“School of Apostles” Instructor: Dr. Ché Ahn December 1-4, 2013
It was an honor to have been invited by Dr. Ché Ahn to attend WLI’s 4th annual School of Apostles. In 1984 Ché and I were classmates during our stay at Fuller Theological Seminary. It was my Greek professor who was attending Ché Ahn’s church that first invited me to attend ALCC (Abundant Life Community Center). I remember my professor saying, “I prefer that my senior pastor be well versed with the use of his Greek in the preparation of their sermons.” Since back then my wife and I have been close friends of the Ahn’s now for almost thirty years. We spent a great deal of time with them both on and off ministry which included education of our children. As parents we both shared in the homeschooling of our children as well as many family outings.
In 1984, the church planting team (People of Destiny) that had travelled from the east coast along with Lou Engle, his wife Therese and their family had just moved from Maryland. God had given Ché a dream and in the dream a black person was calling him to come to LA for revival and a great harvest that was coming to the LA area. My wife and I joined the church later as we came on staff. We were honored to have served for close to six years. It was during those times that our relationship solidified. This week we were able to reconnect with them once again.
Here is a list of some of SOA topics that mostly ministered to us:
1- Apostolic Ministry 2- Kingdom of God 3- The Father Heart of God 4- Our Identity in Christ 5- Loving Others and Being Christ-like 6- How you Can Have a Great Marriage 7- The Great Commission – Revival & Reformation 8- The 7 Mountain Mandate 9- How you Can Fulfill Your Destiny 10- Prophetic Ministry
In the next three to four pages I will share briefly on a few thoughts and reflect on how they ministered to my wife and I at SOA.
Apostolic Ministry
Most of the current church leaders when they attended seminary or bible school are not taught the idea that today there can be contemporary apostles. While at Fuller, I know I was not. Instead, we were taught that the original 12 apostles were a one-time event that was completed by the time of their deaths, and that once the scriptures were written there was no need for apostles. So I graduated from seminary assuming that apostles did not continue long after the first hundred years or so of the Church.
As it turns out apostles have been present in the Church throughout its history (Martin of Tours, Benedict of Nursia, John Wycliff, John Knox, John Wesley, Martin Luther, William Carey, Hudson Taylor, D.L. Moody to name a few). We are now living in the midst of one of the most radical change that’s happening within the structure (church polity or government) of the church. As Dr. C. Peter Wagner has stated we are now in the “Second Apostolic Age.” Wagner makes the following statement;
“The Second Apostolic Age is a phenomenon of the twenty-first century. My studies indicate that it began around the year 2001. The First Apostolic Age lasted for another 200 years after the first of the New Testament apostles concluded their ministry.”[1]
This phenomenon is bringing reformation to our traditional denominational church structures. It is has introduced a new “wine skin” to the Church. It is called the “New Apostolic Reformation,” a term coined by Wagner. Here is what he has to say about NAR;
“My term for the new wineskin that God has provided for those churches is the “New Apostolic Reformation.” It is a “reformation” because we are currently witnessing the most radical change in the way of “doing church” since the Protestant Reformation. It is “apostolic” because the recognition of the gift and office of apostle is the most radical of a whole list of changes from the old wineskin. And it is “new” to distinguish it from several older traditional church groups that have incorporated the term “apostolic” into their official name.”[2]
Dr. Ché Ahn is the Apostle of this movement. It was an honor to be able to spend time with him as well as other leaders from around the globe from countries such as China, Korea, Australia, Britain and Latin America who have been aligned with HIM. Ché is senior pastor of Hrock and HIM founder as well as chancellor of WLI. Harvest International Ministry was birthed by God during the late 1990’s, as the great revival began to flow out from Canada to around the world. It was during this time that many connected with HIM accepting its president, Ché Ahn as their apostolic covering. Together, they share resources, teaching, ministers and help with support, training and church planting. They are “a network of networks reaching the world.” This movement is a good example of the NAR wineskin where the “gifting” and anointing of the apostle is recognized and is entrusted with the authority to provide direction and leadership. Altogether, attending SOA was an opportunity as well to meet with other leaders from around the world and to see how this movement had been growing to now more than 5,000 churches in 30 nations.
