Apostle | APEST
By Charley Dever
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” Luke 10:1-2
A Tale of Two Churches
In the heart of Knoxville, there is a church that has stood for 150 years. Its massive, historic building has served as a spiritual home to thousands of Knoxvillians over the decades. Today, however, this community is dying out. Membership has dwindled from thousands to about a dozen people. Recently, someone cleaning out a back room noted that there are currently more pulpits in the building than people in the pews.
Less than a mile away sits another church with a similar beginning. Founded nearly two centuries ago in the urban center, this church tells a completely different story. Today, it hosts a vibrant, active congregation of several hundred people. Multiple generations worship together, and the ministry shows no signs of slowing down.
What explains these wildly different trajectories for two churches with similar beginnings?
One notable difference stands out: From its inception, the second church was a sending church. Over the years, they have sent countless missionaries and ministry workers across the world. They have directly contributed to planting or revitalizing over 60 congregations. In fact, most local churches in their tradition can trace their lineage directly back to this single community.
The Apostolic Impulse
This thriving church possesses what we call an “apostolic impulse.” Embedded deep within their DNA is an instinct to send. The word apostle comes from the Greek apostolos, meaning “one who is sent.” It is the first of five essential gifts Jesus gives to His Church as described in Ephesians 4.
Someone with an apostolic impulse understands that the Church is a living organism that must adapt, change, and reproduce in order to grow and survive. They are acutely aware that staying the same leads to an inevitable death. Because of this, they fiercely resist the urge to do things "the way we've always done them." Instead, an apostle maintains an innovative, pioneering posture, constantly looking for new endeavors, new strategies, and new frontiers.
The Shadow Side
However, like every spiritual gift, the apostolic gift has its blind spots. When left unchecked by others, an apostle’s sheer drivenness can bulldoze over people. In their relentless pursuit of "the next thing," they can easily neglect the immediate needs of the community and hurt individuals along the way. They may seem to lack the gentle care of a shepherd or the patient thoughtfulness of a teacher.
Furthermore, if an apostle is stuck in a community where their gift cannot be exercised, they quickly become bored and may abandon the community entirely. For the good of themselves and the community, apostles must actively resist isolation and remain anchored to the broader body.
Is This You?
Here are some common characteristics of an apostle. If these traits resonate with you, you may carry this specific spiritual gifting:
Visionary Drive: You excel at big-picture thinking and motivating others.
Boundary Crossing: You feel completely comfortable navigating new social, cultural, or intellectual spaces.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: You are deeply energized by launching new initiatives from scratch.
Anti-Status Quo: You feel a healthy, constant restlessness with stagnation.
Systems Thinking: You see things holistically and understand how smaller components fit into a larger system.
Outward Focus: You naturally build relationships with people outside the walls of the church.
Strategic Problem-Solving: You genuinely enjoy untangling complex challenges and designing solutions.
Moving Forward
If you carry an apostolic voice, you are vital to the health of your community. You are the one who points toward the horizon, inviting the church into what God has next and preventing it from becoming self-focused or stagnant.
Just remember that because your focus is on what’s ahead, you will often feel a step or two in front of everyone else. Practice patience. Intentionally listen to the pastoral, prophetic, and teaching voices around you—they will often see the people and the needs that you are prone to miss.
