ark+ apostolic hub

There are obvious differences between the world we live in and the world in which the Bible was written. These differences are cultural, technological, and practical, and it seems obvious that the early church had more grace and power than we experience up and down the country. When we read the book of Acts, many of us feel far from being like the early church, and yet the Bible clearly says, "The glory of this house that now stands will be greater than the glory of the former house," says the Lord Almighty (Haggai 2:9). When Jesus performed his first miracle in Cana, the host of the wedding said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have drunk too much; but you have saved the best until now." (John 2:10).

God likes to do his best things last. He doesn't start with his best thing and then do his second best until he finally has only options of diminishing quality. The body of Christ in the end times is to surpass the ekklēsia of Acts. This is the adventure of our time, and apostles & prophets are needed to help us achieve this goal.

The Lord is bringing the fivefold ministry to full maturity, the developmental steps are clearly recognizable. The Lord has been restoring the prophetic ministry since the 1990s and the apostolic ministry for some years now. Apostles have not yet attained their full authority. A fuller understanding of who apostles are and what they do is only fragmentary. Even those who have been called still lack insight and God-given structure as to where they can fit in. We as an apostolic & prophetic hub are on a journey together into new beginnings.

As an apostolic | prophetic ministry, we accompany apostles and other five-fold servants in the restoration of their DNA:

• We set modern apostles free in their true DNA so that they attain the original freedom and authority of the biblical apostles.
• We help today's apostles to govern the churches effectively. We accompany this process into the new with teaching, example and relationship.
• We support today's apostles in finding and taking their role and place in the body of Christ.

Jesus Christ is our first apostle. We read this in Hebrews chapter 3. Jesus then called twelve men to follow him, who became apostles. After Judas fell, he was replaced by Matthias, our fourteenth apostle. Then there were other apostles who were called after the ascension of Christ. The other apostles were Paul, Barnabas and James (Jesus' brother) and some Greek (non-Jewish) apostles Apollos, Epaphroditus, Andonicus, Junias, Silas and Timothy. There were also two other unnamed apostles. This makes a total of 25 confirmed apostles in the Holy Scriptures.

After these 25, there are other possible apostles in the Holy Scriptures. Here we look at Mark, Luke, Jude, Titus and the author of the letter to the Hebrews. Four of them wrote the Scriptures and this was the basis for the selection of the canon of the New Testament. The fifth (Titus) had a similar role and position to Timothy, who was an apostle. In addition, 1 Corinthians 15:7 speaks of "all the apostles", which leaves room for other apostles who are not named. There are 5 other named possible apostles known to us, as well as other unnamed possible apostles.

Here is a list of the apostles, with biblical passages from the New Testament.

• Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3:1)
• Simon Peter (Matthew 10:2)
• Andrew (Matthew 10:2)
• James, the son of Zebedee (Matthew 10:2)
• John (Matthew 10:2)
• Philip (Matthew 10:3)
• Bartholomew (Matthew 10:3)
• Thomas (Matthew 10:3)
• Matthew (Matthew 10:3)
• James, the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3)
• Thaddeus (Matthew 10:3), or Judas the son of James (Luke 6:16)
• Simon the Zealot (Matthew 10:4)
• Judas Iscariot (Matthew 10:4)
• Matthias (Acts 1:26)
• Paul (Galatians 1:1)
• Barnabas (1 Corinthians 9:5-6, Acts 14:4, 14)
• Andronicas (Romans 16:7)
• Junias (Romans 16:7)
• James, the brother of the Lord (Galatians 1:19)
• Silas (Silvanus) (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2:6)
• Timothy (1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2:6)
• Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25) - The word apostolos does not appear in most translations, but it does in the Greek, Strong Number 652, Apostolos.
• Apollos (1 Corinthians 4:6-9 & 1 Corinthians 3:22)
• First of 2 nameless apostles (2 Corinthians 8:23) - in many English versions it is messenger, but in Greek it is apostolos.
• Second the second unnamed apostle.

