Meet Sister Angel Robinson, the first Indian member of the New Apostolic Church. Originally from Rajasthan, she traveled to Denmark in 1968 with a tourist group. During her visit, she met the family of Herbert Mauritz, who shared their faith in the ministry of grace and apostleship. Intrigued, she attended a Divine Service on Sunday, August 11, 1968.

 

It is said that the night after, she had a profound dream in which her late mother advised her that the way to blessing was to remain in this circle. This experience led her to connect with Priest Nielsen, the rector of the Copenhagen congregation.

 

Letters of Sister Robinson

 

In a letter to Herbert Mauritz dated December 8, 1968, Sister Angel Robinson expressed her deep connection to her newfound faith:

 

“Every Sunday I go to church with Priest Nielsen and feel the presence of God and peace; it is a perfect peace which the world cannot give. I hope that the Lord Jesus will find me ready to go with him.”

 

This growing friendship with Priest Nielsen deepened her faith leading to her receiving the sacrament of Holy Sealing by District Apostle Weinmann on December 15, 1968, in Tønder, Denmark. In the same letter, she also shared her determination to serve:

 

“I will go and find many lost sheep for my Lord. We have to work for our Lord Jesus and strive to save our souls during our lifetime. For what would be the use if we gained the whole world and lost our own souls?”

 

Upon returning to India the following year, she became the first member of the New Apostolic Church in India.

 

*The letters referenced in this article have been translated from German.

 

Sister Angel Robinson lived with her son, John Robinson in Abu Road, Rajasthan. Through her influence, John Robinson was drawn to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. He soon felt a deep desire to join the Church; he received Holy Sealing and was ordained as the first Priest in India during District Apostle Kraus's visit in May 1970.

 

Spreading the Faith and Sowing the Seeds of the Holy Spirit

 

Driven by the dedication of District Apostle Kraus and the faith of the early members, the New Apostolic Church rapidly expanded across India. People from all walks of life gathered in fields, halls, and open spaces—traveling by foot and even on animals—to hear the word of God.

District Apostle Kraus made numerous trips across the country, bringing the Gospel and the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Sealing to many eager souls. Some of the first Holy Sealings took place in Mumbai at Hume High School, marking the beginning of a powerful movement. The Church welcomed everyone, and thousands were sealed in Divine Services nationwide.

 

Fishers of Men

 

As the church grew, more ministers were ordained, six of whom later became the first Apostles in India. Sealings and ordinations took place all across the country, leading to the establishment of congregations in many regions.

By 1975, India had six Apostles, each overseeing different parts of this beautifully diverse nation, ensuring the continued growth and spiritual guidance of the New Apostolic Church in India.

 

The Life and Work of the First Six Apostles in India

 

On 20th July 1975, in a Divine Service in London, the then Chief Apostle Streckeisen ordained the first six Apostles for India. They were to assist District Apostle Kraus in looking after the children of God in the country.

 

The youngest son in a family of six siblings, Apostle Sharad Bower was born on 31st December 1932 in Maharashtra. His elder brother introduced him to the New Apostolic Church and in 1971 he was sealed and ordained into the deacon ministry. Whilst traveling with District Apostle Kraus, he was given the name Benjamin and from then on he was popularly known as Apostle Benji Bower. He was subsequently ordained into the other priestly ministries before being ordained as an Apostle.

 

Born on the 25th of December 1936 in Kerala, Apostle Jose Kuthottungal grew up in a Catholic family. He was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1965 and worked as a social worker caring for children before becoming acquainted with the New Apostolic Church.

 

Apostle Jayawanth Thompson was born in Karnataka on the 10th of April 1928. After leaving his Methodist ministry, he moved to Bombay, seeking joy and fellowship amongst God’s children. In 1971, hearing from his brother about an Apostle visiting Mumbai ignited his enthusiasm, and he eagerly pursued this new path.

 

Apostle John Robinson was born in a small town in Rajasthan on 11th March 1933 to a Christian family. Growing up, he was deeply influenced by his grandfather and supportive parents while actively involved in the Anglican church. His mother’s trip to Denmark introduced him to the New Apostolic Church, and he was sealed by District Apostle Kraus in 1970.

 

Born on August 11, 1933, in Uttar Pradesh, Apostle Lawrence Jones spent his early years in Burma but was forced to flee due to wartime turmoil. The difficult journey back to India claimed the lives of his parents. Despite these early hardships, he was among the first souls sealed by District Apostle Kraus in India.

 

Apostle Vishwas Bower was born on the 15th of July 1927 and was the older sibling of Apostle ‘Benji’ Bower. He was given the name Vishwas by his mother which means ‘Faith’. He first heard of the doctrine of the New Apostolic Church in 1970. He became convinced of the ministry of grace and Apostleship after attending a divine service conducted by District Apostle Kraus in 1971.

 

Laying the Foundations

 

In the early 1970s, accommodating the growing congregations across the country became a challenge. Renting halls and open spaces was no longer sufficient. Thus, the New Apostolic Church in India had to think about setting up churches. The first church building was inaugurated in Kamalnagar in January 1972, marking a significant achievement.

 

District Apostle Kraus’s policy, “You provide the land, and we will build the church,” inspired members to secure land through donations or purchases, leading to the creation of local churches.

 

Building Churches, Building Communities

 

By the late 1970s, local congregations were thriving in their new churches, eliminating the need for long journeys or outdoor services. The churches became lively centers for members celebrating significant life events with their local congregations. Apostles and ministers traveled to these locations, bringing sacraments, ordinations, and blessings to the members across the country. These strengthened the bonds of fellowship and faith among the community.

