Our Vision
- This vision especially concerns the five-fold ministry as outlined in Ephesians 4:11, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” (KJV)
- This paragraph covers our vision of the five-fold ministries and the many support ministries. The Scriptural basis of our vision is that all five-fold ministries are still valid today as outlined above in Ephesians 4:11.
- First are apostles, by this, we state that the apostolic call is still valid today and that God calls people to this ministry by His Holy Spirit. We will identify, validate and encourage modern apostles.
- Second are prophets. This is a present-day call. We will identify, validate and encourage modern prophets.
- Third are evangelists. We will identify, validate and encourage modern evangelists. We will provide administrative backup, continuing education, and encouragement for these people who often are in a lonely, traveling ministry.
- Fourth are pastors. We will provide a ministry of help for pastors, of whom far too many are isolated without mentors and peers whom they feel that they can trust. We will provide support, encouragement and continuing education. We understand the call of the pastor to be one of shepherd or under-shepherd under Christ, and we lift up the Scriptural role of helping pastors to know their people by home visitation and pastoral counseling. We understand that the Greek language of this passage ties pastor and teacher together in Ephesians 4:11 in one person and we assert that pastors must also be teachers, by definition. However, there are some teachers who are not also pastors and the fifth five-fold ministry is for them.
- Fifth are teachers. This is a call for people who are not also called to be pastors. We will identify, train, encourage, give continuing education to and support the calling of those called to be teachers.
- Finally, there are many Scriptures concerning support ministries. We will only mention a few of these, but American Ministers Association, Inc. will also be an organization for all of the following ministries (and this is not an exhaustive list): people who are counselors, musicians, worship leaders, media and communications and public relations people who do divulgation (publishing) work, diplomacy and international relations people, missionaries and fraternal workers, and Church and ministry administrators and staff