Apostolic-Prophetic Movement

The Apostolic-Prophetic Movement (AP movement) is a movement of people who believe that they are restoring elements of what they call the Five-Fold Ministry described in the New Testament book of Ephesians 4:11–13, "for He gave some apostles, and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ." This movement is rooted in the Charismatic movement, seen in Charismatic, Pentecostal and Third-Wave experience. This is very similar to and may even be synonymous with the New Apostolistic Reformation Movement [NARM].

This movement defers more to their own interpretations of the Bible and doctrines than to the later authority and elaborations transmitted by the Catholic and Orthodox churches; however, they hold to the dogmas and traditions of the Greek Orthodox and Latin Church Fathers including the Nicene Creed as authoritative and part of what they call "historical Christianity". Prophecy has been a part of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian practice, especially during times of revival in the Body of Christ. For example, the Kimbanguist Church in Belgian Congo began with vigor in the 1920s and flourished through 40 years of rigorous and sometimes violent suppression.

Purpose

The purpose of the AP Movement was to restore the ministries of prophets and apostles to complete Christ’s original five gifts—apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher—to His Church. The restoration and activation of these five ministry gifts was for fulfilling the purpose for which they were given: the equipping and perfecting of the saints in Christ’s image and ministry. Prophets and apostles are preparing the saints for their full day of manifesting the Kingdom of God for a witness to every nation.[1][2]

Beginnings

The movement began in the United States but it quickly spread to the rest of the nations of the earth. Movements that do not develop major denominations rarely recognize any one man or woman as being the founder of the movement. Nevertheless, some ministers played a more prominent role in certain areas. In the AP movement, Paul Cain demonstrated the function of the office of the prophet. Bill Hamon was the first to introduce the idea of a Prophetic Movement coming and was instrumental in birthing and pioneering the restoration of prophets, especially in the form of the Elijah company of prophets and activating and training the saints in prophetic ministry. John Eckhardt and C. Peter Wagner were prominent figures in pioneering and propagating the Apostolic Movement. After the restoration of apostles began to be propagated, many apostles began coming forth throughout the United States and many nations of the world.[3]

The majority of the people who participated and the ministers who preached the AP Movement truths came from the former Charismatic Movement churches. The ministry was the preaching of the Word of God accompanied with personal prophecy to individuals. Hundreds of prophets went to numerous nations and prophesied to national leaders. The apostles began manifesting the ministry of the apostle with signs and wonders. The saints were taught and activated in divine healing and working of miracles. Apostolic order for the local church and corporate Body of Christ began to be established, based on the Five-Fold Ministry as described in Ephesians 4. Apostolic church planting was implemented and the true apostles and prophets began to work for the unity of the Church, the restoration of all things, and the promotion of the Kingdom of God.[4]

Pioneers

Bill Hamon and Dr. C. Peter Wagner worked together in propagating the Apostolic Movement like how Martin Luther and John Calvin worked together in propagating the Protestant Movement. Bill Hamon had the original vision for the restoration of apostles, but Wagner was the theologian who began to write and give designations for the different types of apostles and their various functions in the body of Christ. The movement was called the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) which was growing at a rate of 9 million people per year. These apostolic churches are the only segment of church that is growing faster than the world population and Islam. According to one source the coalition includes several hundred apostles, across the US and about 40 nations, international training centers, and prayer warriors communication networks in the 58 states and worldwide. Dr. C. Peter Wagner, former professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary of World Mission, founder of Global Harvest Ministries and presiding apostle and founder of the International Coalition of Apostles and cofounder of World Prayer Center, played a pivotal role as the leading apostle of the movement from the 1980s to the 2000s.[5]

Seven Mountains Mandate

The 5-fold ministry was initially restored and applied to the religion mountain, whereby 5-fold ministers were seen to emerge to equip and raise up the saints. However, it is now being restored and becoming more prevalent across the various spectrums of society as well, under the Seven Mountains Mandate. The goal is then to see a righteous, God-fearing people being raised up and functioning effectively across society, beyond the four walls of the church building, who can bring about a manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The promotion of these seven mandates is done by marketplace apostles such as Os Hillman and Lance Wallnau, who speak extensively across Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Speaking on Pat Kings Extreme Prophetic TV broadcast, Lance Wallnau says, “the Seven Mountains are almost a template for spiritual warfare because the church so frequently does not have a language for how it goes about taking territory.”[6]

In Apostle Bill Hamon’s 2010 book titled, Prophetic Scriptures Yet to Be Fulfilled, he describes the fascinating transformation of the seven mountains of culture and how every nation will become either a sheep or a goat nation. In the end, the restoration of all things spoken of by the apostles and prophets will supposedly release Jesus to return and set up His domain over all the earth, as written in the New Testament of the Bible in Acts 3.

