Journeying through time
As we entered into this new decade we were excited to announce that we will be celebrating 50 years of the New Apostolic Church in India this year. Each month we will focus on a different aspect of growth in the Church. These themes will correspond to the information on the Calendar for 2020. We hope that you will come along with us on this journey through time as we learn more about the history of the New Apostolic Church in India.
Our First Member
We spent the first month of this year focused on getting to know more about our first ever Indian member of the New Apostolic Church, Sister Angel Robinson. She was an Indian citizen hailing from Rajasthan, who travelled to Denmark in 1968 along with a tourist group. There she met the family of Herbert Mauritz who testified about the continuation of the ministry of grace and apostleship. This got her very interested and she joined the family for the Divine Service on Sunday, 11 August 1968.
It is said that on the night after the Divine Service she had a wonderful experience in a dream where her mother who was in eternity appeared to her and advised her that the way to blessing was to remain in this circle. She thus got to know Priest Nielsen who was the rector of the congregation in Copenhagen.
Letters of Sister Robinson
In a letter to Herbert Mauritz, dated 8 December 1968, Angel Robinson writes:
“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. My ‘lamp of faith’ is burning brightly! We are not supposed to be ‘people of this world’ because it is not our eternal home. We are seeking the truth which will lead us to eternal life!”
A friendship developed, leading to many discussions about the work of God in the New Apostolic Church. In the same letter she also writes: “On 14th December 1968 the Nielsen family will take me to Tønder (close to Jütland) where I will be sealed. Oh, I am so happy to become a chosen sheep of Christ. 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? If we do not follow his instructions, we indeed crucify Him again and that is something we should not do.”
Angel Robinson was sealed by District Apostle Weinmann on 15 December 1968 in Tønder, Denmark. Upon her return to Abu Road, Rajasthan the following year, she became the first member of the New Apostolic Church in India.
The First New Apostolic Priest in India
Sister Robinson was sealed by District Apostle Weinmann on 15 December 1968 in Tønder, Denmark. Upon her return to India the following year, she lived with her son John Robinson in Abu Road, Rajasthan and became the first member of the New Apostolic Church in India. Her son was also very interested in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, and soon developed the longing to join the New Apostolic Church. When District Apostle Kraus visited India in May 1970, John Robinson was sealed and ordained as the first Priest in India.
Keeping Posted
Each month our series will include social media posts where we will post old pictures from our archives. These fascinating treasures allow us to visually experience the history that has shaped us. At the end of each month we will also publish a website article summarizing the information around the theme of the month.
Continue following our social media posts and articles to learn more about how the New Apostolic church grows in India.