Dear saints, and the apostles that God is raising among you, and the many who have received the spirit of adoption to become sons, walking in the unlimited grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Father. To those of like faith who are contending earnestly for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to you in the evening of returning to Brisbane after 15 days of awesome fellowship and ministry in Kenya.

I left for Kenya in the wake of an apostolic/prophetic gathering at SHILOH on Thursday 12^th to Sunday 15^th January. This gathering was unique! We received seven different speakers who all brought a powerful presentation of ‘present truth’. The Holy Spirit was very near and active among us. Our humble worship, often without musical accompaniment, took us deeply into the Lord and the administration of the gifts of the Holy Spirit was powerful [messages avail. VCD & CD].

 

My purpose in going to Kenya was to visit the brethren we already relate to and to encourage them. Also I went to establish an apostolic council in Kenya. An apostolic council is to provide oversight and leadership for ministers, ministries and fellowships who want to be part of the apostolic church as patterned in the Scripture and that is emerging everywhere today. Such a council would include leaders of various apostolic companies and apostolic and prophetic bodies.

 

We believe God is raising up the apostolic ministry so that the church will be reformed to the pattern of Scripture – the apostolic church. At some point in the near future there will be a great number of saints, ministers, and whole fellowships led by their ministers joining with the apostolic faith which is “the faith once and for all delivered to the saints” Jude 3. In Kenya the move to the apostolic is much more advanced than here in Australia or in any other nation as far as we know. The Kenyan church is leading the way in the apostolic/prophetic restoration and reformation of the church of Jesus Christ. A number of apostles have been raised and released to do the work of the ministry: leading groups of disciples who are diligently receiving the teaching of the word; training disciples in areas of ministry so that a new generation is arising - saints taught in the word and ready to function in teaching, pastoral work, to serve as deacons, in prophetic worship, and in evangelism. The ministry of helps is beginning to function powerfully among the saints in the apostolic companies that are forming.

 

In the present time various apostles and prophets have been raised and companies have gathered around them or churches have been planted by an apostolic leader or fellowships and their ministers have come into relationship with an apostolic or prophetic leader. However these leaders do not have any place or forum where they can relate as peers and submit in a mutual relationship and be accountable for their doctrine and practice. Because of this when a problem arises, a leader can act unilaterally and be right out of order, causing unnecessary division and damage. Another dangerous development that can easily take place when there is no apostolic council, is for an individual leader to become overly influential through the proclamation of his particular interpretation of apostolic teaching and ministry [obviously the same applies to a prophet or a teacher]. Attention is thereby drawn to the leader and much emphasis is then placed on that leader’s opinion and judgment of all things. This is a mis-development that detracts from the centrality of Jesus and the pre-eminence that must be given to Him in all things. Such a development leads to the particular ministry leader and those who adhere to his teaching and practice becoming a delineated movement, no longer being a genuine apostolic ministry to the body of Christ.

 

We understand that those who would become part of such a council would be in full agreement with, and part of, the apostolic and prophetic restoration that Christ is bringing to pass in His church; that each leader would accept and honour the ministry calling and appointment upon the other members of the council; that each leader would accept the oversight of the council and be willing to submit and be accountable to the other members in issues of faith and practice. Let us be clear: the proposal of this council being formed is not the beginnings of a new movement or denomination or network, but a realistic outworking of Scriptural practice.

 

In Kenya until now there has been a dearth of prophetic ministry. The normal church service has become so programmed that they do not need the Holy Spirit. However as we made time for the Holy Spirit, giving some instruction about waiting on Him, the gift of prophecy and other gifts were stirred up and released. As well a dear sister from Australia, Maree Horton, joined with me in ministry. Maree is experienced in the prophetic ministry. She came to the meetings early in the trip, received the spirit of sonship and embraced the apostolic fully. Then God was able to bring through Maree powerful prophetic ministry in all the meetings where she ministered with me. Because God was making a way for the prophetic, others began to function in the prophetic and suddenly we had powerful words, visions and dreams being shared and direction was given in the meetings direct from the Holy Spirit. As well local ministers were identified as being gifted in prophetic ministry. Now the apostles in Kenya are going forward in the company of prophets to do the work of ministry.

 

In the meetings and gatherings a number of new folk came to be taught the apostolic revelation. Many of their hearts had been prepared to embrace the message of sonship, receiving the spirit of adoption, knowing that God had changed their lives forever. One particular brother, who had been functioning as a bishop in Nairobi, came to see me in the house the first day. For some years he had been seeking to grow in apostolic understanding and ministry but had been on his own. Just prior to my coming he met apostle Meshack and was surprised to find apostles functioning in his own city. After two to three hours of sharing together in the word this dear brother received the spirit of sonship and embraced the apostolic call on his life. He was part of the next four days of meetings in Nairobi and arranged for me to meet with pastors in his area when I returned from West Kenya. One week later he had retired from being a bishop and withdrew from the structured church where he had been serving to pursue the apostolic call and do the ministry work of the apostle. The pastors he subsequently gathered [approx. 15] are all keen to be taught the apostles doctrine.

