Hey Kingdom Leader,

Are you ready to move forward into your calling and destiny? Are you called outside the 4 walls of the church building? Do you want to impact society by solving complex issues that the world cannot solve, such as global warming and the current economic crisis with Kingdom solutions? Do you feel stuck in place? Are you ready for change? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you want to attend the Kingdom Leadership Summit 2009 for answers.

The “Kingdom Leadership Summit 2009” will be held at the Anchorage City Church on Friday, October 16 starting at 5:30pm and Saturday, October 17 starting at 8am. More details to come. This event is birthed out of my husband Tony’s and my desire to see transformation within the 21st century church (both the institution and believer),so that we complete the Great Commission
(Matt. 28:18-20) ( Mark 16:15-20) by activating the apostolic, prophetic and the 5-fold ministry inside and outside the of the church building. Personally, attending church every Sunday and Wednesday does not cut the mustard today, especially if the prophetic is not activated and the 5-fold ministry is not released to work together to equip believers to do the work of the ministry in the community.(Eph. 4:11-16) The early church operated the apostolic, prophetic and Kingdom mind-set with Jesus being the chief cornerstone, and later apostles and prophets released disciples (believers) into their purpose and destiny to evangelize the nations in everyday life. God’s heart is for His people to be reconciled to Him through His Sons and Daughters operating in their set place inside the church and in the marketplace solving problems with Kingdom solutions.

Without the synergy created by the office of the 5-fold ministry within a prophetic atmosphere, attending church service can become monotonous and boring. This will also be true if you are called outside of the 4 walls of the church building to minister through your vocation, but you’re trying to fit inside the church. It’s like sticking a round peg in a square hole. Ouch!

My pastor said something at bible study that caught my attention about being sent to do a work for God. He said, and I paraphrase – it’s the Holy Spirit, who sent Barnabas and Saul (Paul) to Cyprus to preach and minister after the prophets and teachers ministered to the Lord and fasted. ( Acts 13:2) Notice that the prophets and teachers ministered. For the 21st century church to operate in greater power, authority and revelation, it is imperative for the apostolic and prophetic anointing to flow. The church (both the institution and the believer) that is sensitive to the Holy Spirit is currently undergoing a radical transformation, which is necessary to reap the end-time harvest of nations and to transform our family and society with signs, miracles and wonders. Jesus said He will not return until His enemies become His footstool. He is waiting on us to trigger the restoration of all things in our spheres of influence through our prayers and works. (Acts 3:21)

Just as the early apostles turned the world upside down as sent ones evangelizing, so must we in our everyday lives. As the church (believers) come into the revelation that the kingdom of God is within us and therefore, we have everything that we need to triumph, we will do the greater works that Jesus prophesied. (John. 14:12) We will open up gateways of heaven on our jobs and in our cities for His kingdom to manifest on earth as it is in heaven. (Matt. 6:10)

But we can only accomplish this task with the unity and cooperation among the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher activated inside the church and in the community. (Eph. 4:11-16) The church (body) is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone of the church (body). (Eph. 2:20-22) One of the main responsibilities of the church governmental offices is the equipping, training and releasing of 5-fold leaders. Let’s briefly examine the 5-fold ministry offices, which comprise the government of God’s church:

“Apostles are about strategy and architecture. Prophets are about vision and “adrenaline.”Together, prophets hear God’s heart for people and places while apostles translate those visions into strategies for planting church networks to reach people and places. Apostles see far and understand implications. Prophets hear clearly and have insight into God’s heart.”

” The evangelist is called to go outside the 4 walls of the church building to win souls. “Evangelists are the gatherers of stray sheep. Their passion is to bring in large numbers of sheep. They encourage the church to turn outward in its thinking. They want to see as many people brought into and involved with the church as possible. Evangelists live on adrenaline and activity. A church built on or by an evangelist will be a hub of non-stop activity and programs. It will be very wide, but very shallow, with virtually every message being a salvation message with little depth or discipleship.”

The pastor and teacher have a calling to serve and feed the local flock. “The English word “pastor” is actually the Greek word poimen or “shepherd.” Pastors are shepherds who love sheep. Pastors are relational people who want to spend time with the
sheep. For them, ministry is all about meeting the needs of the sheep. Pastors are the networkers of the body, the counselors of the wounded and needy, the team builders who bring the body together, and the family founders who want to see the body function together as an extended family. But if a church is left in the hands of pastors it will become a need-driven (as opposed to God-vision driven) counseling and rehab ministry, a spiritual hospital for the wounded that will soon be overwhelmed by endless needs. ”

“Teachers look for understanding by digging deep into God’s word in order to explain God’s plan as He reveals it to the
apostles & prophets. The role of the teacher is not to “balance” the apostolic or prophetic, but to explain and expound on the biblical basis for what God is saying through the apostles and prophets. Teachers do not lay foundations (a task given to apostles and prophets), but can explain foundations brilliantly! They are the explainers and apologists of the body. If a church is built around a gifted teacher (as may churches today are) people will end up with notebooks full of great notes and insights, but with no sense of God’s prophetic heart for His people or His apostolic strategies for accomplishing His Kingdom purposes.”

In a mature church body, the 5-fold is an operational unit flowing as one like the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. No one governmental office can do it all. It takes the 5-fold team, and many that should be serving on this team are warming pews. Pugh!

However, the church will defeat the spirit of religion that uses the traditions and customs of men as a weapon to oppose the apostolic and prophetic flow of the Holy Spirit, which is the very heartbeat of God. How do I know this? Because Paul has prophesied that Jesus Christ is coming back for a church without spot, wrinkle or blemish. We will do it!

I encourage pastors of churches that do not understand or that do not have an apostolic or prophetic anointing to pray about partnering with a seasoned apostle and/or prophet that can mentor, equip and release those in your church into their callings, so that destinies are fulfilled and many souls won for Jesus Christ. Encourage the people of God, who you serve, to discover their calling and fulfill their destiny, so the church can receive the nations (outside the 4 walls) for an inheritance. It is critical that God’s people have the freedom to be authentic…to be who you were created to be without fear.

I thank God for all the spiritual leaders that have mentored and are mentoring me. I especially thank God for the fresh wave of apostolic and prophetic leaders, coaches and mentors that He’s placed in Tony’s and my life, who accept us and are helping us rest in the fullness of who we are to impact the nations. They have spoken words into our lives that have given us confirmation and guidance. These words have liberated our souls, so that we are freely soaring into my calling and destiny, which is to equip, train, activate, mobilize and release leaders in all walks of life to advance the Kingdom of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (II Cor. 3:17) and oh, how sweet it is!

Soaring in Excellence & Serving with Humility!

Karen

P.S. The 5-fold descriptions were taken from www.parousianetwork.org.