Last updated on: 
January 25, 2023 
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Preaching the true gospel in Europe

What's new in preaching the true gospel of the
Kingdom of God in German-speaking Europe?

January 25, 2023: The Vereinte Kirche Gottes ["United Church of God-Germany"] produces another short video commentary, German video sermon Kann man Gott beweisen? ["Can you prove God exists?"]. UCG-Germany elder Martin Fekete recorded the commentary at his home in Oberndorf near Salzburg, Austria.

January 18, 2023: The January-February issue of the Gute Nachrichten, January 2023 issue "Gute Nachrichten" magazine is mailed to 9,455 readers in 25 countries, a 4.2 percent decrease from the 2022 January-February issue. The magazine was mailed to 7595 subscribers in Germany, 840 subscribers in Switzerland and 829 subscribers in Austria.

January 11, 2023: For the year 2022 the Vereinte Kirche Gottes ["UCG-Germany"] distributed a total of 67,418 print publications in the German language. In addition, 5030 ebooks were downloaded via Amazon, the Google Play Store and Smashwords.

January 4, 2023: Donation income for the Vereinte Kirche Gottes [UCG-Germany] in 2022 was 2.3 percent lower than in 2021. Regular mail income was 12.4 percent higher, and Holy Day offerings increased by 21.6 percent. Coworkers and donors (defined as individuals who provide financial support but do not attend UCG-Germany worship services) contributed 16.2 percent of UCG-Germany's regular mail income in 2022.

December 24, 2022: The Vereinte Kirche Gottes ["United Church of God-Germany"] launches its new "Gute Nachrichten" website. A web design company in Berlin was contracted to do the redesign and transfer the more than 1250 articles to the new website, which now features personal accounts and a newsletter.

December 17, 2022: For the first time, the Vereinte Kirche Gottes ["United Church of God-Germany"] uses the Zoom video service Video sermon to stream a sermon to a local congregation. UCOG President Paul Kieffer gave the sermon from Mobile, Alabama for the Dormagen congregation.

December 9, 2022: The UCG-Germany National Council approved budget for 2023 includes total expenses of 318,000 €. Income is projected to be 258,000 €, with the deficit being paid from cash reserves. The budget provides funds to maintain circulation of the "Gute Nachrichten" magazine at 9,500 subscribers and to print two new booklets and reprint two current booklets.

December 2, 2022: Donation income for the Vereinte Kirche Gottes [UCG-Germany] for the first eleven months of the year was 8.9 percent less than last year's income for the same period. Coworkers and donors (defined as individuals who provide financial support but do not attend UCG-Germany worship services) have contributed 16.0 percent of UCG-Germany's income in 2022.

November 30, 2022: In the first 11 months of the year, UCG-Germany distributed 4132 ebooks via Amazon, the Google Play Store and Smashwords. The most requested booklet was "Das Buch der Offenbarung verständlich erklärt" ["The Book of Revelation Unveiled"] with 931 downloads.

November 21, 2022: The Vereinte Kirche Gottes ["United Church of God-Germany"] produces its 18th German-language "Beyond Today" telecast, German Beyond Today telecast Wann wurde Jesus geboren? ["When was Jesus born?"]. UCOG President Paul Kieffer recorded the telecast at the United Church of God Home Office in Cincinnati and UCG-Germany did the film editing.

November 11, 2022: The November-December issue of the Gute Nachrichten, November 2022 issue "Gute Nachrichten" magazine is mailed to 9,477 readers in 25 countries, a 5 percent decrease from the 2021 November-December issue. The magazine was mailed to 7614 subscribers in Germany, 841 subscribers in Switzerland and 833 subscribers in Austria. Since the lead article did not have its own corresponding cover image, UCG-Germany provided a suitable image for the magazine cover.

November 3, 2022: Donation income for the Vereinte Kirche Gottes [UCG-Germany] for the first ten months of the year was 5.6 percent less than last year's income for the same period. Coworkers and donors (defined as individuals who provide financial support but do not attend UCG-Germany worship services) have contributed 16.3 percent of UCG-Germany's income in 2022.

