Some possible apostles, other than the first 12, could include Matthias (Acts 1:26), Paul (Romans 1:1), Barnabas (Acts 14:14), Andronicus and Junias (Rom 16:7), and Timothy and Silas (1 Thess. 2:6).
Many times, the pastor of the church is given this gift. This person is quick to give counsel to those who are starting new programs or attempting to establish a new work. They have the tendency to be peacemakers, troubleshooters, and certainly enjoy problem solving.
They are quick to accept others and their gifts. They see the need to use every Body member in order to establish the work of the kingdom of God, here on earth, as it is in heaven.
In summary, apostles transplant the Christian faith to new areas/cultures; they simply get things started. They are pioneers for the Church, laying the roadwork for preachers and teachers to go into all the world and makes disciples. Apostles pave the way for the Body of Christ to function in their original design.
APOSTLESHIP
Definition:
This person carries a special ability to recruit people, start projects, and then assert the leadership necessary to train and equip leaders to take over the project. This person is used by God to start churches and ministries that edify the Church body.
Purpose:
Apostles normally have a blend of the gifts of leadership and apostleship. Look at the 12 apostles, the 12 church starters. They have a unique place in Church history. In fact, they will have a special place in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:14). When the first 12 apostles died, the gift did not. Many have been assigned to this job throughout the generations (1 Cor. 15:5, 7). Most missionaries have this gift. We cannot have the organized structured Church without the apostles. Apostles lay and pour the foundation for the local Church. Without this foundation, we would not be meeting to discuss this topic.
Liabilities:
Apostles can be fleshy, like all other workers in the kingdom of God. The apostle can be carried away with their “position” - desiring others to look on them in a special way because of their “special revelations” (2 Cor. 12:7-10). In other words, they have the tendency to boast, be caught up in the prestige of the job, and enjoy the personal politics a little too much.
Since followers make the mistake of looking at the apostle instead of Christ, as the foundation of the Church, they have a fleshy tendency to enjoy the attention of being “the man with the plan.”
Overall, the apostle has the same liabilities of the leader - that of using the flock for their own goals, tasks, and personal gain.
Place of Service:
Apostles can be fleshy, like all other workers in the kingdom of God. The apostle can be carried away with their “position” - desiring others to look on them in a special way because of their “special revelations” (2 Cor. 12:7-10). In other words, they have the tendency to boast, be caught up in the prestige of the job, and enjoy the personal politics a little too much.
Since followers make the mistake of looking at the apostle instead of Christ, as the foundation of the Church, they have a fleshy tendency to enjoy the attention of being “the man with the plan.”
Overall, the apostle has the same liabilities of the leader - that of using the flock for their own goals, tasks, and personal gain.
Place of Service:
1. Church planting
2. Cell churches
3. Program promotions
4. Educational/Training opportunities
5. Elder
6. Community leaders
7. Civic placements
8. Political activists
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION
The administrator
has a special ability to organize and manage what the apostle has laid out as a
foundation for the local church or ministry.
Purpose:
The administrator understands the immediate and long-term goals of the ministry, as well as, how to execute the plans needed to keep these goals on target.
Characteristics:
The description of the gift if found in found in 1 Corinthians 12:28. Romans 12:8 clearly communicates the difference between the gift of administration and the gift of leadership. Many Christians confuse the two; they are very different in function and outcome.
The Greek word for administration is the word helmsman (a person who steers the ship). The helmsman is the person in charge of getting the ship to its destination and organizing the details that are to be given to the captain. Then the captain can give the orders necessary to get the ship from point A to point B. The helmsman sees details the captain and the crewmembers do not see. They are quick to see all the angles in each decision to be made. The captain and crewmembers expect the helmsman to make sure they are fed the right details throughout the journey.
God appears to give the gift of administration to apostles, pastors, and ministry leaders when they are left to start the ministry alone. Ideally, they (as well as prophets) have an administrator in order to stay organized and focused. In smaller ministries, a secretary may assume this position because he or she has this gift. Larger ministries actually hire a full, or part-time, administrative pastor.
