Picturing Theology, Revised Edition

Picturing Theology, Revised Edition | 335

Apostolic Band: Cultivating Outreach for Dynamic Harvest Rev. Dr. Don L. Davis

Target Population: Poor White Residents of a Community • Views church plant team as fluid dynamic unit • Preaching point viewed as fishing net • Focused on proven skills, gifts, aptitudes • Allows for ad-hoc project driven assignments • Team Leader coordinates campaigns various preaching points • Seeks to operate on five-fold gifts of Ephesians 4 • Looks for response not activity • Functions in an itinerant mode • Constrained by time, resources, and receptivity • Works through disciples, not missionaries • Links and connects worship, discipling, leadership • Functions by common rule, faith, and protocol • Seeks to plant churches in quantity and unity

Trailer Park

Club Youth Outreach

Preaching Point Area 1

Preaching Point Area 6

Beauty Parlor

Apartment Building

Preaching Point Area 2

Preaching Point Area 5

Bowling Alley

Pool Hall

Preaching Point Area 3

Preaching Point Area 4

Principle Concepts 1. Itinerancy – an apostolic band functions in multiple-contexts simultaneously organized around a common target population 2. Commonality – an apostolic band uses similar forms, methods, and protocols to win and build converts 3. Authority – an apostolic band functions under a common authority structure and leadership core 4. Identity – an apostolic band plants churches of a kind with shared doctrine, practice, structures and traditions 5. Gifting – an apostolic band is organized around the proven gifts of the band, not availability and assignment alone 6. Fluidity – an apostolic band invests in contacts who respond in preaching points, giving the receptive their critical attention 7. Coordination – an apostolic band will draft and employ select individuals for contribution at critical times for particular projects 8. Consolidation – an apostolic band consolidates the fruit in an area with an eye toward movement and growth, not permanence 9. Discipline – an apostolic band functions according to an order and structure, equipping disciples in the disciplines of the faith 10. Germinal – an apostolic band seeks to inaugurate and initiate spiritual birth and formation, entrusting the lion’s share of the congregation’s growth and maturity to pastoral oversight

Definition of Terms

Apostolic Band – a fluid team of gifted, available, and committed workers assigned to play particular roles or accomplish specific tasks contributing to the outreach to a population Preaching Point – a distinct area, venue, or place where people of the target population live or gather Team Charter – a fluid agreement based on the prospective time and resources necessary to present the Gospel credibly to a target population in a given venue Project Management – putting together a temporary group of people, strategies, and resources to complete a particular task, outreach, or event