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What's new in Germany & elsewhere? 

News on events in Europe and commentary
on diverse topics from Paul Kieffer's blog

June 26, 2018: 55 years ago President John F. Kennedy spoke the words most widely recognized today as being German: "Ich bin ein Berliner." A boisterous appreciative crowd of some 300,000 jammed Berlin's Schöneberg Rathaus square to hear Kennedy speak. Read more »

February 24, 2012: Is Germany using the debt crisis to conquer Europe? That is what some Europeans think, especially among the British press. But Germany’s integration in a European framework is exactly what its neigbors, especially France, wanted after World War II. Read more »

October 12, 2011: A stunning move by the Swiss National Bank in September signals the opening round of a currency war as Switzerland sets exchange limits to protect its domestic economy. Currency wars can lead to trade wars. But what comes after trade wars? Read more »

August 19, 2011: For over 1500 years the pope in Rome has claimed authority over the entire Christian church. That claim remains a source of controversy and division, even during the ecumenical movement. Is Jesus responsible for the division by appointing Peter as pope? Read more »

June 29, 2011: While many economic experts have focused on the Greek debt crisis and the future of the euro, the plight of unemployed youth in Europe has received less attention. Their rising numbers may eventually lead to a rise of political extremism. Read more »

November 16, 2010: Populist sentiment may be just a groundswell of discontent and concern among a minority, but it can also affect major political developments, depending on its momentum and the issues involved. A case study is growing Islamic influence in Europe. Read more »

September 21, 2010: Over the last 50 years change has come slowly within the European Union. However, the impact of the worldwide financial crisis forced the European Union to respond much faster than would have been the case in "normal" economic times. Read more »

August 28, 2010: With birthrates among traditional Europeans in decline and population growth in Europe’s Muslim communities soaring, one persistent European voice asks whether Europe wants to preserve its traditional cultural and religious identity. Read more »

March 25, 2010: Members of the European Parliament, labor organizations and mainstream churches unite to promote EU legislation promoting Sunday as EU’s official day of rest. If passed, what will this mean for religious minorities that keep the biblical Sabbath? Read more »

February 23, 2010: Controversies over minarets and burkas highlight the clash of cultures and whether Europe’s traditional religious heritage should be defended in the face of a fast-growing Muslim minority. Will Islam eventually displace Christianity in Europe? Read more »

September 17, 2009: The 50th anniversary of the NATO alliance in 1999 was a celebration of the successful defense of the free world during the Cold War. Just ten years later there are signs of serious trouble within the alliance. Will NATO survive the next ten years? Read more »

August 17, 2009: With the number of Muslims in Germany numbering some four million (about five percent of Germany's population), it is no surprise that the number of mosques has increased in recent years. The question now is: "How big should Muslim mosques be?" Read more »

October 30, 2008: The ongoing financial crisis means a lot more than worry for individual investors in different countries around the world. A major shift in world financial power centers is on the horizon. America is on the decline, while Asia and Europe are on the rise. Read more »

December 21, 2007: At midnight on Friday the Schengen zone in Europe was expanded eastward to include nine eastern European countries. A borderless European Union now extends from Russia all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. Which country is the center of the Schengen zone? Read more »

February 19, 2007: For years Germany’s Mardi Gras Monday ["Rosenmontag"] float designers have used the occasion to poke fun at German and international politicians and the world scene. Today’s Rosenmontag parade in Düsseldorf was no exception. Read more »

November 15, 2004: The Gregorian calendar in common use in the Western world has peculiarities that complicate trade and commerce. Despite all attempts to alter this calendar, the seven-day weekly cycle has been preserved. Will the Catholic church allow it to be changed? Read more »

August 20, 1999: The department store Kaufhof opens on Sunday in Berlin to challenge Germany’s "store closing law" which establishes Sunday as a protected day of rest from gainful employment. What does the future hold for the "store closing law"? Read more »

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