When we look at the circumstancesthat surround us in this day and age,we are sti l l f i l led with a confidencewhich is the product of our faith andtrust in God. This comes aboutbecause we see much more than justtoday and its joys and sorrows. Ourvision is clear when we look into thefuture,for we have been blest with anunderstanding and a promise whichwe know wil l be fulf i l led - the promiseof Christ 's return to take His own intothe Father's kingdom (refer to John14:3)

We can also be very confident that thefuture wil l hold great things in storefor those who love God and find joy inobeying His ways. Those who faithfullyendure to the end wil l soon forget theadversit ies of the present.

I wish you joy and blessing every day.

With loving greetings,

Andrew H. Andersen

AUSTRALIA DISTRICTNEWS

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The new year commenced with thenews that our Chief Apostle plans toconduct the 2010 Good Friday Servicein Auckland, New Zealand and theEaster Sunday Service two days laterin Melbourne, Victoria fol lowed by anear ly midweek Serv ice in Perth,Western Austral ia on the fol lowingTuesday. We already look forward tothis visit with great anticipation.

In the interim we have many otherprojects to attend to and many goalsto pursue. These also include mattersin our daily l i fe. The past year hasseen changes in the circumstances ofmany around the g lobe, perhapsincluding ourselves and many aroundus.

Ranking amongst the most visible of thesewould be the change in confidence ofpeople generally and also the changein the credibil i ty of the forecastersand those whose opinion of the futurewas once highly sought after and valued.Today we are told global confidencehas slumped and the answers that arepreached by the wor ld 's prophetshave themselves become questions.Many look at their earthly l i fe and ask;"What shall I do, where shall I go?"

In a recent Divine Service our ChiefApostle said that although adversitysometimes strikes us, we should notfear. He went on to say "The Lorddoes not say that He wil l spare usthese things, but He helps!" (refer toIsaiah 41:13)

Edition 24/1 - March 2009

Apostles Pouru and Wasimbai and Bishop Hungito accompanied District Apostle Andersen for the Service for the Departed on 2 November2008 conducted in East Sepik, Papua New Guinea. On the prior Saturday they were greeted by a 4,000 strong audience in an open-air concert. Each congregation present had to be limited to one item and the Sunday School children also gave a beautiful presentation. Thepurpose built tiered choir area behind the altar accommodated 110 choristers and was full for each item.

On Sunday the congregation had swelled to 6,970 for the Service for the Departed. An enormous sign had been placed on the roof of thestage area with the word "Grace" clearly visible to all. A Sunday School Choir (complete with a Sunday School girl conducting) stood inthe form of a cross and sang prior to the Service. Even the altar had been constructed in the shape of a heart - a sign of love for the soulsin the beyond.

District Apostle visits Papua New Guinea

District Apostle visits Sydney, NSWSunday 16 November, 2008 saw District Apostle Andersen in Ryde, NSW where he conducted a combined Service. Accompanying himwere the District Ministers of NSW. Prior to and during the Service the choir and orchestra presented a number of beautiful and heartfeltrenditions.

District Apostle visits Adelaide, South AustraliaDistrict Apostle Andersen spent the weekend of 29 and 30 November, 2008 in Adelaide, South Australia with the membersof that region. He also conducted a District Leaders’ Meeting to which all District Leaders of Australia and New Zealandwere invited to attend. During the Divine Service the District Apostle dispensed Holy Sealing on Francis Chaba Jnr of AscotPark congregation, and bestowed engagement blessings on Br Gregory Barwick and Sis Kerryn Schmal of Hackham Westcongregation.

District Apostle visits Howick, New Zealand District Apostle Andersen conducted a Divine Service in Howick, New Zealand on Sunday,14 December 2008. During the Service theDistrict Apostle dispensed Holy Sealing on Br Casey Lowe,Sis Jane Gaffney and Br Walter Blackburn. At the conclusion of the Servicethe members were able to enjoy a fellowship lunch together.

Youth Convention, Solomon IslandsDistrict Elder Lodewick travelled to Honiara in the Solomon Islands for the first ever mini youth convention, which tookplace on the weekend of 12 to 14 December 2008. 42 youth and 10 youth leaders registered and received a lanyard with theirname and congregation. There was a lot of participation as various workshops, interviews, doctrinal knowledge and charades were presented,as well as a lively Youth Service which took place on Saturday evening. To conclude the weekenda variety concert on Sunday afternoon took place, which was put together by the youth/youth leaders and many volunteermembers from the congregations. A lot of joy was experienced and all appreciated the weekend very much.

