So the apostle Peter had a choice--behind him were the world's only faithful Christians; before him stood Jesus saying, “Come;” around him on every side was a storm. He had one foot in the water and one foot in the ship trying to make a huge decision. 
 

Right now, the Apostolic movement is similar to Peter. You can see it in the usual and unusual places, like the:

• UPC's kerfuffle over TV advertising and service broadcasts, resulting in the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship apparently breaking off on its own.
• Odd, ricocheting criticisms over North American Youth Congress 2007.
• The low-level, constant war over praise choruses and hymns.

But they're all just symptoms of an inner crisis--it's one of identity. Most of our movement is wrestling with “What does it mean to be an Apostolic in the 21^st Century?” 
 

We know what our distinctives are--the Bible as ultimate source of Truth, One God, Holy Ghost infilling, water baptism, holiness standards--but applying them to a new century has us shuffling about, looking at our feet, because the solution isn't more rallies. Other components are necessary for a thriving worldwide Pentecost. Most of us haven't figured out what that is. 
 

Not a Time for Pessimism

I'm quite optimistic about our present state actually. I see debate as healthy and a reexamination of the necessary core values being essential for our continued success. 
 

As executive editor of this weekly web zine, I am often blessed with a view of the big picture--articles and comments unexpectedly jump into my email box from total strangers who want to share their stories. (We just covered the 85 year-old female pastor, though I'm still waiting on the one from a gay ex-Apostolic, and the Apostolic administering justice in Rwanda.) 
 

That said, my experience seems to be indicative of many more that are blossoming around the world. In 1999, a small group of foolhardy Apostolics started 90&9, publishing articles and covering cultural news (both religious and otherwise) that reflected our specific viewpoint of the world. We expected web competition from Apostolics the world over, or at least content rich official sites commenting on the world at large. Perhaps I've overlooked something, but at this point there's almost none. We kept on doing what we're doing. 
 

Then a funny thing happened--while nearly everyone starting going to the web for news, when it comes to Apostolic-related news, all they can often find is 90&9 engaging the larger culture . So guess who gets quoted on the web as if we were a “spokesman for the Apostolic movement?” Yep, ninetyandnine, where none of us are official anythings.   
 

So when the world wonders what Apostolics think of the Borat embarrassment, there we are, sharing our thoughts. When there's worldwide attention focused on Mel Gibson's Passion, and one of our pastors puts “The Jews Killed Jesus” on his church sign, we publish the pastor's explanation. When hurt and/or bitter ex-Apostolics congregate on other sites, it's our articles that tell them what's going on today. 
 

We just pursued our specific talents as earnest believers serving a holy God.  
 

Apostolic History, Apostolic Future

I see others like us, mostly on the fringes, defining Apostolic identity to society today. After all, it is always the periphery where the most interesting events occur. It is the small conferences with the unusual titles where the future is happening now. 
 

This is who is defining our Apostolic Identity in the 21^st Century today: 
 

• In restricted countries where missionaries are not allowed, it is the undercover believers who pose as English Language instructors to students or “Corporate Missionaries” in workplaces.

• On YouTube, it's CLC's “I'm a Pentecostal” videos, which has over 237,000 visits as of January 21, 2008.

• In Vienna, IL it's the UPC church that got their entire town involved in raising $22,000 for Sheaves for Christ because it helped get entered into the Guinness Book of World Records by creating “The World's Longest Line of Bank Notes.”

• On ABC TV, it was a Pentecostal family on a Wife Swap episode in February, 2007 that reached almost 9 million people. Then it reran over the Summer to millions more.

• In Charlotte, NC it was Project 2239 where 1,300 Apostolics fed the hungry and cleaned up the parks during Youth Congress.

• In Florida, it's the Soul Winner's Boot Camp--which I understand is going national soon.

• In Hollywood, it's Eric Reinhold, a set designer on CSI: New York who's also a Holy Ghost-filled Apostolic.

• In the big casinos of Reno, it's the converted singer who is booked there to sing the blues--and some “one God Apostolic” songs that are featured on his latest Grammy-award-winning CD.

• Several churches around the nation have used the “Azusa Street” drama with soul-winning results.

• There are Apostolics creating music videos and working on a short feature film they hope to enter into film festivals.

What all of these people have in common is:

• They're all pursuing their individual talents in non-traditional forums for the glory of God.
• They're almost all doing it without Apostolic peer-support.
• They're all working beneath a caring, wise pastor (but not necessarily a church) to grow the kingdom while utilizing their individual talents.

