A Shift in Leadership

A Shift in Leadership

territory than he can influence by himself. Many churches are led by a charismatic leader who may have a pastoral staff to assist him. The ministry revolves around this one leader. This is a pastoral mentality that must be changed to release other apostles, prophets, and teachers, as well as pastors and evangelists. As a leader shifts into an apostolic role, he must develop and release teams of strong ministers. He cannot be intimidated by strong gifts and anointings. The Lord will send many strong gifts to an apostle because of the grace upon this ministry to activate, train, and release gifts. They are not sent to support his ministry only, but to be instrumental in fulfilling the apostolic vision given to the church. Some will be sent out as apostles to plant churches and duplicate in other places what they have seen at the home base. Teams will be released to go to nations to extend the Kingdom of God. The Antioch church illustrates the team concept. The church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to help with the work (Acts 11:22). Barnabas departed to Tarsus to recruit Paul to come and help with the work. Barnabas and Paul assembled themselves at Antioch to teach for a year (Acts 11:25-26). They labored together as a team at Antioch. They were later sent out as a team from Antioch (Acts 13:1-4). First Thessalonians chapter 2 gives us revelation concerning the apostolic team. The team exhorts, teaches, preaches, comforts, charges, and imparts. A team consists of leaders with different anointings, whose gifts complement each other. They work together and each

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