District Apostle Helper Edy Isnugroho visited Kedoya congregation in March 2017. Before the service, he greeted every Sunday School student with a high five gesture. The children were very happy because they could feel the friendliness of their Apostle.

Mass for the beatification of Pope John Paul II on 1 May 2011 in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. A total of approximately 1.5 million pilgrims travelled to Rome for the event. The picture was taken from a photo position on the colonnades. The Vatican only allowed a small selection of photographers to take photos from there on this day.

Children’s choir during a concert in the Siqueira church in Fortaleza, Brazil in October 2015. All of them are wearing traditional attire typical for northern Brazil.

Chief Apostle Schneider shows a great deal of patience and endurance during the lunch break at the 2015 youth convention in Oberhausen, and does not refuse anyone’s request for a selfie—even though it felt as though he had barely moved 200 metres over the hours of the lunch break. A great event.

22 February 2018: District Apostle Koberstein bids farewell to the members after conducting his last divine service in Wiesbaden. To me, this photo once again brings the nature of the District Apostle to expression: the fact that he is looking up is not only due to the size of his counterpart here. He always treated all of his brethren with the highest degree of esteem and love.

Great expectations and curiosity at the beginning of a youth gathering in the jungles of Borigumma in Odisha. In February 2015, District Apostle Helper David Devaraj and I went on a road trip from Bengaluru to Kolkata and back —a 20-day journey of about 4,000 kilometres on the road—with stops at various congregations. By chance, our parked car has found its way into this picture: its reflection of the sunlight painted a white silhouette on the colourful canvas of the outdoor congregation!

A divine service in what felt like 40 degrees in the shade: the closing divine service of the International Church Convention 2014 in Munich took place in the Olympic Stadium under the best of weather conditions. Holy Communion for 45,000 participants—a logistical challenge. Hundreds of priestly ministers were distributed throughout the entire stadium.

Communion chalices at the 2016 Youth Convention in the Hamburg Congress Centre.

This picture was taken on the Ecumenical Pilgrim Journey which was organised last year by the ACC Düsseldorf. On the way, visitors toured the church facilities of the various denominations and stopped for brief devotionals. Both the New Apostolic Church and the United Apostolic Church shared in this devotional. Harald Schmidt presides over the New Apostolic Church’s portion. The photo captures the expressiveness of the speech in his posture. The audience in the foreground makes the picture more interesting and creates a better overall impression.

Behind the lens. Using a long lens requires a different technique. Balancing of the camera and lens on a monopod is my preferred choice and allows for easier repositioning, not only left to right or vice versa, but also for quick vertical adjustment. This makes things very simple. Patience, refocusing, and tracking are just a few key things needed to get the perfect shot.

Reception of Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider at Kinshasa International Airport during his first visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo as Chief Apostle.

Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider speaks to choir members in a concert at the Limete Central church (Kinshasa). I love this photo because it captures a very special moment.

International Church Convention 2014 in Munich: the orchestra during the Concert on Saturday evening. The mixture of musical quality, the selection of the pieces, and the enthusiasm of the orchestra members and their conductor made a significant contribution to the atmosphere of the ICC.

This photograph was taken when the Bahía Blanca No. 3 church celebrated the 39th anniversary of its inauguration. Brothers and sisters prepared souvenirs and a delicious birthday cake to share with everyone.

For me, the dispensation of Holy Baptism with water is one of the high points in the life of a Christian. I experienced a moment of particular emotional poignancy when Bishop Peter Johanning dispensed the sacrament of Holy Baptism with water upon his own granddaughter.

Bishop Alexis Nsumbu visits the congregation of Ezala in the Kinshasa 1 church district. Sunday School children greet him with singing.

La Caballada, the recreation centre of the New Apostolic Church Uruguay, was the site of a visit by Chief Apostle Leber. Special divine services and other events such as youth conventions, etc. take place here.

During an ordination: folded hands praying for power from on high for the ministry being imparted (Burzaco church, Buenos Aires).

Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider visits us in Bahía Blanca, Argentina. The children did the best they could to sing him a song in English.

Church dedication in Oranienburg. The Chief Apostle has just cut the ribbon on the entrance door and received the key from the architect. He turns around and looks for the rector of the congregation in the crowd in order to present the symbolic key to him. Church dedications are outstanding and joyful events. For me, this photo really conveys this joy in impressive fashion. Photojournalism opportunities like these teach us to always keep an eye on the camera and a finger on the trigger.

“You will stay in the sacristy until you have all the photos you need!” That is how one District Apostle responded to my question of how long I was allowed to stay in the sacristy when our Chief Apostle conducted the divine service. However, things are not always so relaxed. At the ICC there was a very precise and narrow window of opportunity—along with many admonitions and instructions. The editors were waiting for useful photo material—and you also increase the pressure with your own high demands to take photos that are interesting for the members and that represent both our Church and the persons depicted positively to the outside world. I waited very nervously and anxiously outside the sacristy. When the time came to take my photos, I kept on wondering whether I was really allowed to click away yet again, even in these special and quiet moments: up to that point, I had not yet captured the photo. It is important to keep this tension to yourself and continue to behave calmly. Then suddenly, you see a moment, take a shot, and all the tension melts away: that was the photo.

Two men who have known each other for many years. Two men who get along well. Two men who rarely see one another—District Apostle Noel Edward Barnes (South Africa) and District Apostle Tshitshi Tshisekedi (Democratic Republic of Congo) take advantage of the break in order to chat during the International District Apostle Meeting in March 2016. And they want a souvenir photo.