A Shift in Leadership

The Transition

replaced by the office of pastor. This is unscriptural and grieves the Holy Spirit. We have violated God's order and have suffered for it. The result is that we have many pastors trying to build and plant churches that require an apostolic anointing, and they do not have the necessary grace to succeed. The result is many small, weak churches that cannot properly manifest the power of the kingdom of God. On the other hand, we have seen many leaders identified as "pastors" who have planted and built strong churches, which are apostolic functions. We have locked many of them into a pastoral role and not allowed them to function in the calling of an apostle. The Church has been pastoral for so long until we have not known any other way. But God is challenging the church to change and come in line with his purpose. Once apostles are released, we will see the release of thousands of pastors within the local church to help shepherd the flock. The cell group movement illustrates this point. The need for cell groups was birthed out of the need for believers to receive and be a part of ministry in a small group context. We have called these leaders "cell leaders" or "care leaders," when in reality they are doing the work of a pastor. They are watching over a small group. Our tradition has not allowed them to be called "pastors" because that title is reserved for the leader of the local church. It is possible to release thousands of pastors in this way. These are people gifted with a genuine call to shepherd the sheep. They have a grace to touch the flock and minister to them in a unique way. They counsel, love, heal, reach out, protect, and rescue the sheep. This should

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