Did I mention I was optimistic? 
 

Birthing Creative Missionaries

The change--indeed the excitement--is in our operating paradigm. The church is no longer a hospital building (where everyone must convene to save and heal), but an army, where medics get their instructions at base (the church), go to work in the field, then keep advancing forward for our king, while returning to base for updates. 
 

A hospital is a defensive fortress where trouble is taken to be dealt with by the trained, often expert, professionals in a standard procedure. An army is a dispersed force that is offensive in nature. It is given a mission, support, and a timetable, then goes about conquering the enemy using a variety of tactics depending on the circumstance. These paradigms are opposites in mission and mentality. 
 

Someday, Apostolic history will conclude that:  
 

• The 20^th Century's Apostolic identity centered around our doctrinal beliefs as defined by preachers and singers, most often in church services.

• The 21^st Century's Apostolic identity will center around our doctrinal beliefs as defined by our creative missionaries. By creative missionaries I mean those Apostolics who will follow their individual imaginative callings outside the church building--be they writer, filmmaker, or theologian--while remaining under a wise pastor and maintaining spiritual accountability partners.

It's the army mentality at home and work, in symposiums, on the set, in the studio or the study, on the streets and the internet. 
 

A Caveat

New tactics do not automatically repudiate the old. History is replete with examples of one movement or leader effectively guiding an empire or organization over a period of time, only to have completely different tactics be implemented by the next generation or leader to great success. To name just one, the Roman Emperor Trajan took the Roman Empire to its furthest extent expanding it over enormous tracts of land. Yet upon his death, the Emperor Hadrian immediately began pealing the borders back to their traditional lines. One was a military commander, the other a tireless statesman, both were considered great.  
 

Facts From the Future

In the 21^st Century, I can see these necessary characteristics in the Apostolic movement: 
 

1. Almost all these successful ministries will not be Church-centric

A church building is essential, but “everything being essential only at a church” is 20^th Century thinking.  I realize this makes many believers uncomfortable (it does me in some areas), but it doesn't change its truth.  
 

Under the army mindset, church is military headquarters to train and send out soldiers, bring back the wounded or spiritual dead, revive them, and send them back out again. 
 

2. There must be a blossoming of Pioneers

I see too many 20somethings moping around wondering why the district or General Youth Division or local church doesn't have a ministry for them. You need to start looking through the eyes of a pioneer--instead of a follower--and create that ministry yourself!  
 

Nobody's stopping you from becoming a creative missionary. There is more technology and tools for preaching and teaching and reaching than ever before. If you can't find them, make them yourself. 
 

It's interesting to note that one definition of pioneer is “Apostle.” An apostle moves forward into uncharted territories (beneath a wise pastor and with spiritual accountability partners), so others can follow you as you follow Christ. 
 

3. 21^st Century Revival will include a vibrant social component:

This isn't the death-knell of coliseum crusades, but if we're an army, we'll have to be out with the sinners, not always dragging them into our surroundings. The easiest way to win them is when they trust you. They'll trust you when you're around them a lot--at college and the workplace, on PTA boards and scout leadership meetings and volunteer committees for good causes--and they can see the difference within you. 
 

Likewise, the growing urgency within teens and 20somethings for creating international social change means Christians are uniquely suited to battle sin at home and AIDs, debt relief, and child soldiers abroad. We believe in justice, reaching the poor, and changing lives in the name of Christ.  
 

Increasingly we are given chances to exhibit our love for others near and far. 
 

Both prongs of this strategy mean less time at church building-centric ministries, but more time being salt and light with unbelievers who should end up attending our churches. 
 

4. The Gifts of the Spirit will have to be in full operation.

Green Berets and Navy Seals go out in teams, often breaking into partnerships afterwards each with a specialty, but all with a familiarity with the other's specialty just in case an emergency separates them. This doesn't just mean the spooky spiritual gifts I Corinthians 12-14, but those practical gifts found in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4. 
 

Paul told us to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31) through love. Working with a partner (Peter and John anyone?) within a larger team (Jesus sent forth the 12 and the 70; see Luke 10) is guaranteed to include the Master's presence (Matthew 18:20). 
 

5. It means isolation will be our biggest enemy on the field of battle.

   Isolation is the great danger in this phase of the 21^st Century.