their amazement and joy! The father could only utter the words: "My Lord and my God!" - The child was completely cured. This first healing was followed by many others.

In the year 1831 some people in London received the gift of prophecy and could speak in divers tongues as the Spirit awakened it within them. Christ Himself had promised such in Mark 16:17. In London these gifts became manifest in the residence of the aforementioned Cardale. After his return from Scotland he invited some of his friends to join him in prayer, whereupon he started to conduct prayer meetings. On the occasion of one of such gatherings the voice of the Holy Spirit was heard for the first time in London.

Edward Irving and the First Congregations in London

Edward Irving became acquainted with the reawakened spiritual gifts. For some time already he enjoyed the reputation of being a powerful preacher and was esteemed by many. Irving continued with the careful examination of the spiritual gifts. Some members of his congregation found grace and spoke by the power of the Holy Spirit. He spoke to everyone individually, examined the gifts exhaustively, questioned the begifted people and made every effort to convince himself personally that they were not frauds or deceivers. The more he investigated, the more he became convinced that these gifts came from God, and that the voice he heard was the voice of the Spirit of truth.

But only few were willing to believe it. It was wonderful to see how the experiences of Christ's followers at that time resembled those whom Jesus had during His life on earth. Many sufferings and afflictions had to be endured before the way to the present condition of the work could be paved. Even Irving had to fight many obstacles. Finally the elders in charge of the administration of the church left him. The revelations of the Lord were not confined to London area. In many parts of the United Kingdom, even in the remote villages, the Lord found people whose hearts were moved and prepared to receive Him. Drummond heard prophesies for the first time in June 1831. He was deeply impressed when he perceived that it was the voice of Jesus. He continued to examine it carefully before he resigned himself to the joy of these glorious divine gifts, for he wanted to be fully convinced that he would not become a victim of deception. Drummond, once convinced, did not hesitate, but united himself with Cardale, Percival, Armstrong and others, to spread this message.

Drummond continued to conduct prayer meetings in his house for another year. This was the commencement of the congregation in Albury, which later became the centre of the work of God. Here stood the chapel of the Apostles, here the 12 Apostles lived, and in this chapel each Sunday one of the Apostles celebrated Holy Communion.

Revival of the Apostleship and other Ministries of the Church

By now there were a number of flourishing congregations that we are able to understand how the Lord continued with His work. The Spirit of God wanted to dwell in His Church and to be the Leader and Speaker. Since the days of the first Apostles there had been no more room for Him in the Church. He had been rejected there. As God remained silent, the people imagined Him to be as they themselves were. But now the time had come where God again personally intervened. Yet many things had to be accomplished. People who were able to hear, understand and recognize the voice of their Saviour, had first to be reared in various ways. For this purpose the believers needed above all the ministry which Christ had given in the beginning, whereby He wanted to lead His saints to perfection. Moreover they had to learn the true order of worship. Even for this development of the work Irving was not the leader. He was not an Apostle, nor did he possess the gift of prophecy. But he had an ear for that which the Spirit said and he dedicated his life to teach his brethren. He died before the perfect order of worship had been established.

The next step that God took was to send out a number of young men who, as Evangelists, preached the Gospel in the streets. They were filled with a strong faith, with love and power. They preached for two years to whatever audience would listen to them and testified of the fact that they had experienced the ways of God. Many people from various denominations of faith heard this news. The word of prophecy admonished the believers to attach great value to the sacraments, and therefore they felt it a hardship being bereft of them. But the Holy Spirit exhorted them in various ways to pray incessantly that the Lord may grant unto them proper shepherds according to His promise. As soon as they had learned to pray for this with the necessary earnestness, the time had come for the Lord to carry out His decision.

At this time the first signs appeared for the Apostle ministry and therewith the hope for the ordination was renewed; for this was the ministry through which everything else could be given. Cardale was from the start driven to be active in the work of God. He was not only one of those who had traveled to Port Glasgow, but he also repeatedly, devoted to his profession, to his family and to science, and he was always there whenever a good deed could be done in his parish. He could be rightly called a man of God. He personally and particularly prayed for the renewal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in his own home the word of prophecy was heard for the first time in London.

It was no easy matter for Cardale to leave the Church of England. When he was dismissed from the Church and when his own Pastor expelled him, he still hoped for quite a while to be able to find an Anglican Church which would not scorn the work of the Holy Spirit. In August 1832 he began to attend Irving's services, where the spiritual gifts had already been revealed. He then felt that his love for the Anglican Church could no longer separate him from that which he had recognized to be the work of the Lord. In mid October he himself was urged to utter words of prophecy. The words he spoke were touching, firstly by the authority of the tone, and secondly by the clarity of the doctrine. Many words of prophecy at that time already testified of the fact he and some others would be called for this ministry.