Possible other apostles

• Judas, the brother of Jesus, is seen as a possibility. He was regarded as an apostle by the early believers and church patriarchs.
• Mark - author of the Holy Scriptures.
• Luke. Some early church fathers considered them to be apostles because they had written the Holy Scriptures.
• The writer of the letter to the Hebrews could have been an apostle, as he wrote the Holy Scriptures.
• Titus. Similar in position and role to Timothy, who was an apostle.
• Possible other unnamed apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7)

Based on the 25 apostles confirmed in the Bible plus the 5 possible apostles mentioned, this results in a total number of 30, regardless of the fact that the Bible speaks of "all the apostles".

The Word of God is clear that the ekklēsia is to become ONE and we humbly acknowledge that it is not yet. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are all called to become very much like HIM and to reflect Jesus Christ in all HIS dimensions and facets. The global ekklēsia cannot be what it should be right now without building relationships, and that is an apostolic task. We as arche+ see an enormous and largely untapped need for apostles (1 Corinthians 12:27-30).

The fact that God has placed apostles in the body of Christ and gives them first place is of enormous importance. The ekklēsia therefore has a primary need for apostles and their ministry, and this must not be underestimated. Apostles are to be fathers to the ekklēsia. As an apostle, Paul was a father to those under his care, and it was from this standpoint that he wrote to them in 1 Corinthians 4:14-16.

The need for a father figure in the ekklēsia is great and palpable, especially among pastors and leaders who are generally sent "like lambs among wolves". Apostles offer more than just accountability and protection, but primarily a heart relationship, apostolic protection and care. There are numerous pastors who quit their ministry and suffer from burnout. You can be sure that this will drastically decrease when pastors find true fathers.

Apostles carry genuine authority from Christ. They have been given the right and responsibility to set things right. We see examples of this in the New Testament where Paul, James and others are able to work for the good of the whole body of Christ because of their authority. Paul in particular expresses a clear meekness in this, and a true apostle will also show true meekness. Examples of this authority and the transfer of this authority can be found in 2 Corinthians 2:8, 13:10 and also in Mark 3:15.

As long as the ekklēsia has no apostles and continues to exist within an institutional or organizational framework, there is no real authority. Authority then remains with committees, bylaws and legal documents. However, the restoration of the apostles brings with it authority and a great new vitality. The body of Christ will become mobile, responsive and vigilant. Churches will be more prayerful and powerful once they are connected to apostles.

Other reasons why apostles are needed:

• Apostles provide spiritual cover.
• Apostles empower believers for ministry (Ephesians 4:12).
• Apostles build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).
• Apostles bring the body of Christ to maturity (Ephesians 4:13).
• Apostles lead believers to unity and fellowship (Ephesians 4:13).
• Apostles teach and guide (Acts 2:42-43).
• Apostles form the government in the ekklēsia (2 Corinthians 13:10, Philemon 8-9, 2 Corinthians 10:8).
• Apostles appoint city-wide elderships in the ekklēsia (1 Timothy 5:17-20, Titus 1:5-6, Acts 14:23).

Paul gave us a multifaceted example of what apostles do. We as arche+ apostolic hub encourage everyone to imagine the early church without the apostles, and then to imagine today's church with apostles again.

Today's apostles have amenities at their disposal that their biblical counterparts did not have, such as technology, world travel and common languages. It is not church planting and traveling that determine apostolic giftedness. Anyone can travel and plant churches. Biblical as well as modern apostles walk with Christ, recognize the will of the Lord, are primarily ready to serve and willing to go where they are led by the Holy Spirit. For an apostle is a "messenger" (apostolos), an ambassador for Christ. Jesus Christ himself still commands his apostles and they listen to HIM.

Times, languages, clothing and technology have changed, but one thing has remained the same: the heart of God in the apostle himself. An apostle is meek, humble and obedient to Christ, he can't help it - it's part of his DNA. An apostle does everything out of love, he teaches the believers in love, exhorts in love, is the manifested love of God for people and is an example of how to love as well.

