For a number of years now I have been shining a spotlight on what Roland Allen called ‘The Way of Christ and His Apostles”. In other words, the ministry model that emerges from a fresh study of the New Testament church. By a fresh study, I mean doing your best to set aside the ministry models and traditions we’ve come from and limit your sight to the scriptures themselves and knowledge of the historical context in which the NT was written. The ministry model that emerges from a fresh study of Acts and the Epistles differs on many points from the typical ministry models of today which are heavily influenced by Western institutionalism and culture. The contrast is strong enough that sometimes people give me confused or concerned looks when I point them out! However, the model that emerges in the pages of Acts and reinforced by the New Testament letters contains timeless principles that are relevant in any era. As I consider the challe...