In effect, the Church is being restored to the same power, energy, and fullness of faith as that of the Early Church. As more teachers, prophets and apostles are restored back to the body of Christ, the movement is gravitating towards apostolic centers being established in various cities and nations to become a catalyst for the work of transformation globally. In the New Apostolic Reformation, Apostolic Centers are being restored as training centers for equipping and activating the saints (believers) so that they are well equipped for ministry and the works of transformation across the seven mountains of society. These apostolic centers are not pastoral churches, nor are they denominational institutions, but are regarded as being part of a marketplace ministry that are led and governed by the local five-fold ministers. The goal is then to achieve sociologically verifiable transformation of cities (and nations), which is based on standard social scientific measuring equipment, verified by independent professional sociologists, as stated by C. P. Wagner in his book titled, The Church in the Workplace.

Kansas City Prophets

Some of those who shaped the current Apostolic-Prophetic Movement in the United States were based in Kansas City, Missouri and became known as the "Kansas City Prophets". Some said the "Kansas City Prophets" were Bob Jones, Bill Hamon, Larry Randolph, Paul Cain, James Goll, and John Paul Jackson.[7][8] Cain had participated in the Healing Revival initiated by William Branham during the 1950s. The surviving "Kansas City Prophets" except Mike Bickle have left Kansas City but continue to be active in ministry throughout North America; they often attend and speak at charismatic Christian conferences and meetings. A book on this subject is Some Say It Thundered which was written at the height of their movement. Daniel Falls a 30 year follower of the movement also recently created a book called The Life and Legacy of Pat Bickle and a History of the Kansas Prophets (2019).

The Apostolic Roundtable

The Apostolic Roundtable was a society of 25 apostles, convened by C. Peter Wagner that included Karl A. Barden, Bob L. Beckett, W. Rice Brookes, Emanuele Cannistraci, Gregory Dickow, Michael P. Fletcher, Chuck Pierce, Ché Ahn, Harold Caballeros, Naomi Dowdy, John Eckhardt, Bill Hamon, Jim Hodges, John P. Kelly, Lawrence Kennedy, Lawrence Khong, David Kwang-Shin Kim, Larry H. Kreider, Alan Langstaff, Roberts Liardon, Dexter Low, Mel Mullen, Alistair Petrie and Eddie Villanueva.[9][10]

Definition of apostle

"An “apostle" [is] one who is called and sent by Christ to have the spiritual authority, character, gifts and abilities to successfully reach and establish people in Kingdom truth and order, especially through founding and overseeing local churches,"[11] according to David Cannistraci, author of two books on the Apostolic Movement and the lead pastor of Gateway City Church, a multi-site church in multiple states based in San Jose, California.

"The apostolic gift leaves churches in its wake." It is characterized by a "paternal bond between apostles and pastors."[12]

Apostolic networks

Apostolic networks are non-denominational alliances of independent churches and ministries.[13] Apostolic networks of non-denominational alliances of churches and ministries are among the fastest growing movements in the modern Christian world.[14] The following are examples of apostolic networks.

Network of Christian Ministries

In July 1982, while guest speakers at Emanuele Cannistraci's church, Evangel Christian Fellowship, Bishop John Giminez (founder of Rock Church and Washington for Jesus), Dr. Charles Green[15] and Mel Davis, along with Cannistraci, conceived the idea to form The Network of Christian Ministries ("The Network").[16] The Network was a major apostolic network formally established in 1984 in Washington D.C.[17][18] By 1989, most of the national leaders in the charismatic renewal had joined The Network.[19]

The founders of The Network were Cannistraci, Giminez, Green, Dr. Paul Paino, Thomas Reid, David Schoch, Dick Iverson, Bob Weiner, and Bishop John Meares.[20] Other prominent ministers on the Board of Governors included Kenneth Copeland, Charles Simpson, Ken Sumrall, Mel Davis, Charles Blair, and Roderick Caesar, Sr.[21][20]

The twelve "national leaders" and "apostles" on the Apostolic Presbytery were from all "streams" of the full gospel charismatic movement who truly represent the nation.[22] The twelve apostles included Emanuele Cannistraci, Dick Benjamin, Dr. Charles Green, Dr. Paul Paino, Roderick Caesar, Sr., John Hagee, Dick Iverson, Charles Simpson, John Casteel, Houston Miles, and Ken Sumrall. The "apostolic fathers" met as a larger "congress of elders" and board of governors "to address issues confronting the church and society."[18] The apostles were recognized as "national leaders" that were truly representative of the myriad of christian fellowships across the nation.[22]

