Office of the Apostle · Apostolic Release 2008
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."
— Ephesians 4:11–13
These five form the foundational government of the local church and perform the majority of the ministry to God's sheep. Together they provide a complete picture of Christ's ministry to His body.
The pastor is the prime caretaker of the Lord's sheep. The pastor has three basic functions: Protect the sheep, Make sure the sheep are well fed, and Lead the sheep where they need to go. A pastor can make sure the sheep are fed by bringing in people who have food for the sheep. To best feed the sheep, he needs help from a combination of all of the other members of the five-fold ministry, because each has a different flavor of food, with different nutrients, to provide. Of all the pastor's responsibilities, protecting the sheep is the greatest and most difficult part.
The work of the evangelist is twofold: evangelizing and motivating. Although everyone in the Body of Christ has a responsibility to help fulfill the great commission, the evangelist is called, equipped and anointed specifically in this area. Statistics show that the most effective evangelism isn't in campaigns, it's in one-on-one ministry. The other part of an evangelist's ministry is encouraging and motivating people to serve God. Their messages will be very emotional, very animated, and very alive.
The teacher's role is to provide deep spiritual truths and foundational knowledge to the Body of Christ. Without the teacher, believers may be full of excitement but lack the foundational truth needed to continue walking on a day-to-day basis. The teacher ensures that the flock is not just emotionally stirred but spiritually grounded in the Word of God.
The prophet brings revelation and direction to the Body of Christ. Through the prophetic gift, the prophet speaks directly to individuals, churches, and nations — giving greater insight into life, business, family, and destiny. The prophet brings the unknown into the known and your future into your present.
The apostle provides foundational government and structure to the Church. The apostle helps leaders embrace the government and the order of the prophetic anointing. God's household is 'built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone' (Ephesians 2:20). The apostle releases, ordains, and covers other ministers in their calling.
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."— Ephesians 4:13