Apostles do a variety of things and have a variety of personality types and characteristics. Apart from their own "quirks", expressions and habits, what is the essence of an apostle? We as an apostolic hub do not derive this from the personality of apostles or from the outward appearance of an apostle's ministry, but from the character and traits of the people themselves. When we determine the characteristics of an apostle, it is not so much his abilities, talents, skills and what he "does" that we examine, but rather "who he is" and what kind of person he has become. We look inwards, at the nucleus in the apostle, at what has matured under the disciplinarian Jesus.

Apostles are prepared to suffer, to endure persecution. Jesus himself was a suffering servant (Isaiah 53) and an apostle. He is the model for all other apostles. Paul himself suffered and was indeed called by Christ to suffer much (Acts 9:16). All the original apostles suffered, and even though not every apostle will suffer to that extent, there is or should be a willingness to endure anything for Christ's sake. If this willingness is not present, the apostle is either not genuine or not yet fully formed under a spiritual father.

Meekness is the mark of an apostle. Jesus said that we should learn from him and be an example of gentleness and humility (Matthew 11:29). The apostle Paul said: "But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her children" (1 Thessalonians 2:19). The calling of an apostle demands that gentleness is a strong expression of his character. Christ, to whom all authority was given, became the least and became a servant and became meek. From this it can be deduced that apostles who have been given much have also become modest, meek, humble and primarily display a servant attitude.

Other properties of apostles:

• Servant of the Church of Christ
• Recipients of apostolic grace
• Great love
• A heart for discipline
• Humility
• Patience
• Trustworthiness
• Undivided loyalty to Jesus Christ
• From another mind

These qualities have nothing to do with how charismatic a person is, what great leadership qualities they have developed or whether they have a knack for big business. Anyone can be charismatic or have a knack for big things. God is looking for a certain amount of heart. Apostles are not born, they are called and then molded by suffering, obeying and following Christ regardless of the difficulties. Over the years, they become the people God expects them to be.

God looks for people with character, and of these he calls a few to be apostles. He then trains them over many years to become what he wants them to be. Jesus took his own 12 disciples on a three-year intensive boot camp fast-track and then backed this up with visual demonstrations of his resurrection and the day of Pentecost to properly prepare them for what they then manifested. For most apostles, this process takes longer, but again, it requires surrender and the work of the Spirit in their lives. Apostle Paul, even after a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, spent 14 years in the wilderness where he was molded by Christ into the apostle he was to become. From that moment on, he continued to grow, change and be changed.

If great office, success with money, business interests, charismatic leadership, prophetic gifts or great influence were the characteristics of an apostle, then many more people would be apostles. When the time came for Samuel to anoint a king for Israel from among the sons of Jesse, the Lord instructed him to ignore the seven handsome older brothers and choose David as king instead. God looked at the heart. This is also how God chooses apostles.

From a biblical perspective, it is not up to us humans to decide who can become an apostle. As an apostolic hub, we encounter many people in spiritual ministry who assume that certain things make someone an apostle. However, these things do not apply exclusively to apostles. Here are a few examples that we often encounter:

• Signs and wonders
• Being recognized by people as an apostle
• Being charismatic
• Plant churches or carry out extensive missionary work
• To be a founder, pioneer (company, school, political office, leader, etc.)
• Have an international service
• You have to have seen Jesus physically (personal encounter) to be an apostle

All of these assumed qualifications are not exclusive to apostles, for many people have performed signs and wonders, founded churches or companies, established international ministries, been charismatic, been called apostles and seen the Lord, but were not apostles. All these things are not real qualifications, but merely things that apostles do or that happen to them, but without proving the calling.

