A.R.C.
As my last post stated we entered into the season from Passover to Pentecost (50 days). It was a season of preparing and moving into NEW. I liked what I heard recently by Robert Heidler at GZI when describing Pentecost
"biblically heavens open and poured out for NEW- pentecost. God was establishing new way of relating, new ways of operating, becoming a different people from of the past; forming a whole new society; new ways of operating and relating; it’s a new vision, moving from church to Kingdom ..."
A few years ago, the Lord began speaking to me about 7MWIN being an apostolic reformation community (A.R.C.). At first when I heard this, I became a bit overwhelmed with the thought and to be honest it made me nervous. I went to prayer and fasted about it. I took it to my H.I.M. apostolic leader to share about what I was sensing and he confirmed it. However, at the time I was not yet able to tell others about it. It's only been recently the Lord has released me to begin speaking about what this means. It has been a challenge explaining what this all means and it is revelation still unfolding.
When I first heard the word 'apostolic' almost 10 years ago, I really had no idea what it meant. I knew it wasn't in context to some churches that have the word 'apostolic' in it. However in my years of listening and learning, I began to realize it was not anything new. It is what was practiced in the first century church.
Actually fifteen years ago during the 'renewal' movement, I began to seek out apostolic led churches (although at the time I didn't know that's what they were). Being a Christian for over 35 years, I was seeking something more than what I was experiencing in the church I was attending at the tiem. I began to seek out churches led by the five fold gifts with 'aposles and prophets' being the Senior leaders. Most of these 'apostolic led ' churches I aligned with ended up being out of town. The Lord said we would be an apostolic community but not look like these others. We would have the five fold gifts functioning in leadership recognizing and releasing ministers and ministries outside the 'traditional' church walls, equipping and training markeplace ministers. We would function as a citywide/regional ministry and some would even be pastors in their work or schools.
Actually fifteen years ago during the 'renewal' movement, I began to seek out apostolic led churches (although at the time I didn't know that's what they were). Being a Christian for over 35 years, I was seeking something more than what I was experiencing in the church I was attending at the tiem. I began to seek out churches led by the five fold gifts with 'aposles and prophets' being the Senior leaders. Most of these 'apostolic led ' churches I aligned with ended up being out of town. The Lord said we would be an apostolic community but not look like these others. We would have the five fold gifts functioning in leadership recognizing and releasing ministers and ministries outside the 'traditional' church walls, equipping and training markeplace ministers. We would function as a citywide/regional ministry and some would even be pastors in their work or schools.
Apostolic: I like what one ministry states about the apostolic : ".... we believe the apostolic function extends to the establishment of new works. While a work might be something "new", the purpose is to return to something "old"; eg. 1st Century Christianity as recorded in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles." Aposolic leadership tend to be 'pioneers', visionaries, spiritual fathers and mothers (that means they have years of experience growing in this) and are intercessors. I once met a 25 year old who told me he was apostolic, I had to smile at that. Most of the time, it takes 15-20 years from being 'called' to being 'commissioned' as one. So when people say they are apostolic, I often look for the fruit. What have they built? Are they functioning as spiritual fathers? Who are they sending forth? Are they people of prayer? and if they are aposolic, Are they marketplace or nuclear church apostles?
Reformation: To bring reformation to society around us...bringing God's Kingdom to all spheres as Jesus did. To be a part of a movement like Martin Luther did..reforming church culture...moving from 'church' culture to Kingdom culture'. For example:
Sometimes, we may be joining other prayer leaders in the state or nation, praying for Hollywood, business and/or government, prayerwalking cities; commissioning others into their media or business call; meeting with writers (communicators) dicussing and praying over their work; discipling a student on the college campus; having citywide worship/prayer assemblies; praying for the sick; teaching a class; having corporate prayer with business leaders; helping others with strategic planning; or coming alongside other compassion ministries for outreach.
Community: Encouraging authentic relationship, Being Family.
- Moving from a single pastor mentality of leadership, to ALL the fivefold functioning together as a team- the apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastor/teacher equipping the saints (Eph. 4:12) .
- From being 'covered' by a 'pastor' to accountabiity in 'real authentic relationships' with spirtiual fathers and mothers. From looking at the pastor as a 'covering', but the leadership as a network or foundation of support.
- From 'going to church' (a building on Sundays)..but BEING the church everywhere we go, any day of the week.
- From paid 'pastoral' staff to volunteers and/or 'tentmakers'
- Going from one person teaching/preaching sermons on sundays to many in the Body teaching in homes/small groups any day of the week
Sometimes, we may be joining other prayer leaders in the state or nation, praying for Hollywood, business and/or government, prayerwalking cities; commissioning others into their media or business call; meeting with writers (communicators) dicussing and praying over their work; discipling a student on the college campus; having citywide worship/prayer assemblies; praying for the sick; teaching a class; having corporate prayer with business leaders; helping others with strategic planning; or coming alongside other compassion ministries for outreach.
Community: Encouraging authentic relationship, Being Family.
We are people from the community, from all walks of life, different leadership gifts, some still tied to traditional churches and some not. We don't believe that one has to be tied to one 'church' only since we see the church as being of the city, not of one address. Some are still involved with local churches ( committed to pastors and teachers), yet connected with apostles, prophets and evangelist with us because their local church has not yet developed the five fold leadership. It actually works well. We are not territorial believing that people are 'our sheep' only. We are not of the mindset others have to commit to us only, because ultimately Christ is the Head, and we are all part of the Body. We have small groups where we meet together. There are evangelist who love to go out. We desire to recognize all the gifts and release the 'priesthood of the believers'. It is a different wineskin, a reformational community.
We are committed to building strategic alliances to encourage corporate unity in the Body of Christ, touching the 7 spheres- arts/ entertainment; communication/ media; business, government, family, education and church through prayer & God's love, in order to reach beyond our territorial limits to influence the world around and beyond us.
As our website states:
Transforming Lives, Transforming Cities
Our desire is to see lives awakened, revived, healed and empowered to live a life of deep intimacy with God; To see a holy remnant of God's people boldly abandon themselves fully to God so that they may walk in their God-given calling and fulfill their unique God-sized dreams and destiny, and to transform hearts and cities of the world with the tangible display of God's love and supernatural power to save, heal, and deliver, advancing God’s Kingdom in the seven spheres of influence.
Comments