 

Building into the Future

 

As the Church continued its journey through the 1980s and 1990s, the small village chapels evolved into a more ambitious church-building program. In the early stages, these chapels were built in unique styles with varying materials. By the 1990s churches were constructed with framed structures and concrete, with nearly a hundred churches being completed annually.

 

In the 2000s, the church-building program shifted focus to building larger multi-purpose spaces that could accommodate a variety of church-related activities. The existing ones were also modified to host choir practices, minister meetings, Sunday school classes, etc. Today, the church-building program continues to evolve, encouraging fellowship and learning for members across the country.

 

During COVID, our community also expanded into the online space with regular virtual Divine Services, choir practices, and other activities to keep members connected in faith and His love.

 

Sowing Seeds of Faith and Growth

 

Throughout the 1980s, the New Apostolic Church in India experienced significant expansion. Driven by District Apostle Kraus’s vision to “Go where nobody goes,” Apostles and ministers traveled extensively, connecting remote areas to the larger Church community.

 

By the end of the decade, India had 40 active Apostles, 8,429 ministers, and 1.2 million members across 8,655 congregations. However, this remarkable growth brought challenges in sustaining both the number of members and the depth of their faith.

 

Laying a Firm Foundation

 

In 1987, the Apostles Sharad Bower and Jose Kuthottungal were appointed as District Apostle Helpers for India (under the District Apostle Area Canada). They overlooked the work in North and South India respectively until the early 1990s.

 

Ministers and teachers from other countries also regularly visited India to help lay a firm foundation of faith on which the country continues to grow.

 

As New Apostolic membership in India continued to grow, organizational and structural elements were needed to monitor and sustain this growth. In the 1990s India was divided into several District Apostle Areas (DAAs). Each area was managed by international leaders to better support the diverse and expanding needs of the Indian Church. 

 

The Five District Apostle Areas in India

 

In the year 2000, District Apostle Rosentreter from Australia was overlooking the work in and around the state of Odisha. Two District Apostle Areas (DAAs) from Germany took care of Rajasthan, the North-Eastern states, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Kerala. The DAA Canada continued to look after the states of Maharashtra, most parts of Andhra Pradesh (including today’s Telangana), Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Parts of North India also came under the care of the DAA USA for a couple of years.

 

Consolidation and Local Leadership

 

Starting in 2004, operations were gradually merged with the District Apostle Area (DAA) Canada. These mergers and handovers encompassed both spiritual and administrative aspects.

 

While India is still aided by the DAA Canada, the appointment of an Indian District Apostle Helper in 2010 allowed the country to effectively continue consolidating and reorganizing its growth. This pivotal leadership marked a new era of self-directed progress and spiritual strengthening in India.

 

In accordance with God and the Government

 

Throughout the decades the New Apostolic Church in India has grown in accordance with the law and the government of India. These efforts were always guided by our tenth article of faith: “I believe that I am obliged to obey the worldly authorities provided no Godly laws are thereby transgressed.”

 

Over the years, a delegation led by Apostles represented our church in meetings with various Prime Ministers. During these meetings, donations towards humanitarian causes were made, such as the ‘Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund’ and the ‘Chief Minister’s Relief Fund’.

 

Continued Humanitarian Efforts

 

In present times, the humanitarian efforts of the church have taken on a different form. The global pandemic of 2020 made it difficult for many citizens to have access to basic supplies and health care. Our members and ministers devised a system to connect members with the means to support other members who needed help.

 

This member-to-member drive helped many local congregations to support each other and their communities during these times. The program first started in the State of Maharashtra and was later implemented in many congregations across India.

 

In the 1970s and 1980s, when the New Apostolic Church continued to gather membership, brothers from North America came to teach the New Apostolic faith in India for many years. The doctrine and teachings of the church were new to translators and as a result, more than 90% was lost in translation!

 

Many Tongues of Faith

 

In the early 1990s, it was the vision of the District Apostle Erwin Wagner to have Indians teaching in their local languages. This would help minimize any misunderstanding and bring clarity about the doctrine, building a stronger foundation for faith.

 

The Teaching Program

 

In 1997, the Teaching Program was launched in Hyderabad, with the late District Evangelist John Addison training 40 nominated brothers. Through the years similar trainings have produced faculty members who now teach ministerial brothers, Sunday School teachers, members and guests.

 

This program has not only strengthened the faith of members but has also allowed for shared spaces of learning, joy and unity. We continue to learn from each other and teach each other through the way that we live our lives and profess our faith. In doing so, we continue the good work that was begun in us.

 

Both the building and teaching programs laid a very strong foundation upon which the New Apostolic Church could grow in India. With an increase in the number of congregations, it became important to set the right atmosphere before the Sunday Services. Music has always played an important part in worship and so in 2002 Apostle David was tasked to form a choir. This proved difficult as members spoke different languages and were not exposed to Western choral music.

 

After hearing about 200 voices, Shepherd Daniel and team identified 30 voices who were rigorously trained to form the National NAC Choir. This choir made its debut in 2005, singing in harmony in six languages!

 

Today, the National Choir and several regional choirs continue to sing His praises. As we continue to evolve as a church our music continues to evolve with us. During COVID we moved the choir practices online. This allowed people from different parts of the country to be touched by the serenity and comfort that music has to offer.