When I was ordained into fulltime Christian ministry 35 years ago I posted on my study wall the words of Paul in Ephesians 4:1-16. I was captivated by this vision Paul gives of the mature church: a church attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, becoming like Jesus in every way. That was the church I wanted to be part of and I committed myself to living out these verses in a lifetime of Christian service. I knew that this grande vision was possible since Jesus had poured out his gifts upon the church so that it could reach this goal. I understand that these gifts were the gifts of people: some people were apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. A fivefold gift to the church. But I had a problem. A massive disconnect. The church of which I was a part, and the denomination into which I was ordained, only regularly spoke of and recognised two of these gifts: pastors and teachers. Only a cursory thought was given to evangelists. As an ordained minister I understood my roles and functions as pastor and teacher. But I always sensed that something was missing in the life and ministry of the church. What about apostles and prophets? And evangelists? These gifts poured out upon the church by the ascended Christ functioned in the first century church? What about the 21st century? Do these gifts of Christ still function in the church today? Why did we choose only 2 or 3 out of the 5? On what basis did we or do we make such choices? If you have ever wondered about these questions I strongly urge you to pick up a copy of Alan Hirsch's latest book, 5Q - Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ (Columbia: 100M, 2017). Read More