Children

Sunday School break-up in Wellington (NZ)

Sunday School concert in Suva, FijiHope Valley / Elizabeth (SA) combinedSunday School break-up

Children's orchestra in Gladstone (Qld)Sunday School break-up in Ascot Park (SA)Caloundra / Caboolture / Redcliffe / Windsor(Qld) combined Sunday School break-up

D/Elder Ott with Sunday School children fromHope Valley & Elizabeth (SA) congregations

Sunday School break-up in Beverly Hills

Scoresby / Box Hill (VIC) combinedSunday School break-up

Buranda (Qld) Sunday School break-up

Sunday School break-up in Hallam (SA)

Children in Wellington (NZ) sing during aDistrict Apostle service

Sunday School Camp, South AustraliaThe children's bush camp, held in Victor Harbour, SA was filled with activity and fellowship. Saturday was filled with outdoors fun likecricket, volleyball and basketball and an afternoon bush walk. Earlier in the day the children had decorated t-shirts and fashioned their owninstruments from natural and craft materials. Later they played the instruments and presented some songs such as "This little light of mine"to all those who accompanied them on the camp. After the concert a great time was had around a campfire.

The children decorated a banner for the altar for the Sunday Service, which was conducted by District Elder Ott. They also created the floral arrangements on the altar. Some youth members assisted with the altar decorations and joined in many of the activities and they designedand created the "light box" with the New Apostolic emblem which stood atop the altar.

Around the Congregations

Braybrook (VIC) congregation & friends had an outingon the "Puffing Billy" railway

Some of the choir members in New Zealandperformed at a concert in the Anglican Church St Mary's (NSW) choir sang at a Christmas Concert

Brothers’ Meeting in Mt Hagen (PNG)

New Plymouth (NZ) congregation

Flood devastation in Fiji during January 2009

Retirement of Dcn Rudolph Mattes inKoondoola (WA) on 26 October 2008 Youth from Victoria after the last Youth Service for 2008

Members & Seniors outside a chapel in Cromwell (NZ)Q4 (Qld) choir performed at Community Carols event

Around the Congregations

District Elder Graf conducted a Service in Twizel (NZ)

Seniors in Victoria at a luncheon Seniors from Gladstone (Qld) went on a boat cruise

Youth from V2 (VIC) sub-district went rock climbingApostle Williams performed ordinationsin Koondoola (WA) on 26 October 2008

Retired Ministers and wives gathered after a Service in New Lynn (NZ)

Wellington (NZ) congregation Invercargill (NZ) congregation

A Guest Service was conducted at a retirement home in New ZealandNew Zealand Youth outing

Celebrations

Holy Sealing of Angus Davids in Wellington (NZ) on 27 July 2008

Adoption of Sis Betty Steffe in Beverly Hills (NSW)on 25 January 2009

Sis Alice Fleischer of Windsor (Qld) celebratedher 104th birthday on 11 January 2009

Holy Baptism of Monique Newman in Lane Cove (NSW)on 4 January 2009

Holy Baptism of Jordan Piyatissa inBox Hill (VIC) on 7 December 2009

Br Sarel & Sis Celeste Grobler of Windsor (Qld) received WeddingBlessings on 22 November 2008 in South Africa

Apostle Williams conducted Holy Sealingin Beckenham (WA) on 26 October 2008

Dcn (ret) Horst Huwald of Braybrook (VIC)celebrated his 75th birthday on 31 July 2008

Head Office:58 Brookes StreetBowen HillsBrisbane,Qld.4006Australia

TelephoneFacsimileEmailA.B.N.

(07) 3214 1400(07) 3214 1444nacho@newapostolic.org.au67 011 031 780

Postal address:New Apostolic ChurchP.O. Box 2332Fortitude Valley BC Qld 4006Australia

Published by the New Apostolic Church - Australia District.

Celebrations

Sis Christel Anderson of Elizabeth (SA) celebrated her 80th birthdayon 25 December 2008

Holy Baptism of Bailee Riddle in Box Hill(VIC) on 7 December 2008

Holy Baptism of Ellouise Schirk in Newcastle (NSW) on 4 January 2009

Holy Baptism of Trent Prout in Newcastle(NSW) on 4 January 2009

BrAndre and Sis Ceris Kruger received SilverWedding blessings in Werribee (VIC)

in September 2008

Sis Jasmine Turner of Box Hill (VIC) celebrat-ed her 80th birthday on 9 November 2008

Holy Baptism of Landon Robbemond inWellington (NZ) on 30 November 2008

Br Edmund Neumann of Scoresby (VIC)celebrated his 80th birthday on 26 October 2008

Holy Baptism of Jack Heynes in Croyden(VIC) on 5 October 2008

Deceased

Sister Valma Ludeke of Redcliffe, Qld 3/12/2008Sister Sylvia Hart of Caboolture, Qld 4/01/2009Brother Ralph Naude of Howick, NZ 20/01/2009Baby Aiden Maneveldt of Croydon, Vic 24/01/2009Sister Lottie Sepkus of Rivervale, WA 30/01/2009Sister Kate Bebendorf of Buranda, Qld 5/02/2009