Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Aps In This Decade: Where Are We Now?

Our cover this week queried Apostolics across North America to answer three questions:

1. The biggest change(s) in the Apostolic movement over the last decade include(s):

2. One (or more) highlight(s) of the past decade for the Apostolic Movement include:

3. The Apostolic Movement's biggest challenge in the coming decade is:

You read their answers. What are yours? Who did you agree and disagree with? Why?

Comment below!

8 comments:

John said...

1. The biggest change(s) in the Apostolic movement over the last decade include(s):
First, as most of the contributors commented on was technology and all that it allowed. Second, the rethinking of anti traditional values such as social gospel and feminism in the light of scripture to create something new. Third, the specialization of ministries. The beginnings of a movement based, not church based identity. Finely the polarization and fragmenting of the movement.

2. One (or more) highlight(s) of the past decade for the Apostolic Movement include:
Everyones Apostolic, its boom and fizzle showed every one the diversity in the movement and a bit of our darker underbelly. Hyphen, hopefully a solution to the crack between high school and young married ministries that many of our young adults have fallen through. UGST and the quest for accreditation by apostolic colleges and universities, shows that we are maturing and gaining confidence. The UPCI WPF split, a lot of hope for unity was lost that day.


3. The Apostolic Movement's biggest challenge in the coming decade is:
Learning to adapt better and faster to our changing society; without fracturing the movement into two or more mutually hostel, irreconcilable, camps.

Anonymous said...

1. The biggest change(s) in the Apostolic movement over the last decade, include(s): becoming more outward focused, becoming more transparent with those inside and outside the Apostolic movement.

2. One (or more) highlight(s) of the past decade for the Apostolic Movement include: the movement’s reexamination of the involvement of young adults and the movement’s response to the drastic change in culture (internet, media, secular education, etc.)

3. The Apostolic Movement’s biggest challenge in the coming decade is: maintaining biblical principles of holiness, even in our ever-changing world.

-MW

stu said...

The biggest change in the Apostolic movement over the last decade, includes:
Launching into Netland, in spite of the fact that much worse stuff exists there than on TV, plus the overnight shift of folks on "Everyone's Apostolic" over to Facebook with the introduction of the concept: fee.

One highlight of the past decade for the Apostolic Movement includes:
Seeing a rise in neck tattoos on new converts for example: Van Halen Rules!

The Apostolic Movement’s biggest challenge in the coming decade is:
Breaking away from the concept of pulpit ministry and taking it to the streets, which is most relevant when we include our daily jobs in the definition of street ministry instead of it being a sort of otherchurchly place where the devil and co-workers attack us, instead seeing our jobs as a vital part of who we are and what we do for Jesus.

Stephen Forkum said...

Very Simple. The Lord does not change. "Old School", as the comment goes, is current school and tomorrow, or, FRONTSIGHT school. The refinement of inward repentance yields yourself to be more intimately engaged with the Spirit within. Your talent being refined in Him over a period of time will bless others and increase your personal anointing in Him. You cannot get too close to Him during this timeframe. Intercessors are needed in Him. He is doing 3 things right now. Trying to restore people who have erred. Trying to keep us renewed and strong in Him. Using us, without carnal elements(such as television)to be a witness to others along our daily pathway to get them into the One Body of Christ. We see the day of His return coming(FRONTSIGHT)therefore we are not sidetracked by anything that would impede our increasing anointing in Him and talent utilization. This is the main focus and challenge. The Lord never takes you backwards into things of any nature that you or I have already repented of. He is always a God of progression and not digression. Guard your eyes, ears, hands, and feet from any and all uncleanness so as not to offend the Holy Ghost within. The enemy of our soul wishes to steal, kill, and destroy this depth of anointing by interfering with the closeness of our relationship with Him. This is the challenge of thankfulness and love for Him-First. Only the ones who truly love Him first will be spending eternity with Him. Faith is the quality of relationship with Him First.

mjk said...

Thanks for all the diversity! I appreciated the privilege of responding and enjoyed reading what others thought. Giving us all a chance to reflect on the past decade was a good move, one that will (I hope) prompt tons of discussion.

Joel Riley said...

I'm just amazed at how a small sampling can give you a very clear picture of our denomination as a whole...

Technology, Relevancy, maintaining identity....these are the things that seem to matter now a days. And the interviews confirm it.

And although I am quite partial, I love the recognition at how important UGST is considered to the movement...

Anonymous said...

1. The biggest change(s) in the Apostolic movement over the last decade, include(s): i think the overall view of church. the building is now being seen as just a building. this is both positive and negative. it's true, we are the church, the church house is just a meeting place, but seems like we should still maintain a respect.

2. One (or more) highlight(s) of the past decade for the Apostolic Movement include: We no longer have big ridiculous hair (mostly).

3. The Apostolic Movement’s biggest challenge in the coming decade is: Finding balance.

-SkH

Anthony Mitchell said...

I believe that the issue of women in the pulpit has become to open
we have to remain clear on what the Bible says as Apostolic Leadership , Yes i believe that God has pour out his spirit upon all flesh but i also believe that Christ through the ministry of the Apostle's and Paul Ministry set guidelines for the Local Apostolic Church