Saturday, August 25, 2007

Wanted: more APEs

a Jesus thought...
He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first (John 8:7)

a Godly thought...
Any church that cannot get by without buildings, finances and paid experts is not fully being the church. (p69 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
The responsibility of leadership can become overwhelming unless leaders are strengthened by strong friendships. (p282 Blackaby)

a Dave thought...
A few years ago I came across APEPT this take on Ephesians 4...some are are called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Patsors and Teachers....here is an updated take on it...

Entrepreneur- Pioneer, Strategist, Innovator, Visionary- Groundbreaker who initiates an organization's mission
Questioner- Disturber, Agitator- Upsets the status quo, challenging an organization to move in new directions
Recruiter- Passionate communicator of organizational message- Recruits to the cause
Humanizer- Carer, Social cement- Provides organization glue by caring for the individuals in it
Systematizer- Philosopher, Translator- Organizes the various parts into a working unit and articulates that structure to the other members
(from the The Shaping of Things to Come )

If you are interested in getting some confirmation you can do the test but it does cost
$10:( http://www.theforgottenways.org/apest but most will know where they fit from the above definitions. I myself am an apostle or rather fill an apostolic function. I have come to realise that I am not as normal as I thought I was! We as a Salvation Army when we began like all new movements were lead by apostles, prophets and evangelists but as we have matured we are lead more by pastors and teachers. For us to see growth once again it is going to take apostles to start something new, prophets to keep annoying us to change and evangelists to get people on board. I have noticed that not many of these types are naturally attracted to 120 year old movement and even when they are tend to flirt around the fringes. Anyway I thank God for lieutenancy as this has enabled 68 people in this territory to serve in this territory a lot of whom are not your standard pastor/teachers.
Maybe Spongs take on APEs starting the world through evolution has some biblical foundation:)

Just a thought.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dave

There have been plenty of these people attracked to the Salvation Army however, the push to keep everyone and everything in the box has forced these people to either leave or conform. Most cannot conform as something inside them burns to be let out....

It will not be until we have a few in senior leadership who are prepared to take some risks and allow these people to work outside the square (i think we see a few more expressions of this in recent times) that our movement will once again start to be a threat to the Kingdom of Darkness.

Anonymous said...

You have a voice to make change - use it for the good of Gods Kingdom.

Anonymous said...

Prophets are annoying? said like a true Apostle!