 

It is an amazing ‘Scriptural’ experience to have one person come to meet me and hear me teach the word of God and then go and find a friend in ministry and bring them. This happened a number of times even as in the Scripture, Andrew got Peter, and Philip told Nathanael, Jn.1:41-45. A number of senior ministers have joined the apostolic ministry in Kenya. Many are having powerful life-changing experiences as they come to receive “grace and apostleship” Rom.1:5.

 

Truly as the Scripture says “Jesus is retained in heaven until the times of restoration of all things” Acts 3:21.

Truly “the spirit and power of Elijah” Lu.1:17 has come again as the prophet said, Mal.4:5, and “will restore all things” Matt.17:11. We are blessed and honoured by God to be living in such days of restoration. That which we read in the Scriptures is truly coming to pass in our experience as we minister locally in Australia and are privileged to go to the nations. The Lord is quickening His work in the last days and many are entering in to a greater fullness in the kingdom of God. Many are turning away from ‘church doctrine and church practice’ and are seeking for the reality of the kingdom of God in their experience in Christ here on the earth now. God’s unlimited grace is available to all! God is pouring out His Spirit afresh, revealing to His church that it is time to ‘come home to the Father’s house’. Like the prodigal son in Lu.15 it is time to return to the Father’s house. Even though the son thought he was returning to be a servant, the father knew his son’s heart had changed and he could now entrust a much greater, that is, a spiritual, inheritance to him. So the father commanded that “the best robe be brought and put on him, a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet” Lu.15:22. The robe is the Father’s covering given to us in Christ; the ring is the Father’s authority – “in My name”; and the sandals firstly distinguish a son from a slave and secondly enable the son to walk in the Father’s inheritance. The Father honoured the son by ordering the fatted calf to be killed!

Paul Galligan.

CALENDAR

OVERSEAS

Feb. 5^th – 20^th Jean & Bruce Manning in Myanmar. We have received emails from Jean and the ministry is going well. Last week Jean taught in Reaching the World Bible College for three days and then graduated many students on Saturday. RMA is linked with this college and Paul was involved in the graduation in 2005.

Feb. 20^th – Mar. 19^th Jean & Bruce Manning in India

 

LOCAL

Feb. 17^th Pastors Peter & Lezette and team are travelling to the Tamworth house

               church, then on to Dorrigo, and coming home via the coast road.

Feb. 17^th Friday 7 – 10pm Gospel outreach night at SHILOH (including street

                                             witnessing)

Feb. 19^th Sunday 6pm at home of Marion Relf, contact Eleanor Russell on 41685426

Feb. 24^th Friday – Pastors and leaders at SHILOH, 9.30 – 2pm, lunch included

Feb. 24^th Friday evening – fellowship meal at SHILOH, 6.30pm, all invited

Feb. 25^th Saturday – Training Day at SHILOH – 10am for morning tea,

                                    sessions 10.30 – 5pm

Mar. 3^rd Friday 7-9pm - How to minister healing! Rev Jim Hosie

Mar. 10^th Friday 7-9pm - Deliverance – how to cast out devils. Rev Jim Hosie

Northern trip to visit house churches, early March; dates to be confirmed.

                        Paul and team.

 

 

SHILOH INTERNATIONAL APOSTOLIC SCHOOL OF MINISTRY – April 12^th to June 17^th this school is open to all. You are welcome to enrol for the whole school and be trained in ministry or to visit the school for a day or a few days at any time. We are expecting up to 25 International ministers. Right now we are seeking the Lord for the granting of visas as many of the applicants are now applying and it is not straightforward. Praise the Lord one visa for a Nigerian brother has been granted but at least 8 more are currently awaiting answers from the respective embassies.

 

EASTER APOSTOLIC/PROPHET CONVENTION – April 13^th to 15^th speakers include Samuel January, a prophetic minister from South Africa. Samuel has ministered in churches in the Brisbane area and has an international ministry.

 

June 10^th to 12^th Apostolic/Prophetic Conference at SHILOH as a highlight for the International Delegates at the School. Leading ministers who will be in the school will be ministering.

 

SHILOH mid-year Apostolic Training School – June 19^th to July 1^st this two-week school will include the International Delegates. This school will be conducted as a ‘pattern’ training school to demonstrate to international leaders how to conduct short-term training.

 

Ph. 46130633     email: rma@revivalministries.org.au