WHY JOIN FMCI?
The answer to the question, “Why the Federation?” can be answered by sharing with you a bit about who we are. If the things below ring true in your spirit perhaps the Federation would be a good fit for you and or your ministry.
WHO WE ARE1. We are an apostolic family seeking the new wineskins of the 21st century Church and pursuing transformation of society and culture.
2. We are a prophetic army enlisted to contend with the spiritual forces in the earth who oppose the implementation of our Father’s will in history. 3. We are kingdom-envisioned people who cannot settle into the status quo of old wineskin organized religion. 4. We are a radical remnant that does not fit in with the popular religious culture and who cannot restrain ourselves in seeker friendly churches. 5. We are a transgenerational ministry that is breaking the spirit of fatherlessness and abortion in the land and loosing the inheritance of the sons of the Kingdom. 6. We are a commercial and economic force that is coming into coordination and wisdom so that the wealth of the wicked can be transferred to righteous covenant keepers. 7. We are an International Nation (the true UN) birthed in the power of Pentecost that has the strategies to bring the blessing of Abraham to all the nations and to hold the civil governments of the earth accountable to the One Who ordained their ministry. 8. We are a labor-force that is anointed to rebuild and reconstruct broken cities and nations according to the covenant law of the King of the Mountain. 9. We are Holy Ghost optimists: Though surrounded and hounded by pessimists who believe for the worst to happen in the world, we declare a hopeful and victorious future for the purposes and people of God. 10. We are a cause oriented, challenge oriented, mission oriented, dominion oriented company: we are Davids, Deborahs, Esthers, Daniels, Nehemiahs, Josephs, and Pauls. HOW APOSTOLIC TEAMS SERVE LOCAL CHURCHES
Apostolic teams have both local and translocal responsibilities in the Kingdom of God. In the ministry of the apostle Paul, we find him spending extended time in one location in order to facilitate the purpose of God (he was in Ephesus for three years–Acts 20:31 ), and we find him traveling and writing letters to churches in distant places.
In this article, I want to present practical ways that apostolic teams serve local leaders and local churches. I am presupposing that there is a covenantal relationship between the translocal apostolic team and the leadership of the local church. If this in not in place, then the remainder of this article is invalidated. INTERCESSION: Paul usually begins his letters by reminding the churches that he is praying for them. In Galatians 4 he reminds them that he labors in prayer and service until Christ is formed in them. He had a daily concern for churches and their leaders. In Ephesians he is praying that the church there may come into full expression of Christ their Head. It is at the place of prayer and intercession that apostolic ministry begins! IMPARTATION: In Romans 1:11 Paul declares: “For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established…” Interesting here that he states the church will be established through charismatic gifts and not just by the lofty doctrine he includes in the middle chapters of the Epistle! It will take the Spirit and the Word to establish the local church. Paul later on reminded his spiritual son, Timothy, that he must not ignore the spiritual (charisma) within him which was bestowed (imparted) on him through the laying on of the hands of the presbytery and of Paul (1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6 ). In 2 Thessalonians 2:8 , we learn that Paul not only imparted spiritual gifts to leaders, he also imparted his very life. CONSULTATION: Apostolic teams provide needed counsel, affirmation, and encouragement to local leaders and local churches. This includes the sharing of insights and strategies for more effective ministry and for problem-solving. Often confirmation and even direction are released into churches through this covenantal consultation. EVALUATION: It is always beneficial to have periodic evaluations in our lives and ministries. From time to time we need to take our spiritual and ministry temperature! Since it is difficult to evaluate ourselves and be objective, this is where apostolic teams come in. Most would agree that prevention is better than cure! Some maintenance along the way is better than continual crisis management. PROTECTION: Where relational accountability is in place between apostolic teams and local church leaders, both churches and leaders find themselves protected in a number of areas. First of all, local leaders and churches are protected from isolation, disconnection, and a sense of “standing alone.” Secondly, they are protected from “tunnel” vision and discouragement. Paul encouraged Timothy not to faint nor fear in discharging his responsibilities in leading the church in Ephesus. Thirdly, churches and local leaders are protected from doctrinal error or extremes and financial impropriety. TRANSITION: The apostolic team can step in and assist a local leader and/or a local church through transition. For example, Paul sent Tychicas to replace Timothy at Ephesus so Timothy could take on another assignment for Paul (2 Timothy 4:12 ). Transitions can be caused by encouraging or discouraging circumstances and it good to know there are experienced and seasoned ministers who can walk through them with us. EDUCATION: Apostolic teams can assist local churches in training their leaders and emerging leaders. In this day, training for local church ministry is returning to the local church. This becomes increasingly valuable when we decide to pursue the five-fold model of leadership we read of in Ephesians 4:11. Most local churches do not have all five dimensions of Christ’s leadership in fullness and, therefore, they need to draw on their relational apostolic team to bring in the training needed. In conclusion, let me cite Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 4:1 : “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” This aligns with the way Paul refers to himself in the beginning of his epistles: he regards himself as a bondslave of Christ. This, to me, is the heart of true apostolic ministry–serving and assisting churches and leaders in progressing in the vision the Lord has given to them. |