Is there a biblical list of qualifications for apostles?
The Bible contains lists of qualifications for elders (see Titus 1:5-9 or 1 Tim 3:1-7) and deacons (see 1 Tim 3:8), but there is no clear list for apostles in one place. There are qualifications for apostles, but they are not contained in one place in the Word of God. However, you can gather them up in Scripture and realize that they are primarily heart qualifications, i.e. relationships and how one is called. For example, elders were appointed by apostles. Paul wrote to Timothy and explained to him what requirements elders had to fulfill. This was part of Timothy's training under Paul. Here we see how Paul acted as a spiritual father to Timothy. This is a deeply biblical approach, which we already see in the Old Testament. The body of Christ suffers from the fact that those who are called to the five-fold ministry have too rarely grown up under a spiritual father. From our point of view, it is essential to mature under the mantle of spiritual parents in all matters, to learn and to show practical submission and accountability in everyday life. 

Apostles are called and appointed by Christ, but should not call themselves apostles, but should be recognized and tested by their deeds in a lived relationship with others. After their fruits have been clearly established, mature Christians automatically begin to recognize them as apostles and call them such. The character of an apostle, the fruit of his life and his dedication and love for Christ and the believers testify that his calling is true. The procedure for the selection and appointment of an apostle differs from that for elders and deacons.

Three basic qualifications
Mark 3:14-15 reads: "And he called the twelve, whom he also called apostles, to be with him, and that he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." This passage gives us three basic qualifications that an apostle has. Firstly, they are people who are close to Christ (have and maintain a close relationship with Jesus Christ), secondly, they have complete obedience (all-encompassing reverence for God) and are always ready to be "messengers", and thirdly, they have the authority to do the work of Christ. These are not exclusive qualities, because other believers can also fulfill these requirements.

Other qualifications that are required:

• Submission to Christ - they are not their own master (Philippians 2:5-8).
• Willingness to suffer for Christ (Colossians 1:24-29).
• Holiness,
• Sincerity,
• grace in their lives (2 Corinthians 1:12).

These qualities are closely related to and overlap significantly with the character of the apostle. Apostles are people who love with all their heart, who care for the whole body of Christ (not just their own interests), who have a heart for the poor, the widows and orphans, and who live a life of sacrifice.

Als Dienst arche+ apostolic hub begegnen wir immer wieder Menschen, die sich als Apostel fühlen, aber noch nicht ausgerüstet sind. Wir sehen Menschen, die berufen sind, aber missverstehen, wozu sie berufen sind. Wir haben gelernt die Motivation für jemanden, der behauptet, ein Apostel zu sein liebevoll und dennoch genau zu betrachten. Ein Apostel ist immer ein Diener für das gesamte Volk Gottes, und selbst wenn er nicht jedem dient, weil das schlichtweg nicht möglich ist, hat er dennoch immer ein Herz für das Große und Ganze, den Leib Christi.

Diejenigen, die Gott beruft, rüstet er auch aus (Befähigung mit Gaben). Diese Gaben dürfen dann in einem intensiven und langwierigen Prozess reifen. Es ist wie bei einem guten Wein, ein Werden und ein Wachstum über Jahre. D.h. auf eine Berufung folgt ein fortlaufender Lern- und Reifeprozess, der einem zu einem Apostel werden lässt und es ist der “Geschmack Christi” der zeigt, ob jemand ein wahrer Apostel ist.

Covering is much more than being protected (belonging, submitting and being accountable). Spiritual power flows under a true covering and it works because something Christ has put in place is at work. A spiritual covering is a spiritual force field that helps to bring good things in (blessing) and keep bad things out (protection). The life and power are provided by the anointings of Christ that flow directly or indirectly through the apostles.

The covering of Christ has been transferred to certain carriers (i.e. certain people). God has always done this and there are many examples in the Bible. Adam was a covering for all mankind and when he fell, we all fell. Abraham was a covering for us and because of his position as the father of faith, we are children of Abraham and inherit the blessing through him. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles and a father to us all. Through Paul we have inherited many good things and blessings. In the Bible there are many examples of men whose lives were a covering for others and through whom God was able to bless and protect His people. Our lives are influenced by those who are over us in the Lord, whether we like it or not. If we are to have the full measure of Christ's blessing, we must have Christ-appointed relationships to cover us.