The first step taken by God towards this aim was that He named through the word of prophecy - through the prophets - those men who were chosen by Him as "Apostles." The next step became manifest in the ordination of ministries and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which was to take place through the laying on of hands of the Apostles. But there is yet something else which has to be considered: namely the great upheavals that took place in all parts of the Christian world as a result of the words of these men. Having all this in mind we are convinced that God had indeed sent these, His messengers, and that they really are the Apostles of the Lord, not through man, but through Christ and God the Father. Thus the Lord Himself had chosen, equipped and sent His Apostles in the present time. The words addressed to them by the prophets in the power of the Spirit were no ordinary prophesies but the declaration and testimony of God that they were His Apostles. So also was the message whereby Cardale was addressed as Apostle not "the Lord ordains you as an Apostle" or, "He calls you to do the service of an Apostle", but it is said, "Art thou not an Apostle?" Then followed the order to perform the duties of Apostle. Through this word the Lord made it plain that He had chosen Cardale as His Apostle, and that he was now to act as such by the power of the Holy Spirit.

God again wanted to reveal Jesus Christ, the Apostle of our profession, through these men. He filled them with His power so that they could practice the ministry of the Holy Spirit and of the New Testament.

In October 1832 many words of prophecy were heard in the various congregations, which clearly testified of the calling and revival of the Apostle ministry. On 7 November 1832 a prayer meeting was conducted in a private house, in which Drummond was present. It was conducted in the usual: first a word from the scriptures was read, then followed the interpretation and the prayer and thereafter some prophesies. We find that with the appearance of the Apostle ministry, new light was shed upon the ministries, although the full significance could be recognized only at a later date. People had no idea at the time that the Holy Spirit can fill a man to such an extent, as Apostle Paul said, "We have the mind of Christ," and that a man so entirely filled by the Spirit of Christ could act without the help of prophesies. In this respect the Apostle and the congregation had yet much to learn.

Cardale went to Albury to spend Christmas there. During the evening service on Christmas eve the power of the Lord came upon Cardale and urged him, in agreement with the previously uttered prophecy, to ordain Caird as an Evangelist. The first ordination of the re-established ministries was not the pastoral ministry, to feed the flock, nor the prophetic ministry, to pour out light concerning the word of God, but the Evangelist ministry, to preach the Gospel to the poor. Exactly the same had happened during the lifetime of the Lord.

Then Cardale ordained Drummond by laying his hand on his head and saying the words "Be thou filled with the Holy Spirit, and with the Spirit of wisdom and of the knowledge and of sound mind..." Following him in February 1833 was the Frenchman Carr'e who was also ordained as an Evangelist like Drummond. In April Dr. Bayford was ordained as an Elder. At the same time Drummond chose three Deacons and introduced them into their ministry.

Irving was then ordained as an Angel and Rector of his congregation. Six more men were named as Helpers, but at that time this expression was not yet properly understand. Their task was to assist the Angels.

Further Nomination of Apostles and Foundation of Congregations

The second man to be ordained Apostle was Henry Drummond, on 25 September 1833. He had opened his house for prophetic conferences and prayer meetings already and was the first Rector (Angel) of the Albury congregation. On this day the congregation had assembled, as usual, for the morning service. Sincere prayers were offered, that the Lord may further His design which, as the words of prophecy had made clear, was not yet fully revealed. On this day, Bayford, the Elder and Prophet, made the important statement that the Angel of the congregation, Drummond, was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. This announcement was followed by a very earnest admonition to Drummond, to remain faithful in his high ministry.

Towards the end of the year 1833 the Apostles were instructed by the Holy Spirit to assume from now on the general leadership and supervision of all congregations. After Drummond several Apostles were nominated in quick succession. On 14 December it was Spencer Perceval in the Central Church, on 18 December, King-Church, the Elder from Bishopsgate, and on 18 January 1834 Nicholas Armstrong, who had shortly before been ordained as Elder of the Southwark congregation. Thus within a few months the Apostolate had increased to five members. The Evangelists, of whom many more were ordained in that time, continued their word with great zeal and God granted them much success, both inside and outside the borders of Great Britain. The word of prophecy constantly proclaimed to the Apostles that they had been ordained as a blessing for all countries. Therefore the Apostles were to proceed to all the countries of Europe, as well as to America, India and other parts of the world.

