Sunday School choir welcomes District Apostle Joseph Ekhuya during his visit in Nakuru, Kenya. This picture gives a glimpse of the preparation of the visit of the District Apostle, that is, the warm reception of the DA by Sunday School and the ministers behind.

District Apostle Urs Hebeisen conducts his last service in the congregation of Depok in January 2018. After the service, everyone wants to greet their District Apostle one last time before his retirement in November 2018. An emotional yet joyful moment.

Christin and Marco’s wedding in September 2017 in Giessen—with a kiss in front of the whole congregation immediately after the wedding blessing. In order not to disturb the scene, it was captured with a tele-zoom lens.

Gathering with the members for a typical ‘churrasco’ in the adjacent rooms of the church in Gramado (Rio Grande do Sul). Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider presents a gift to the congregation’s rector (a Priest) and Deacon. On this day in September 2016, both of them celebrated 25 years of working as firemen for the city of Gramado (Rio Grande do Sul).

I think it’s great that there are always services and concerts by the Youth Symphony Orchestra in the historic city hall in Wuppertal, which is world renowned for its acoustics. The fantastic atmosphere of this historical building impresses me again and again. It is very easy to find great subjects to photograph here.

Divine service in the Médanos church in the province of Buenos Aires. A Priest and his wife are celebrating their 40-year wedding anniversary (ruby wedding). The colours of the altar match the celebration ...

9.6.2013: Bishop Auner conducts a divine service for children in Altenkirchen. In so doing he does not stand behind the altar but takes his place in the midst of the children. For me the photo expresses the liveliness of the divine service and the great ‘connection’ the Bishop had with the children.

In November 2017, just a few days before their ordination, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the ‘new’ Apostles who would soon be ordained by our Chief Apostle in Raipur. This picture holds many fond memories of my work in India: five years ago, I did not even know who these men were, and today I work very closely with each one of them.

It’s really no different, whether its sports, news, fun, family, or ‘church’ photography. Get the basics right, and you have the foundation for a successful shoot. This is an auspicious occasion with many firsts: the Chief Apostle conducts a divine service for the newly formed District Church, and all young people—not just the youth—are invited. The Cape Town Stadium is likewise a first-time venue. This shot was not planned, but it did not catch us unprepared.

Divine service for young people in the Tata Raphaël de Kinshasa stadium with Chief Apostle Wilhelm Leber and many young people from the various provinces.

Following the divine service, the congregation of Kingasani 3 in the church district of Kinshasa-East celebrates the birthday of its oldest member.

ICC 2014 in Munich: the view from the altar into a congregation is always a moving prospect. However, the view from the Chief Apostle’s perspective into the gigantic ICC congregation shortly before the start of the divine service is on a completely different level, and provokes some very special feelings indeed. Having been assigned the altar space as my working area, I could not let this opportunity pass me by.

The New Apostolic Church did its part to help mark the occasion of the 70-year anniversary of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia with a special promotion on North Rhine-Westphalia Day, namely by reproducing the state’s flag using various handprints. – In front of the completed flag are the young people who prepared and executed this campaign. One might describe this picture as a somewhat different, rather casual group photo.

The pop oratorio ‘I AM — Jesus in words and wonders’ was performed in the context of the New Apostolic Church Convention 2013 organised by the District Church of North Rhine-Westphalia. A fantastic experience—not only for the over 12,000 spectators in the Dortmund Westfalenhalle, but also for everyone involved in its production. Over 1,500 singers, a band, and a 120-piece orchestra, together with actors and soloists under the direction of Gerrit Junge, set fire to the stage with a veritable fireworks display of music.

The congregation of Ezala listens to a divine service conducted by Bishop Alexis Nsumbu. The district choir sings.

I remember the young people who participated in this magnificent youth convention in Buenos Aires. They were more than excited to see their Chief Apostle, who in turn did his best to greet all of them.

A joyful congregation waves the District Apostle Joseph Ekhuya while leaving after he conducted a divine service. This picture has captured the emotions of the members in the congregation and leaves the viewer with an imagination how everything went by.

Attired for a special occasion—three countries become one! Tri-national youth convention (Argentina, Bolivia, and Uruguay) in the province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

Divine service with Chief Apostle Jean-Luc Schneider in Bahía Blanca (Argentina). The hall is fully occupied.

Arched candleholders illuminate the windows, glass globes sparkle on the Christmas tree, and the Christmas star shines down from the ceiling—and at the altar, right in the middle of all the Advent decorations, there is a portrait. A surreal and at the same time deeply emotional scene: a funeral service for a father of three in his mid-thirties. The family had requested some decent photographical souvenirs, so here I stand on the gallery, taking photos and mourning my best friend. Documenting funerals is among the most difficult of photographic assignments. It was the express wish of the family not to remove the Advent decorations, and to take colour photographs.

Together with Oliver Rütten, I photographed the Apostles on Pentecost 2016. There was a street in the background. In order to avoid having the cars appear in the photo, he crouched slightly down to take his shot. One of the Apostles commented on the situation: ‘Oh! The photographer is kneeling before us!’ Oliver Rütten responded: ‘For a good photo I would even get down on my knees!’ The only things to be seen on the photo afterward were joyful faces, no disturbing automobiles. For the right perspective it may be necessary to take a step to the side or perhaps even crouch, perhaps to capture our emblem in the background or to ensure that an emergency exit sign or a hymn board is covered. For some photos, you can kneel down outwardly. Those who kneel down inwardly before their subject will go home with valuable photos.

This is one of my favourite pictures. It was taken in Lae, Papua New Guinea, in 2011 when Chief Apostle Leber was there. This young boy was sitting outside the church when the Chief Apostle walked past him and this was his reaction.

Visit of Chief Apostle Leber to Bonn, June 2005. His guest: retired District Apostle Hermann Engelauf. As he bids farewell, the latter waves from the car in his grandfatherly way. For me, this photo radiates a special kind of calm, kindness, and amiability—and has left an enduring mark on me over the years. In October 2011, the District Apostle who had led the District Church of North Rhine-Westphalia from 1980 to 1991 passed away.