The Network started a national movement that united leaders from diverse fellowships, denominations and ministries across the nation.[23] Thousands of ministers across the US were invited to be part of The Network. The purpose of The Network was to unify and strengthen the Church . The Constitution also included the power to establish churches, missions, schools, colleges and hospitals, to train chaplains for government and military service, and to set up an affiliated political action organization.[20] The unity movement spread internationally as ministers in other countries joined The Network.[24]

At the 1989 convention in Anaheim, there was a collective appeal from younger ministers for mentorship to pass on the elders' "reservoir of knowledge", "giftings" and "legacy" to the "next generation of world changers". The Network ultimately disbanded as it was unable to adapt to the appeal for mentorship.[19]

Other networks
  • The Antioch Network of Churches and Ministries. (Evangel Christian Fellowship, San Jose, CA)[16][25]
  • Antioch Churches & Ministries(helped establish churces in 46 nations[26]). Emanuele Cannistraci "patriarchal" apostle. John P. Kelly original "overseeing" apostle. Exemplifies how apostolic teams resolve issues in contrast to denominational structures.[27]
  • Apostolic Missions International[28] (Emanuele Cannistraci, 'fathering apostle). Apostolic Leadership Summit[29][30]
  • The International Fellowship of Faith Ministries (2000 churches)[18]
  • International Convention of Faith Churches & Ministries (495 churches; headquarters in Tulsa)[18]
  • Faith Christian Fellowship International (1000 ordained ministers)[18]
  • National Leadership Conference, Jim Jackson (represents other networks)[18]
  • Fellowship of Christian Assemblies (101 churches)[18]