The first mission to America took place in 1834. Two Evangelists crossed the Atlantic and their message was joyfully accepted by many, both in Canada and in New York. During the first half of the year 1835 the word of testimony reached France for the first time by Evangelist Carr'e, a Frenchman who had been instructed by the word of prophecy to visit Paris and some other towns which had been precisely named. The message arrived in Germany relatively late, and yet, this country was to open its doors to it as no other country, except England, and here the Lord assembled the greatest number of souls and congregations. On 17 October 1847 the Apostle for Northern Germany, Thomas Carlyle, administered the Holy Sealing for the first time in this country in Frankfurt am Main.

In the course of the same year many servants of God were called and ordained, many congregations were founded. Evangelist Caird addressed huge gatherings in Liverpool and Manchester with his testimony, and large congregations developed in both cities. On 14 July 1835 by divine stipulation (by then the number of apostles had reached ten) two more men were nominated and ordained as Apostles to make the number twelve. Apostles gathered together with the seven congregations and all other Administration Brothers in the Central Church, where the great and exalted service of the ordination of the Apostles took place. The two, William Dow and Duncan MacKenzie, were freed from their former profession and from their leadership of any particular section of the church and were ordained the same as Saul and Barnabas were once ordained in Antioch (Acts 13).

Development of the Apostolic Work from the Former to the Later Period - Present Time

The English Apostles were not active in their ministry independently. They agreed perfectly with the parable of the "body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 12), yet they would not agree to a visible head among themselves, as in the early Church. Although MacKenzie resigned from his ministry, and although the Apostles died, one after another, they did not alter their views. After the year 1880 Frank Woodhouse was the only surviving Apostle who cared for the congregations in England. Even this door to the kingdom of God was shut when he died in 1901. As a result the congregations in England not only lost all divine life, but also all light, truth, grace and blessing. Some congregations (in England Wales but also in Germany) of this original Apostolic Church in England still exist today.

In 1850 J.W. Schwarz of Berlin was ordained as a Priest to assist Bishop Rothe. He was later ordained as Elder in the same place. In 1858 Bishop Rothe put him in charge of the Hamburg district, which grew and was blessed under his hand. There Apostle Woodhouse later ordained Schwarz as a Bishop, which ministry he held until 1863. Bishop Schwarz had always been an eager advocate for the completeness of the ministries in the Church of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13), as well as for the continuance of the Apostle ministry until the Lord had come, which had always been the teaching of the English Apostles. When the college of Apostles met in Albury in the year 1860 Apostle Woodhouse invited Prophet Geyer of Berlin to attend this meeting. On this occasion the Holy Spirit called among others, Evangelist Böhm as Apostle for Germany, and Caird as Apostle for France. The Spirit of the Lord then called six more men as Apostles, to foster His work. Besides those two already called in Albury He called others on the continent. Among them Preuss and Schwarz. Apostle Albert was placed in charge of Holland, while Preuss was to work in Germany.

Apostle Preuss up to the year 1878 proved to be one of the pillars in the work of God. From the city of Hamburg the Apostolic Work of the New Order spread and this was the headquarters of the church of Christ for Germany and Holland until 1878. Thus the greatest burden in the work of God, as far as the labour was concerned, rested at the time on the shoulders of Apostle Preuss.

In September 1863 Apostle Schwarz traveled to Holland and, filled with the conviction of his divine calling and mission, commenced his activities in Amsterdam, as a poor man. Despite many afflictions and severe trials - often the very essentials of life were lacking - he fought on joyfully and, naturally, this brought him many enemies. Even his own life was in danger.

In the year 1884 the Apostles Schwarz, Menkhoff and Krebs sent a letter to Apostle Woodhouse, who by then was the sole survivor of the English Apostles. In this letter they gave an unbiased, detailed and clear report of the events of the past twenty years, and declared the truth and genuineness of the Apostle ministry of the New Order by giving him many wonderful divine confirmations in regard to their high ministry. The desire and the possibility of a reunion was all the more emphasized, because Apostle woodhouse was no longer able to travel and undertake sealings in the remote districts.

