By Brandon Kelly, Director of Transformational Ministries (Click here for printable format.) Throughout this year we’re walking through a significant aspect of ministry and leadership in the Church. Often referred to as the Five-Fold Ministry, or APEST, it’s the description of roles given by God to equip and build up the Church for its mission which is found in Ephesians 4. You can read the initial article, Living Out Your Calling, in the Advocate here www.cggc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/AdvocateFebMar2018Web.pdf. Read the first blog post, What Role Has God Given You?, here cggcenews.weebly.com/blog/what-role-has-god-given-you. |
When one role takes the spotlight, it will often do so to the detriment of the rest of the roles. Of course, there will be seasons where you might emphasize one of the Five-Fold Ministries because it needs some work or the Lord is calling the church to it. The aim, however, is to see all five roles in balance and complement each other as a picture of vitality and movement for each church.
In more recent church history, the past 50-70 years, shepherding and teaching have been the emphasis on what it means to lead a church. If the people feel cared for and if they receive solid Biblical teaching, then you have reached the pinnacle of what it means to be the Church. In no way am I saying these two ministries are wrong, far from it, they are essential to the life and ministry of the Church. However, if they are raised to a higher importance than the other three ministries, the Church becomes dysfunctional. How can a church have a Jesus-centered ministry without being sent to their community, responding to the voice of God, and sharing the Good News with those who don’t know it? It can’t!
So how does the Church overcome the disproportional emphasis on specific APEST roles? The temptation may be to lower the emphasized role(s) to the level of the others. However, I would contend that the Church should raise the deemphasized roles to the same level as the emphasized ones. As if to say, “Yes, and these too.” When we take the life of Jesus and the direction of Ephesians 4 seriously, we will bring all five ministries to the highest level of expectation – in equal proportion.
How do we begin to bring all five into proper proportion? I think we start by just acknowledging “what is.” Which APEST roles are currently being lifted to priority over others? How are our actions and language supporting a disproportionate Five-Fold? Name the reality of “what is” so that you can begin to take steps towards “what could be.”
Search for Executive Director of the Eastern Regional ConferenceThe Eastern Regional Conference is in a time of transition and is currently searching for their next Executive Director. The Administrative Council has appointed a committee to oversee this search process and bring a recommendation to the Council. |
An application and job description may be found by click on the links. As noted on the application, priority will be given to applications received on or before April 15, 2018. Applications may be submitted to Interim Executive Director Pastor Jim Moss, Jr. at [email protected]. If there any questions about the position, please call 717-547-9470.