References
  1. {{Bill Hamon, Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Moves of God: End time Plan for his Church on Planet Earth (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishing, 1987).}
  2. {{C. Peter Wagner, Churchquake: How The New Apostolic Reformation is Shaking the Church as We Know It (Ventura CA: Regal Books, 1999), 5.).}
  3. {{C. Peter Wagner, Dominion: How Kingdom Action can Change the World (Grand 9 Rapids, MI: Chosen Books, Baker Publishing Group 2008), chapter 1.}
  4. {{Hector Torres, The Restoration of the Apostles and the Prophets (Nashville, TN: 14 Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001)}
  5. {{The Rise of the New Apostolic Reformation and its Implication for Adventist Eschatology, Trevor O'Reggio Andrews University}
  6. {{Lance Wallnau, Bill Johnson, The 7 Mountain Mandate. (Destiny Image Publishing, 2013).}
  7. Poloma, Margaret M. (2003). Main Street Mystics: The Toronto Blessing and Reviving Pentecostalism. Rowman Altamira. pp. 170, 195. ISBN 9780759103542.
  8. Friesen, Aaron T. (2013-02-19). Norming the Abnormal: The Development and Function of the Doctrine of Initial Evidence in Classical Pentecostalism. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 144. ISBN 9781621895671.
  9. Wagner, Peter. New Apostolic Roundtable. C. Peter Wagner's Box 26, Folder 6 (1 of 2) Part 3, New Apostolic Roundtable. (Retrieved from Fuller Theological Seminary Digital Commons Archives) https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/findingaids/9/
  10. "New Apostolic Roundtable". Ministries Today Magazine. July–August 2000.
  11. Cannistraci, Dr. David (1998). Apostles and the Emerging Apostolic Movement. Ventura, Calif.: Regal Books. ISBN 978-0-8307-2338-6. OCLC 180766628.
  12. Skye, Jethani. "Apostles Today?". Christianity Today.
  13. Wagner, C. Peter (1999). Church Quake: How the New Apostolic Reformation is Shaking the Church as We Know It. Ventura, California: Regale Books. ISBN 9780830719150.
  14. Barrett, David B.; Kurian, George Thomas; Johnson, Todd, M. (2020). World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in The Modern World. 2 Volume Set (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195724356.
  15. Green, Charles (December 1985). "A Network for Unity - Charles Green shares how leaders, some once opposed to each other, are coming together" (PDF). New Wine Magazine. Integrity Communications: 20–22.
  16. Cannistraci, David (1996). The Gift of Apostle: A Biblical Look at Apostleship and How God Is Using It to Bless His Church Today. Regal Books. pp. 194–195. ISBN 978-0830718450.
  17. Meares, John, L. Bishop (Agent) (October 4, 1984). "DC.Gov. Online Portal: Welcome to Corp Online. Business Filings Search. Find Your Organization". Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. District of Columbia, USA. Network of Christian Ministries. File #843701. Non-Profit Corporation. Domestic.
  18. Hawkes, Paul. "A Critical Analysis of the Third and Fourth Wave of Pentecostalism." Doctoral Thesis. University of South Africa. (August 25, 2009) Institutional Repository. Pages 124-125. "Networks are loose associations of leaders and ministers of independent charismatic churches ... for the purpose of fellowship, mutual encouragement, the sharing of information, insights, and ideas... Major examples are: ... Network of Christian Ministries, Emanuele Cannistraci, John Gimenez, Charles Green ... In 1988, the Network of Christian Ministries began ... recognizing apostolic fathers, high-profile leaders ... who sit together as one board of governors... annually as a ‘Congress of Elders’ to address issues confronting the church and society."
  19. Cannistraci, David, Dr. (1998). Apostles and the Emerging Apostolic Movement: A Biblical Look at Apostleship and How God is Using It to Bless His Church Today. pp. 15, 194–195. ISBN 9780830723386.
  20. "Constitution of Network of Christian Ministries". Du Plessis Files 77.10. (Retrieved from Digital Archives of Fuller Theological Seminary). https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/findingaids/9/
  21. Green, Charles, Chairman of Network of Christian Ministries. Report to Board of Governors. (November 11, 1986) Du Plessis Files Nos. 30.51.(Retrieved from Digital Commons Archives of Fuller Theological Seminary). https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/findingaids/9/
  22. Gruen, Ernest, J. and staff (1990). "Documentation of the Aberrent Practices and Teachings of Kansas City Fellowship (Grace Ministries)" (PDF). Birthpangs.org. The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. (April 28, 1990) Memo to 700 Counselors: "CBN staff ... told me ... Mike Bickle... contacted the Network of Christian Ministries for the purpose ... to arbitrate the differences between Ernie Gruen and himself... providential that both ... would separately and ndependently contact NCM for this purpose. Pages 25-26. Republished with permission by Banner Ministries. pp. 9, 26–28. ... handing this problem off to national leaders ... The Network of Christian Ministries has agreed to mediate... men with national ministries ... national leaders ... Apostolic Presbyters of the Network of Christian Ministries ... These twelve men ... represent all streams of the full/gospel Charismatic ministry of our nation ... integrity... truly apostles.. represent the nation.
  23. Copeland, Ken; Wimber, John; Simpson, Charles; Giminez, John (January 1986). "Equipping the Saints. How unity of Church leaders affects believers". New Wine Magazine: Cover story and page 6, 14–18.
  24. Green, Charles, Dr. Report by Chairman of Network of Christian Ministries to Board of Governors. (November 11, 1986) (Retrieved from Du Plessis Files Nos. 30.51. Digital Archives of Fuller Theological Seminary). https://digitalcommons.fuller.edu/findingaids/9/
  25. "The Antioch Network of Churches and Ministries". The Evangel Update. (Retrieved from Gateway City Church Archives): A Publication of Evangel Christian Fellowship, San Jose, CA. Autumn 1994. p. 6. The challenge and hope of a new network of associated churches and ministries continues to grow as letters and applications come in response to our recent Charisma Magazine advertisement.
  26. Kelly, John P. Antioch Church and Ministries. South Lake, Texas. (Retrieved June 7, 2020).
  27. Wagner, C. Peter. "Apostles and Prophets: The Foundation of the Church" (2000). ISBN 9780800797324.
  28. Delph, Ed (May 25, 2020). "Honor Your Community - Community Will Honor You". Nation Strategy.
  29. Murrell, Steve; Murrell, William (October 28, 2016). The Multiplication Challenge: A Strategy to Solve Your Leadership Shortage. Charisma House. pp. 129, 141–143, 146, 201. ISBN 9781629985749. [A]t the International Summit ... my mentor... Emanuele Cannistraci ... spent most of the time traveling the world ... strengthening pastors ... ministered to our church and to our leaders many times... after our mission imploded ... Pastor C ... treated us like ... his own staff. He mentored us - teaching us by example, how to do ministry with integrity, how to do life with joy, and how to do family with no regrets ... all the lessons we learned ... annual[ly] traveling with them to the Philippine provinces to do ministry, their impartation ... was transformational ... at 84 years old he still circles the globe preaching the gospel and mentoring next generation leaders.
  30. “Honoring the Man of God: Apostle C Tribute" (2020). Bethel Productions. Video presented at Apostolic Leadership Summit by: •Kenneth Bent •John Benefiel •Steve & Nancy Boyce; •Ed Delph; •Sun Fannin; •Brad Hall; •Ron Hammonds; •Mary-Alice Islieb • Napoleon Kaufman •Klayton and Sharon Ko, •John & LaNell Miller; •Gerry McCoy•Steve Murrel • Gerry & Sherill Piscopo; • Gordon P. Robertson •Mike Servello •Sid Sumida; •Ralph & Cindy Vogel.
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