It is important to understand that in the change that Jesus is bringing to His Church we will see an apostolic presence in each and every church that He is building. This does not mean each local church will have a resident apostle as there are simply not yet that many trained and released. However, each will have an "apostolic presence" where apostles have influence and input by remaining in good relationships with the elders that are in place.

Failing to have an "apostolic presence" means the local church will very quickly lose a missional presence and thus missions focus and will slide back into maintenance mode - with pastoral care as the main emphasis. The focus to send the saints to seek and save the lost and make disciples (missional) will quickly cease and shift to meeting the needs of those already attending. Missional will become maintenance.

An apostle is foundational to the life of the local church. Not just the teachings of the apostle or the apostolic doctrines (Acts 2:42) but the active involvement of an apostle in the life and leadership of the church. His presence is foundational to the life of God being released and sustained in the local assembly. He does not have to be - and usually cannot be - present at all times because an apostle is, by nature and calling, a "sent one" and so will need to travel to fulfill His calling and resulting ministry.

This means that in the Church Jesus is building each local church will need to be in relationship with an apostle. It can be a continuing relationship with the founding father of the work who continues to relate to the elders he put into place and who now lead the church. Or, if there was not a founding father or apostle, an apostle that the local elders have built a relationship with can be invited to be their apostle and thus give apostolic oversight and leadership to the local church. In either way an apostle needs to be involved in the life of the leadership and the local church.

Remember, the Bible states that the Church is build upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Here the meaning of the verse in the Greek is that there is really only one foundation who is Jesus Christ and He is the "bedrock upon which the apostles and prophets build." So, Jesus is the one true foundation as Paul wrote (1 Corinthians 3:11) but apostles and prophets build upon that sub-foundation the actual visible foundation (1 Corinthians 3:10).

Change is inevitable and is on the horizon because Jesus is shaking His Church to remove all manmade structures and programs so that only the true essence of His Church will remain. He is letting us know what He expects us to do and change and empowering us to do what He asks us to do. It is a great time to be part of His Church in the world today.