The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers …. (Ephesians 4:11)
The 1980s brought a proliferation of “spiritual gifts inventories.” I first heard this taught by Peter Wagner at Fuller Seminary. Most surveys would select New Testament mentions of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They would then ask a series of questions to see where individuals would self-rate, and try to match individual “giftedness” with ministry tasks. A deacon might best possess a gift of “discernment, mercy, or wisdom.” You wanted your church treasurer to have the gift of “administration.”
John Chandler
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It was an inexact art, sometimes pseudoscientific, occasionally laughable. But I applaud the heart of the idea: to identify the heart of one’s calling from God, and to align that calling with expressions of ministry so that one was positioned to serve Christ with passion, grace, and skill.
Trending today is a new iteration of the same impulse to align strengths with roles for serving Christ. It uses the “APEPT” or “five-fold ministry” language of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Google “APEPT” and see what pops.
Mike Breen suggests that the five range from “pioneer” (apostle, prophet, evangelist) to “developer” (pastor, teacher) roles. He believes that 80 percent of American church leaders are pastors or teachers, and that a key strategic task of the church in the United States is the identification, development, and deployment of those with “pioneer” roles — not because they are superior, but because they are under-represented, and because it takes all five types in the body of Christ. (I happen to agree with Breen on this point.)
Another helpful lens that the five-fold ministry provides is that of “base” versus “phase” ministry. From your single ministry base, you will, in different chapters of your life, operate in “phases” of another role. Thus the “pastor” works in an evangelistic crusade and develops the fullness of pastoring by learning to include care for the lost in everyday pastoral ministry. Over time, seasoning in ministry occurs by having each “phase” enrich and color one’s base.
Are you an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher? And what “phase” of ministry are you in right now? Great questions that give focus to God’s work in our life!
Trending is written by John Chandler, leader of the Spence Network, www.spencenetwork.org./equip.htm.