A Time of Impartation and Activation
We have been friends with the Ahn’s since 1989. In 1995 revival began to be poured out during their times of protracted meetings eventually birthing Harvest Rock Church. It was nearly 20 years ago we joined our hearts again and made a covenant to see revival in our generation. During the conference many prophetic words were confirming our new season of ministry. This week as we were being equipped in the School of Apostles, they were recognizing our relationship with HIM as “emerging apostles.” It was a time of impartation and activation. A new season is emerging for my wife and I. It was confirming our apostolic work in Mexico City as well as our calling to reach the Hispanic people in LA and other parts of California. This is a transitional time for us after 35 years of ministry, an end to our season of rest (one-year sabbatical) and the beginning (activation) of a “new season”.
Breaking the spirit of poverty
Perhaps the most powerful time for us came on the last day of SOA. They prayed and prophesied over us. Below I have added the letter I sent to Ché.
“Testimony: The Power of apostolic decrees (breaking the spirit of poverty).” Sunday, January 19, 2014 Dear Apostle Ché Ahn
Greetings!
I know that you have just started a series on “The Power of Decrees” or “The Ten Decrees of Blessing.” Today, Paula and I were watching you on “live feed” as we do every Sunday. As part of the HIM family, we welcome your prayers and apostolic decrees. We are hoping that during this series you include one related to finances and breaking the power of poverty.
I am writing today to give you a brief testimony on the power of apostolic decrees. God has so blessed us spiritually and financially! Thank you and Sue for receiving us during our sabbatical time and for being grace and loving spiritual parents during our time of restoration! We are learning what it means to start over, “low and slow.”
As you may recall, at the last SOA Paula and I attended in December toward the end of our time with you, you prayed for us and made an apostolic decree to break the “spirit of poverty”. We were instructed to give an offering to the ministry. In addition my wife and I made a faith commitment to give regularly (monthly) to HIM a specific amount.
Coming back home from SOA, Paula and I started to read your book, “The Grace of Giving, Unleashing the Power of a Generous Heart.” Thank you for blessing us so generously with the books. In reading your book I found the prayer you prayed over us and wrote it down (I also translated I it in Spanish to give it to some of my friends). I believe that that is one of the prophetic words for 2014 and a sign that God is beginning to transfer the “wealth of the sinner” back to the church. He is positioning his ecclesia for the coming reformation.
I entered the prayer on the first day of January 2014 on my day-timer and believed by faith on the power of apostolic decree;
“Heavenly Father, all the silver is yours and all the gold is yours. My heart is yours also. I give you my whole heart, all that I have and all that I am. Jesus, you are the LORD of my life, and by your grace I will follow you and obey you. In the name of JESUS, I repent of and renounce every stronghold of Mammon and the spirit of poverty in my life. JESUS, I make you my LORD and Savior. Keep my heart pure for your glory. In JESUS’ name. AMEN.” [3]
As you know I have gone back to my marketplace ministry as a healthcare consultant. I get a paycheck on a bi-weekly basis. At the end of the first pay-period of 2014, Paula and I were rejoicing in the Lord when we noticed that I had gotten an unexpected $500 increase in pay! Since I get paid on a bi-weekly basis that is a $1000 increase in pay monthly or an additionally $12,000 annually!
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jn. 2).
Paula and I just wanted to thank you for praying and breaking the spirit of poverty over our lives!
Please be encouraged, God is answering the prayers of his righteous servant. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5: 16).
Finally, thank you for your friendship (in 2014 now at 30 years), apostolic mentorship and spiritual covering.
We hope that as you continue with the series on “The Power of Decrees,” that many would be blessed in accordance with Ephesians 1: 17-21.
Paula and I look forward to seeing you and Sue later this month at the “Prophetic Voice Conference: Increasing Your Ability to Hear and See What the Father is Doing.”
Lords blessings to you (Sue)
Dan Tovar WLI Student In partial fulfillment for diploma in Doctor of Practical Ministry Fresno, California January 19, 2014
[1] C. Peter Wagner, Apostles Today: Biblical Government for Biblical Power (Ventura,CA: Regal Books, 2006), p. 6. [2] Ibid, p. 9. [3] Ché Ahn, The Grace of Giving: Unleashing the Power of a Generous Heart (Ventura, CA: Regal Books 2013), p. 181.