Evangelists and the Neccessary Migration to
an Apostolic Paradigm
by
Territorial Envoy Craig Stephens
Growing up in the Salvation Army local church expression (Corps) as a son
of Salvation Army Officers (ministers), I was at the church at
least five or six time a week. Quite frankly I would rather
have been anywhere else. We were immersed in a conservative
pastoral/evangelical (familiar) paradigm, and I was a 12 year
old boy and I was bored. I saw precious few people ever get
saved. No one got healed. Probably the only miracle I
witnessed was that no one fell out of the proverbial second
story window and died of boredom. Sister Joyce’s Organ recital
(played during the collection) bore no resemblance to the
PETRA (1980s Christian rock band) or Michael W. Smith recorded
(yes I’m that old) that I played my tennis racquet lead-guitar
breaks to. Then one day everything changed.
The First Paradigm Shift
I remember it as if it was yesterday, the day I was filled with the Holy
Spirit. It, or more accurately He, happened to me whilst
attending the Salvation Army 20 years ago. Our Corps Officer
(minister) laid hands on me and prayed that I would be filled
with Holy Spirit, it was that simple. In that moment I enjoyed
a supernatural encounter with the living God. This encounter
transformed, and continues to transform my life. In one moment
I had received a new (Pentecostal) paradigm from which I began
walking out my Christian Faith. As a result of this encounter
I was released into a phenomenal grace for evangelism.
This work of grace must have appeared obvious to others who put an
“evangelist” tag on me. I just thought I was being a
Christian. It seemed that many people thought only evangelists
introduce pre-Christians to Jesus – what a tremendous error.
Not long after the initial encounter with Holy Spirit, I was
asked to teach evangelism courses – Not because I could teach,
but because I had been introducing pre-Christians to Jesus.
This is where I began to understand the function of an
evangelist to prepare the saints for the ministry of
evangelism (Ephesians 4:11-12), to release a grace upon
believers to boldly proclaim Jesus to a broken and dying
world.
A couple of years later The Salvation Army gave me an appointment as
Territorial Evangelist, which I suspect was mostly because I
continued to introduce pre-Christians to Jesus – a privilege
which is afforded to every Christian.
A Better Gospel
Having journeyed in the grace of evangelism for a couple of decades now I
have learnt many things. Most notably, the gospel of the
Kingdom (Mark 1:15), and how easy it is to share with
pre-Christians. It amazes me how readily pre-Christians
respond to genuine (Kingdom) good news.
A New Reformation is upon us
Perhaps the most significant learning has been how to function in the
emerging paradigm of Apostolic reformation. There is a
reformation upon us. The Lord, in His grace, has restored
pastors and teachers to the church – this has been the
predominant paradigm of leadership of His church for hundreds
of years. He has also restored evangelists to the church –
again evangelists have been present in broader Church
leadership for many years.
More recently the function of Prophet has been restored to the broader
body of Christ. In fact even amongst the incredible diversity
of the Christian church it’s much more common to hear
prophetic language in prayer and preaching in most streams of
gathered worshipping communities. Now, finally the Apostle is
being properly restored to the body of Christ.
The Apostle William Booth
Granted, this language is a paradigm hurdle for some in the body of
Christ. As Salvationists though, we ought not have a problem
with the paradigm as our founder General William Booth
demonstrated this Apostolic grace in his leadership of the
movement.
The Old Model
So here’s the relevance to the evangelist. Once upon a time, as an
evangelist I would hear from God. Hearing from God is a grace
afforded every Christian. Often this would result in vision
for a campaign, witnessing or outreach. Then I would rally the
troops, and people would get on board with my vision (or not)
and we would have a campaign… wohoo!
And people would get saved. BUT the City/Region/Nation would not be
transformed.
The New Model
Hearing from God is as easy as drinking a glass of water; anyone can do
it. What’s more complex as an evangelist is to hear from God
and then submit your vision/campaign/idea to a group of
ascension gift leaders to weigh and discern together (1
Corinthians 12:28).
Hurdles
This can be difficult for several reasons. Finding a mature expressed of
5-fold ministers in a region is neither common nor easy. If
you can find them, the next hurdle is whether they’re
functionally postured in mutual submission to one another out
of reverence for Christ. Preferring to honour one another is a
crucial observation necessary for any mature ascension gift
leadership groups. Apostles are crucial to any idea offered
for regional transformation. They’re given the blue prints of
heaven for a region. They’re fathers and they’re gentle. Their
assignment is given to them very personally and directly from
Jesus. Prophets are critical to mature level discernment as
they bring the dimension of timing to what’s being weighed.
Right idea, wrong time means no substantial regional
transformation. The Biblical model for city wide leadership
(as outlined in Ephesians) and subsequent city transformation
must include: first Apostles then Prophets (Ephesians 2:20),
as well as evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Apostolic (Ascension gift) leadership is the Biblically mandated model
for city wide leadership and transformation. This paradigm is
highly relational and requires (fivefold ministry gifted
leaders) who will discern the will of God together, and who
abound in all love and grace towards one another. This is
brilliantly outlined in John Kingsley Alley’s book The City
Gate. Evangelists must courageously seek our Apostles,
Prophets and Pastors and Teachers to walk with. We must
migrate to this new paradigm if we are to see cities, regions
and nations transformed and led under the governance of
Christ.
Further Reading:
The City Gate by John Kingsley Alley
Peace Apostolic Ministries: peace.org.au
Dr Don Lynch: drdonlynch.com
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