In churches where there is an anointed leader and unity among the supporting leaders, there is always a measure of covering and protection. This kind of leadership, following Christ and working together, always provides a good place for people to grow in Christ, serve, be blessed and find what God has planned. However, there is a dimension of covering that is even higher than this - an apostolic covering. When we are directly or indirectly in relationship with the apostles God has placed over us, we experience that this brings covering, blessing, protection and a spiritual dynamic of good that we may not even understand. This apostolic covering is the covering of Christ himself.

The life of one person can affect many. The spiritual covering is a grace or anointing of a person, more specifically an apostle or leader appointed by Christ. In the beginning, Adam was the "father" of the human race. The consequences of his actions affected us all. His fall was tragic and meant that the decisions of one affected many. Adam was the shell for all of humanity, and it became flawed. The result of Adam's flawed covering was the coming of Christ as the last Adam. Because of his righteous life and obedience to Christ, the restoration of all good things became possible. The life of one affects many who put their trust in him. Christ becomes a covering for all who place our lives in his care.

• "Moses was called as a man to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, and as such he received the anointing to lead them. Moses gave them a covering, was a father to them and in Hebrews it says that all were "baptized into Moses". This may sound strange, but it emphasizes how God uses a man to protect his people.
• Abraham was the father of many nations, and through Christ he becomes our father. We inherit the blessings of God that were given to Abraham. This is a powerful example of the covering as an anointing and means of blessing and grace when we are under the covering. Here is an example of one man providing protection and blessing to many.

There are numerous examples in Scripture of God using a single person to protect his people. This is God's way of doing things. King David was the "shepherd of Israel". "Apostle Paul was the "apostle to the Gentiles" and a "father in Christ", while Peter was the "apostle to the Jews" and Christ said that Peter was a rock on which he would build the ekklēsia. Peter is a father to all of us who are Christians today.

The apostolic covering is actually the covering of Christ himself. It is something that God provides for his people, and he uses apostles to provide it. Through this covering, God's people are given grace and blessing, but also protection, accountability and belonging. To benefit from the covering of Christ, we must give our fathers' hearts. Giving your heart is a decision to serve and care for the leader. When you have given your heart to your spiritual father and are in a good relationship with him, a God-given dimension (gate) opens so that blessing can flow. This applies to all believers and not just spiritual ministries and spiritual servants.

God has appointed "fathers" throughout Scripture and history for various reasons and continues to do so. Abraham is the "father of many nations", Adam is the "father of the human race", Jacob is the "father of Israel", Paul is the "father of the Gentiles" and the Bible says that he became a "father to us all". God appoints certain called and anointed men and persons to the role of father. Apostles are also spiritual fathers in the body of Christ, because they are used for the role of the Father, and through this Christ wants to bless and strengthen the ekklēsia.

A father imparts identity, courage, security, discipline and blessing to a child. If the body of Christ lacks fathers (apostles), the body also lacks identity, blessing and many of the things Christ intended for it. Even Christ, despite his perfection, received words of encouragement and identity from his Father in heaven: "And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:17). We need apostolic fathers in the body of Christ who strengthen us, give us identity and are a source of blessing and protection, who help the church to become what it needs to become. This is true even for mature believers.

Ephesians 4:11-13 says that the role of the apostles is to mature the ekklēsia - something the fathers are responsible for. The following biblical description of apostolic ministry comes alive for us when we have a better understanding of the importance of the Father's role. "As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle with you, like a mother caring for her little children... For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live a life worthy of God..." (1 Thessalonians 2:6-7, 11-12).

The last words of the Old Testament are a warning. They say that the prophet Elijah will come to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers", otherwise a curse threatens. Fatherhood in the body of Christ removes a curse of any kind that weighs on the land. As apostles are restored to the body of Christ, we see the return of fatherhood and the essence of relational Christianity. As the heart returns to these relationships, the Kingdom will win a great victory. We were always meant to have fathers, and they are apostles.

