The Way of The Master: Question and Answer
QUESTION
“How do you, as a five-fold ministry gift, connect with the right ministry partners in a new city while discerning and avoiding inauthentic ones?”
Context of the Question: This question arises from five-fold ministry leaders with a desire to align with God’s way of reaching the lost, discipling believers, and transforming cities to fulfill Christ’s vision in a way that meets His needs, not just our own.
RESPONSE
To connect meaningfully with the five-fold ministry in any city, we need to examine two foundational areas: 1. Perspective 2. Prospecting Approach. Perspective is how we see things, Prospecting is our pursuit and our approach to it.
How Perspective Shapes Prospecting
Your perspective determines the people you seek, the connections you prioritize, and the standards by which you evaluate relationships. Our interpretation of God’s calling is often filtered through personal experiences and assumptions, influencing how we pursue ministry.
Let’s examine three key perspectives:
- The Career Perspective
- For some, ministry is viewed as a personal pursuit for fulfillment, validation, influence, or financial success.
- Five-fold gifts are seen as tools for personal achievement, which can lead to selective partnerships that align with individual goals rather than Kingdom objectives.
- This perspective can be damaging, as it prioritizes self-interest over God’s work, using people as means to personal ends rather than treating them as souls to shepherd.
2. The Tradition-Based Perspective
- This approach shapes ministry through the lens of past experiences, denominational expectations, or church structures.
- Those with this view tend to seek connections that reflect their familiar patterns, possibly hindering adaptability and collaboration within the broader city vision.
- While this approach upholds consistency, it may miss out on the diversity needed to serve a city’s dynamic spiritual and cultural needs.
3. The Kingdom and City-Focused Perspective
- The most effective perspective sees ministry as partnering with Christ to serve His unique mission for the city.
- This approach recognizes five-fold gifts as catalysts for citywide transformation, going beyond personal or denominational agendas to serve the city’s people and meet its spiritual needs.
- Churches and organizations are then understood as strategic tools to accomplish Kingdom work, rather than ends in themselves.
With a city-focused perspective, we understand that our calling isn’t merely to plant churches or build ministries, but to disciple the people, systems, and culture of a city.
The True Mission: Discipling Nations
Our task is to bring entire people groups into alignment with Kingdom values and identity, challenging their beliefs and transforming their life patterns to reflect Christ’s reign. We are called to engage with and disciple the city’s systems—not merely to establish institutions but to change lives at the deepest level.
The Five-Fold Ministry’s Role in the City
Each five-fold ministry gift—evangelistic, pastoral, teaching, prophetic, and apostolic—brings distinct contributions to city transformation:
- Evangelistic Role – Inviting people into the lordship of Christ, initiating citizenship in His Kingdom
- Pastoral and Teaching Role – Caring for believers and guiding them in spiritual growth, relationships, and Kingdom-oriented living.
- Prophetic and Apostolic Role – Providing direction, ensuring alignment with God’s grand design for the city, and supporting the spiritual maturity of all believers.
Together, the five-fold ministry builds a Kingdom culture that influences every aspect of city life.
“With a Kingdom-focused perspective, we avoid superficial connections and instead foster partnerships that are grounded in God’s work. Establishing churches or ministries becomes a means to build a resource hub for city transformation, not a platform for personal gain.”
Entering a New City with a Kingdom Perspective
When stepping into a new city, aligning with God’s purpose begins with these questions:
- What is the Lord doing in this city?
- Where is He working, and who are His partners here?
- Where does He want to use my gifts?
- How can I join in His work?
This approach shifts the focus from self-interest to God’s Kingdom, guiding us to connect with people and opportunities that align with His vision for the city.
Practical Discernment in Finding True Partners
- Observe Character and Consistency – Genuine Kingdom leaders demonstrate a commitment to God’s vision through their actions. Look for fruit in their character, not just their words.
- Seek Local Insight – Connect with intercessors who deeply understand the city’s needs, spiritual challenges, and vision. These individuals often offer invaluable, grounded insights about the city’s spiritual landscape.
- Be Spiritually Discerning and Patient – Don’t assume that those with high visibility or prominence are necessarily aligned with God’s work. True spiritual influence often exists outside of the spotlight.
With a Kingdom-focused perspective, we avoid superficial connections and instead foster partnerships that are grounded in God’s work. Establishing churches or ministries becomes a means to build a resource hub for city transformation, not a platform for personal gain.
Through this city-minded, Kingdom-oriented approach, we can fulfill our true calling: to partner with Christ in bringing lasting change to our communities. By building a collaborative network that serves and impacts people for the Kingdom, we ensure that our work is genuinely aligned with Christ’s purpose.
Our ultimate goal is to see every individual, family, and community transformed by the Kingdom of God, building a thriving city-wide network of believers united in purpose and mission.
Welcome to The Way of the Master, a series designed to guide Christians in understanding their Kingdom responsibilities. We are called to live as followers of Christ, to build purposeful relationships, and to bring transformation to our cities through collaboration and shared mission.
Join these conversations—comment, ask questions, and actively participate in building our Master’s Kingdom.
Eugene Ajayi