Administrators have the supernatural ability to recruit, train, and manage people in order to accomplish the goals laid out by the leadership team. Someone with the gift of administration will either organize himself or delegate to others who are good at organizing. They are compelled by a strong sense of duty; they like to find things for people to do. The administrator focuses on team participation. They see the big picture, work to keep the details together, keep the team on track, enjoy systems, action lists, and telling people what to do.
Liabilities:
Administrators are known for being moody, critical, contemplative, negative, and worrisome. Details can and often do overwhelm them. Inconsiderateness, inactivity, anger, disloyalty, lack of volunteers, and laziness agitate them. Administrators need encouragement to be assertive, bold, enthusiastic, and expressive. They often need encouragement to delegate responsibilities.
Administrators have the tendency to be perfectionists; therefore, they take on jobs they could be delegating but don’t, because “no one can do it like they can.” Others seem to drop or forget details the administrator believes are important.
They tend to be judgmental with folks who don’t remember or refuse to do what they have been assigned to do. The administrator is quick to discontinue relationships with people who consistently “drop the ball” when asked to serve in a given area. They tend to have strong relationships with people who are faithful, loyal, and diligent at completing tasks assigned to them.
Place of Service:
1. Conference coordinator
2. Church/ministry administrator
3. Secretary
4. Personal assistant
5. Church service coordinator
6. Ministry coordinator
7. Facilities manager
8. Finance committee
9. Special programs coordinator
10. Clerk
11. Department head
Purpose:
The administrator understands the immediate and long-term goals of the ministry, as well as, how to execute the plans needed to keep these goals on target.
Characteristics:
The description of the gift if found in found in 1 Corinthians 12:28. Romans 12:8 clearly communicates the difference between the gift of administration and the gift of leadership. Many Christians confuse the two; they are very different in function and outcome.
The Greek word for administration is the word helmsman (a person who steers the ship). The helmsman is the person in charge of getting the ship to its destination and organizing the details that are to be given to the captain. Then the captain can give the orders necessary to get the ship from point A to point B. The helmsman sees details the captain and the crewmembers do not see. They are quick to see all the angles in each decision to be made. The captain and crewmembers expect the helmsman to make sure they are fed the right details throughout the journey.
God appears to give the gift of administration to apostles, pastors, and ministry leaders when they are left to start the ministry alone. Ideally, they (as well as prophets) have an administrator in order to stay organized and focused. In smaller ministries, a secretary may assume this position because he or she has this gift. Larger ministries actually hire a full, or part-time, administrative pastor.
Administrators have the supernatural ability to recruit, train, and manage people in order to accomplish the goals laid out by the leadership team. Someone with the gift of administration will either organize himself or delegate to others who are good at organizing. They are compelled by a strong sense of duty; they like to find things for people to do. The administrator focuses on team participation. They see the big picture, work to keep the details together, keep the team on track, enjoy systems, action lists, and telling people what to do.
Liabilities:
Administrators are known for being moody, critical, contemplative, negative, and worrisome. Details can and often do overwhelm them. Inconsiderateness, inactivity, anger, disloyalty, lack of volunteers, and laziness agitate them. Administrators need encouragement to be assertive, bold, enthusiastic, and expressive. They often need encouragement to delegate responsibilities.
Administrators have the tendency to be perfectionists; therefore, they take on jobs they could be delegating but don’t, because “no one can do it like they can.” Others seem to drop or forget details the administrator believes are important.
They tend to be judgmental with folks who don’t remember or refuse to do what they have been assigned to do. The administrator is quick to discontinue relationships with people who consistently “drop the ball” when asked to serve in a given area. They tend to have strong relationships with people who are faithful, loyal, and diligent at completing tasks assigned to them.
Place of Service:
1. Conference coordinator
2. Church/ministry administrator
3. Secretary
4. Personal assistant
5. Church service coordinator
6. Ministry coordinator
7. Facilities manager
8. Finance committee
9. Special programs coordinator
10. Clerk
11. Department head
Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible, ©
Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The
Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