The Bible shows us that God is a father to a son and also a son to a father. The nature of God is revealed to us in this dynamic relationship. Not surprisingly, the body of Christ also has this kind of father and son relationship. The Bible is full of examples and expressions of sonship. Once you notice them, you find them everywhere, as shown here: 

• "Truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, the Son also does." (John 5:19).
• "You have received the Spirit of sonship" (Romans 8:15).
• "Father, as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us..." (John 17:20).
• "You are no longer a slave, but a son" (Galatians 4:7).
• "I have become your father through the gospel" - Apostle Paul, (1 Corinthians 4:15).
• "To bring many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10).
• "This is my beloved Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17).
• "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, otherwise I will come and curse the land." (Malachi 4:5-6).
• "I urge you to follow me. That is why I am sending you Timothy, my son, whom I love." (1 Corinthians 4:16).
• "To Titus, my true son in our common faith" (Titus 1:4).

Many verses in which the word son occurs do not refer to being a son of God, but rather to being a son of other people who are not biologically related. The concept of sonship in Scripture refers not only to God our Father, but also to other "fathers" whom God has placed on earth for our benefit. While it is true that we are brothers of Christ and as such have been adopted as sons, the many references in which sons and "earthly" fathers are mentioned in relation to each other show that it is also about the here and now, and between people.

Sonship therefore refers not only to God, but also to the leaders (fathers) who stand over us in the Lord. A spiritual father is more than just a "godfather". A spiritual father is someone who cares for us, who gives us love, identity and spiritual covering, who prays for us and cares for our well-being. In turn, we love, honor, serve and care for spiritual leaders. We strive to facilitate the work of our spiritual fathers because we receive protection, grace and the blessing of Christ from them.

A spiritual father is someone God has placed in our lives for our spiritual well-being. We should submit to him, give him our hearts and serve and honor him. In return, God will bring us good things through them. They are a source of life for us through Christ. In this way, the example of the Father and the Son naturally comes alive and becomes real. God, our Father in heaven, had a Son, Jesus Christ, who is also God. God is therefore both a Son and a Father. And the body of Christ is to have the same function and form as God, because we are created in his image. This means that we too should have fathers and sons.

The body of Christ is made up of many parts, and although the majority are not apostles, all should be apostolic, that is God's intention. HIS heart's desire is for an apostolic life and character to emerge, become effective and visible. Ergo, apostolic characteristics are familiar to all believers and are manifested by them in all facets.

Psalm 32:8-9 says "Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding, but must be reined in with bridle and bit, otherwise they will not come to you." The word that is important here is "Mind" because that is what we must have according to the Scriptures. God is looking for a group of people on whom He can impose understanding, that is, an anointing by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2), and then they will have a heart and a mind to do the will of God. A group like this therefore represents a blueprint for an apostolic people.

We have two examples of this kind of people in the Bible. The first is the early church, which was "of one heart and one mind" (Acts 4:32) and the result of this apostolic DNA was staggering. The known world was turned upside down. The second example was in Israel during the time of King David, when "the hand of God was upon the people to give them unity of spirit, that they might carry out what the king and his officials had decreed, following the word of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 30:12).

The majority of believers have little understanding of the ways of the Lord, and the result of this is a lack of unity, love and power. When God gives a group of people the Spirit of understanding, they become one in heart and mind. This is the anointing that was poured out on the early church on the day of Pentecost. This anointing of understanding should rest on all believers and make us an apostolic people. It is grace that changes an individual, and in a similar way, grace or understanding will collectively change a group of people who are willing.

