http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/TheForgottenWays/~3/287947400/
Returning to our series on TFW: I want to take up the theme of Apostolic Environment. But before we go there, let me just touch base with the question that started my journey to writing TFW in the first place. Its all about the remarkable Jesus movements of history. Ones that seem to grow exponentially without the normal resources that we take for granted. The question that bugged me then, and continues to do so now, is ‘how did they do it?’ One of the clear answers is that they didn’t do it without significant leadership. But that just merely begged a further question: ‘what kind of leadership?” We have all sorts of leadership and training resources today and yet we are in serious decline. So, what was/is the difference? It’s a good question and it begs an equally good answer in response.
In every manifestation of Apostolic Genius there is a powerful form of catalytic influence that weaves its way through the seemingly chaotic network of churches and believers. There is no other substantial word for this catalytic social power other than to re-invoke biblical language and call it apostolic. And this is not just the power of the gospel/apostolic doctrine (as powerful as that is in sustaining the faith) but also that of a certain category of leadership, namely that of the apostolic person. I can find no situation where the church has significantly extended the mission of God, let alone where the church has achieved rapid metabolic growth where apostolic leadership cannot be found in some form or another. In fact, the more significant the mission impact the easier it is to discern this mode of leadership.
Apostolic leadership, as in all types of influence, is both identified and measured by the effect it has on the social environment in which it operates. And in these terms it is always present in periods of significant missional extension. Such people might not always call themselves ‘Apostles’ but the apostolic nature and effect of their ministry and influence is undeniable.
More soon…