The Chief Apostle Ministry

During the time of Apostle Schwarz, the name "Chief Apostle" was not yet known. Apostle Schwarz can be looked upon as the first Apostle of the New Apostolic Church, because he was called by means of prophecy as an Apostle in 1863, the year in which the separation between the old and the new line of the Apostolic Church took place. The "budding rod of Aaron" was the testimony of the Almighty, who above all the other Apostles blessed the labours of Apostle Schwarz in particular. He was also the one who started the battle against the wrong conception of the English Apostles (which had developed during the years 1860 to 1863), that only twelve Apostles could be called in the last time, the same as in the beginning. This contention neither agreed with the Biblical tradition nor with divine will. The course of the history of the work of God has proved that he was right. Although when Apostle Preuss died, the New Apostolic Church Apostolate had as yet no visible head which was recognized by all, there existed nevertheless a perfect unity between the Apostles Schwarz, Menkhoff, Krebs and Ruff, and they all unanimously placed themselves under the leadership of Apostle Schwarz. Their number even increased later on, when Apostle Obst came into contact with them in 1888.

During that time already, the future head of the Apostles began to emerge from the circle of the Apostles, visible for all honest and upright children of God. Through the special blessings which the Lord bestowed upon the labours of Apostle Krebs the Lord left no doubt as to whom He had chosen to continue with the leadership of His work.

Apostle Schwarz recognized in the last years of his life that the Lord had chosen Apostle Krebs to continue with the leadership of His work. Apostle Krebs succeeded in establishing the unity of the Apostles. All the Apostles that were called after the death of Apostle Schwarz were ordained by Chief Apostle Krebs. Chief Apostle Krebs worked with great blessings for almost 25 years. The work of God grew under his activity, and many thousands praised the blessing, the grace of God, and the salvation they had received through this great and noble man.

In the year 1898, in a great service at Berlin, Chief Apostle Krebs appointed Apostle Niehaus as his successor. The latter had to take the vow to keep that which was entrusted to him faithfully in the Spirit of Christ. He respected and kept this vow to his last hour. From then on Apostle Niehaus was the faithful companion of the Chief Apostle on nearly all his journeys. He could thus share much joy and blessing with him, but also many hard and bitter hours.

After the death of Chief Apostle Krebs a new era started. Chief Apostle Niehaus developed the work of God into unexpected splendour. He was born on 28 July 1848, in Quelle where his parents owned a small farm. He entered the New Apostolic Church when he was twenty and was a spiritual son of Apostle Menkhoff. He assumed the leadership of the church on 21 January1905. Then came the year 1914. Summer approached and with it the outbreak of the First World War. It became very difficult to care for all the congregations, because many Administration Brothers were called up for military service. All the Chief Apostle's letters to the New Apostolic congregations abroad were returned undelivered. New ministries had to be ordained to lead the districts further. After a long period of misery and severe affliction, the war ended. Gradually the Brothers returned home. Memorial services were conducted for those who did not return.

On 14 December 1924, Assistant Chief Apostle Bischoff in Frankfurt am Main was nominated and ordained as Chief Apostle on the basis of many indubitable divine testimonies. After a very blessed solemn service, in the presence of the Apostles the Assistant Chief Apostle was ordained Chief Apostle. He did not assume the leadership of the church there and then as Chief Apostle Niehaus continued serving the children of God as an active Chief Apostle until much later. On 28 July 1928 Chief Apostle Niehaus celebrated his 80th birthday and his 60th anniversary as a servant in the house of God. On 21 January 1930 the Apostles of Europe gathered once more in Bielefeld, to celebrate with the venerable head of the work of God on earth, the 25th anniversary of his ministry. An accident forced him on 25 January 1930 to retire from his responsible position. According to his commission Chief Apostle Bischoff assumed the leadership of the work for the time being. But as soon as it became apparent that Chief Apostle Niehaus could not regain his full strength, he retired on 20 September 1930. He died almost two years later on 23 August 1932.

"All honour belongs to God!" Are the words Chief Apostle Bischoff uttered so often in view of his life and the labours which he was allowed to carry out in the wonderful salvation work of Christ. He was born in Germany on 2 January 1871. From the year 1921 the AMTSBLATT (a magazine), which the former Assistant Chief Apostle had already circulated among the Brothers of his Apostle District since 1918, was now dispatched to all Administration Brothers. As soon as Chief Apostle Niehaus became unfit for service, Chief Apostle Bischoff sent a weekly circular to the Apostles, and also to the District Leaders and Rectors. He thereby equipped them with the "Bread of Life", with which they could serve the people of God as a blessing. The wonderful unity brought about through this was soon to yield blessed results, for in the years 1930 and 1931 24,487 and 27,435 souls were sealed through out the entire work of God! Such a success was unprecedented. In order to offer unto the Administration Brothers everything which could promote the perfection of the sheep of Christ, the Chief Apostle issued the AMTSBLATT fortnightly to all Administration Brothers from 1 January 1932.