An apostolic people or an apostolic group is not just a group that has apostles, but a group that has certain characteristics, such as:

• Understanding of God's will and the desire to fulfill it
• Unity among believers - no competition and no rivalry
• Community - the willingness to work together and honor one another
• Appreciation for each other - believers like each other
• One heart and one mind
• Clothed with the authority of Christ
• Deference to authority
• Faith and fear of the Lord
• The willingness to take responsibility
• Prayer and the willingness to pray

And there are also some special apostolic qualities such as:

• The willingness to go - to be sent out at any time
• God shows them things - the direction in which they should go
• Willingness to suffer, patience in difficulties
• Undivided loyalty to Christ
• Surrender to Christ

The apostolic DNA of Christianity becomes visible in the walk with Christ, the true character of this DNA becomes real, tangible and personal for every believer. Every believer experiences the action of God as intimately and personally as Abraham and Paul did. Believers with apostolic DNA, walk in humility, are teachable and submissive. They honor leaders and are faithful in their actions in their relationships. They have pure motives and do not just act out of convenience or to get ahead. They are responsible, transparent, open and honest and love wholeheartedly. They lay down their lives for each other. They act as a community. They are a people who have rights, but do not cling to them.

The church has not yet become apostolic, but it is in the process of becoming so. Christ himself is restoring the apostles, so the ekklēsia will regain its true apostolic DNA and we will finally become mature and lack nothing. The ekklēsia needs a transformation so that it can manifest its purified / original DNA in the future to reveal the true character of Christ.

Regarding the apostles and the apostolic ministry, we as arche+ apostolic hub believe that Jesus Christ has appointed apostles in every generation and continues to appoint apostles today, just as he did for the ekklēsia of the first century. These apostles are called, equipped and commissioned to express the authority of Christ in the ekklēsia and to lead the ekklēsia. Apostles today have the same authority given to them by grace and which they exercise by grace as the first apostles, according to the counsel of the Old and New Testaments. The apostolic church of Jesus Christ is personal and relational, not institutional. Apostles exercise a personal ministry and a relational and spiritual authority. 

The authority of Jesus Christ rests on each Apostle personally through a holy anointing, the extent of which can vary depending on the anointing, but which is not conferred by an institutional ministry. As taught in the Bible, the ekklēsia of Jesus Christ is to recognize the apostolic office, receive the true apostles sent by Christ but reject the false ones, maintain a heart of submission to the spiritual authority of the apostles, and live in harmony with their biblical way of life and teaching. The organs of the Christian congregation do not have the task of controlling the apostolic ministry, but of serving it and thus serving Jesus Christ himself. Apostles are there to lead God's people into freedom and are not authoritarian or controlling, but authoritative (loving coupled with authority). The aim of apostolic ministry is to lead the faithful into fellowship and unity. A true apostle also subordinates himself to others, and this subordination is shown in the relationships in which the apostle lives.

The following list is not a confession of faith, nor is it comprehensive. When we speak here of apostolic doctrine, we do not mean denominational doctrine, but simply the life of the New Testament and what the Bible has to say.

• Jesus initially appointed 12 apostles.
• Jesus later appointed further apostles and continues to appoint them.
• The Word of God mentions 25 apostles, including Christ himself.
• Apostles are fivefold servants who have been called by Christ with very specific tasks to fulfill.
• Apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church and Christ is the cornerstone.
• Apostles help to build a common life - they teach the church how to love.
• Apostles are needed until the church is fully mature.
• To be an apostle, one must be called by Christ himself and go through times of testing and maturing.
• An apostle does not necessarily have to have seen Christ in the flesh or witnessed the resurrection.
• As a rule, apostles are men, but women can also be apostles, as the Bible does not explicitly exclude women. Here too, God is free to do what he wants.
• Apostles give God's people a spiritual covering - a covering of grace, an anointing.
• Apostles are the fathers of the people of God.
• Apostles are messengers and the people of God should also be apostolic.
• Apostles are human and can make mistakes.
• Sometimes false apostles appear and we have to learn to recognize them.
• In order to recognize a false apostle, we must know the true apostles.
• The hallmark of a true apostle is meekness.
• Apostles are not automatically church planters.
• Fame, wealth or charisma are not necessarily apostolic qualities that should be desired.
• Apostles strive to be servants.
• Apostles are familiar with suffering.