BENEFITS AND RESPONSIBILITIESIn a covenant relationship that is Biblically defined there is an exchange. This exchange involves giving and receiving. Since we are seeking to build covenant relationships for Kingdom purposes, FMCI expects to experience a reciprocal exchange of benefits with ministers and churches. Here are the benefits of belonging to FMCI: 1. Access to personal encouragement, counsel, and collective wisdom for ministers and churches. Each local set leader and each local church will have an identifiable apostolic team which will be available to them. 2. Connection, protection, and accountability. Most devastation in the church today happens because there is a deficiency or absence of a relational covering. 3. Resources and ministries available to ministers and churches. These would include some specialization such as youth ministry, worship, women‚ conferences, world missions, prophetic conferences, etc. 4. Timothy Training. This ministry will assist in training the emerging leaders in the local church and region. 5. Cooperative efforts in church planting and global missions opportunities. FMCI does not plant churches. Local churches plant local churches. FMCI does not send missionaries. Local churches send missionaries. However, we come alongside in partnership to help facilitate both these efforts. Here are the responsibilities of belonging to FMCI: 1. Communication. This we realize is our biggest challenge in our hectic lives as ministers. But there must be consistent communication if a relationship is going to function in a healthy and growing way. 2. Walk with integrity before the Lord and each other. If there is breakdown here, we believe it is proper to pursue every Biblical procedure to rectify, repair, and restore. 3. Share the responsibility for the well-being of our extended family. We want to be available to bless and assist each other in life as well as ministry. 4. To draw on the relational and ministry resources in FMCI so that each local church and its leadership builds a strong relationship with FMCI. 5. To share financial resources so that FMCI can be underwritten in its ministry. Each local set leader, each local church, and each ministry center will measure its responsibility differently. |
CORPORATE ASSIGNMENTS
In addition to serving the constituents of FMCI—ministers, churches, and ministries—with counsel, consultation, teaching/training conferences, and sending apostolic/prophetic teams to local churches and regions, we also pursue several corporate assignments.
These include:
1. International Leadership Embassy in Washington, DC.
FMCI pioneered this ministry in our nation’s capital to encourage the Body of Christ to engage the Civil Government on every level–city, county, state, and national. We believe it is our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of God and of our nation to herald the message of freedom that comes only through the Gospel of the Jesus Christ.
Dr. Hope Taylor leads ILE and although it is an entity that has its own corporation status, FMCI continues to support its ministry. We believe ILE is an instrument of cultural transformation and the vehicle for FMCI to impact civil rulers/servants across the nation.
2. GenOne.
This ministry focuses on synergizing generations in the pursuit of Kingdom advancement. Instead of waiting until an older generation “passes the torch” to the next, we envision and experience at least three generations partnering in ministry.
I am very grateful to have outstanding “sons” in the Lord. Now I have the joy of working with spiritual grandsons. Thanks to people like Brandon Burden, Karen Serna, Nathan Isaacs, David Amsden, Dana Sleger, and others, FMCI is able to connect more than two generations in ministry.
3. Regional Reformation Institutes.
In this day of spiritual awakening and reformational change in the Church, we are working to establish regional centers across the nation which will train, equip, and activate the saints to impact every sphere of society and culture, i. e., to become world-changers.
FMCI is partnering with local and regional leaders in establishing these RRIs. Additionally, FMCI will assist reformation training already occurring in various locations and regions.
We encourage our members to receive the benefits of covenantal connection AND to be involved in our corporate assignments through intercession and financial partnership.
These include:
1. International Leadership Embassy in Washington, DC.
FMCI pioneered this ministry in our nation’s capital to encourage the Body of Christ to engage the Civil Government on every level–city, county, state, and national. We believe it is our responsibility as citizens of the Kingdom of God and of our nation to herald the message of freedom that comes only through the Gospel of the Jesus Christ.
Dr. Hope Taylor leads ILE and although it is an entity that has its own corporation status, FMCI continues to support its ministry. We believe ILE is an instrument of cultural transformation and the vehicle for FMCI to impact civil rulers/servants across the nation.
2. GenOne.
This ministry focuses on synergizing generations in the pursuit of Kingdom advancement. Instead of waiting until an older generation “passes the torch” to the next, we envision and experience at least three generations partnering in ministry.
I am very grateful to have outstanding “sons” in the Lord. Now I have the joy of working with spiritual grandsons. Thanks to people like Brandon Burden, Karen Serna, Nathan Isaacs, David Amsden, Dana Sleger, and others, FMCI is able to connect more than two generations in ministry.
3. Regional Reformation Institutes.
In this day of spiritual awakening and reformational change in the Church, we are working to establish regional centers across the nation which will train, equip, and activate the saints to impact every sphere of society and culture, i. e., to become world-changers.
FMCI is partnering with local and regional leaders in establishing these RRIs. Additionally, FMCI will assist reformation training already occurring in various locations and regions.
We encourage our members to receive the benefits of covenantal connection AND to be involved in our corporate assignments through intercession and financial partnership.