Numerous valuable works written by Chief Apostle Bischoff were published, the circulation of magazines could be considerably enlarged when the entire New Apostolic publishing house was transferred to Frankfurt. A building was erected at 75 strasse, Frankfurt a.M. during the years 1928 to 1929. Chief Apostle Bischoff organized and accomplished many tasks with great skill. He appointed District Apostle H.F. Schlaphoff (South Africa) as Chief Apostle Helper. The full value of this step could be recognized only when the Second World War broke out, for although the direct connection with the Chief Apostle was interrupted, the unity of the overseas Apostles was guaranteed for the duration of the war. Outside of Germany the work also progressed under the direction of the Chief Apostle.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, the arrangements were of such a nature that the severe time of trial which then commenced could not inflict harm upon the work of God. Moreover, the work had in spite of all difficulties and obstacles grown inwardly and outwardly in a manner as could hardly be imagined. New congregations had been established in many places, the membership grew constantly, and in nearly all the principle places the congregations had their own churches, which had been either purchased or newly built.

On 30 June 1946, the Chief Apostle Bischoff arranged the first meeting after the war for the German Apostles in Frankfurt. On 5 August 1951 a meeting of all overseas Apostles and the Apostles of Europe could be arranged in Frankfurt a. M., which after long years of separation provided an opportunity for all to adjust their work again according to the will of the Chief Apostle.

At that period all the New Apostolic Church periodicals were published for the first time in English, and have since then been printed by the publishers, Friedrich Bischoff in Frankfurt am Main, and mailed to the English-speaking members of the Church throughout the world. This has done much towards uniting the members more closely.

On the Monday after Easter in 1960 Chief Apostle Bischoff fell ill and died on 6 July the same year. In the Apostles' gathering, which took place on 7 and 8 July 1960, Walter Schmidt, the District Apostle of the Dortmund District, was, in conformity with the statutes of the Apostles' College, unanimously chosen as Chief Apostle. During a solemn service, which took place in Frankfurt am Main on 10 July 1960, in the presence of all Apostles of Europe and the Apostles Kreunen, A.J. Fernandes and Bell (South Africa) and Lewitus and Marton (South America), Apostle Walter Schmidt assumed both the Chief Apostle ministry and the office of the principal leader of the New Apostolic Church.

Walter Schmidt was born on 21 December 1891 in the District of Altena, Westphalia, Germany. He tasted the bitter reality of life in his infancy, since he lost his father before he was two years old. His mother's fond love and devoted care to a large extent made up for all he was thus deprived of.

The Apostles' College decided on 1 January 1961 that the official seat of the New Apostolic Church should be transferred from Frankfurt am Main to Dortmund. In many parts of the world the amount of work that the church had to do was increasing steadily and more leaders were ordained to care for the increased membership.

The New Apostolic Church outside Europe

Before He ascended to heaven Jesus commissioned His Apostles as follows: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28 : 19-20). The Apostles in the Early Church were unable to conclude this task for reasons of time and distance. It was not possible for them during their lifetime to testify about Jesus to all nations known in those days, and of course they had no means of accomplishing their mission among peoples of whom they never heard. They could only partially carry out their task because many parts of the world had not yet been explored, moreover, the means of transport then available were quite inadequate. From this we can deduce that the greater part of the work was to be done by the Apostles in the last time.

The first suggestion that the New Apostolic Church might spread to overseas lands was made by Apostle Schwarz. In 1881 to 1885 missionary work was begun in Indonesia and Australia, and was extended to North America and South Africa some years later. And from there, the church has spread to all the parts of the world.

In the meantime we have had four more Chief Apostles. In 1975 Chief Apostle E. Streckeisen was ordained and was Chief Apostle until he fell ill three years later and died shortly thereafter. He was replaced by District Apostle H. Urwyler in 1978 as Chief Apostle. He became seriously ill also in 1987 after a Divine Service in Lusaka, Zambia and District Apostle R. Fehr was ordained as Chief Apostle in 1988 by Chief Apostle Urwyler on account of this illness. Chief Apostle Fehr retired from his ministry after 17 years in  office in June 2005 and was replaced by District Apostle Wilhelm Leber, who is currently the leader of the New Apostolic Church.

For more information about the church please visit our International Church Website at www.nak.org