The GPF Apostolic Missions Network Inc. is committed to implement the apostolic mandate given to the church in this hour. This Network is endowed with a dynamic strategy of establishing city-wide apostolic hubs and to link these hubs into apostolic networks in order to establish alignment for regional transformation. For the sake of clarity, we have listed the three components of this strategy under the following subsections.
- Establishing City-Wide Apostolic Hubs
- Linking Apostolic Hubs into Apostolic Networks
- Establishing Apostolic Alignment for regional Transformation
The first detailed account of the development of an apostolic network is found in Acts 14:21-23, when Paul and Barnabas were returning from their initial trip, going through the cities they had previously evangelized, appointing elders and committing the churches to the Lord in prayer and fasting. It can be understood that this process included instructions being given and apostolic authority being exercised. After the trip was completed Paul and Barnabas went back to Antioch, their sending apostolic base. A further and decisive step that seals the birthing of this early networking venture was taken some time later when Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” (Acts 15:36). From that moment on, the rest of the account of the book of Acts is a description of the birthing of geographical communities of believers that were linked together into apostolic networks.
Even though Paul remained the central figure of the movement, more and more apostles were added, having either been trained with Paul or having arrived from other journeys. We see not only Paul’s sphere expanded, but other apostles’ spheres as well. Local churches multiplied and appeared everywhere. As they continued developing, not without growing pains, true apostolic Hubs were formed that had strong influence that reached beyond their own borders. Corinth and Ephesus are examples of this, or even Thessalonica that became a model to all the believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia.(1 Thessalonians 1:7)
Today the times have changed, but the original pattern is still relevant., apostolic Hubs cannot afford the luxury of existing independently from one another. Having a global vision is one of the characteristic of apostles, and apostolic hubs must carry that same DNA.