Tribute to John Peter Fendt, a Pioneer of the New Apostolic Church in the United States

John Peter Fendt, known as J. P., is remembered as a significant figure in the history of the New Apostolic Church in the United States. Born on 3 March 1896 in New York, Fendt grew up in one of the city’s slums. His family, immigrants from Germany, lived a simple and diligent life, influenced by their upbringing and teachings from their homeland. The family attended Pastor Heinrich Ferdinand Hoppe’s German Lutheran church, where they received a strong German Sunday School education. Hoppe, later recognized as one of the founding Apostles in the early apostolic history of the USA, played a formative role in Fendt’s spiritual development.

Fendt’s encounter with the New Apostolic Church began in 1899 when he met members who invited him to attend a divine service. The experience left a profound impression, leading him to commit his entire family to the New Apostolic faith. The Fendt family was sealed into the congregation on 11 March 1900. Fendt himself became a Priest in the New York congregation and later served as a leader in the newly established Astoria/New York congregation. His dedication to the Church was evident from an early age.

At the age of 16, Fendt made a solemn vow to God, promising to dedicate his life to Him if his mother’s illness would be healed. His mother recovered and lived to the age of 104, fulfilling the promise Fendt made. In September 1917, Apostle Friedrich Eduard Mierau ordained Fendt as a Deacon. Within two years, he was elevated to the priesthood and became the rector of the Astoria/New York congregation. His commitment to the Church continued through his personal life, as he married and raised a family with two sons and two daughters.

One of his sons, John William Fendt, also served as an Apostle from 1967 to 1996, continuing the family’s legacy within the New Apostolic Church. Before dedicating himself full-time to the Church, Fendt held a senior position at the New York Telephone Company. His ordination as a Bishop on 17 September 1933 marked a significant milestone in the Church’s history in the USA. The event drew about one thousand members to the Casino Hall at 86th Street, where 96 new members were sealed and 23 ministers were ordained. The same day, the District Apostle conducted another service in Philadelphia, where 29 souls were sealed and three ministers were ordained.

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