The Five-Fold Effect

Introduction

Here’s an idea – What if there were a way to turn your business or organization into the most effective, powerful and successful organization of its kind, ever?

What if God has a plan for how things should operate in the marketplace and you can tap into it? What if the world already uses a poor imitation of this plan, having forgotten where it came from? What if we, and by “we” I mean “you,” apply the original plan in your church and to your life in the marketplace?

What if I stop asking these questions and start explaining how God’s plan, when applied with intentionality and understanding, can transform not only your organization, but also the world?

What’s the Plan? This seemingly revolutionary plan is based on the five-fold ministry gifts found in Ephesians 4:11-16. 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (NKJV)

We know this passage as God’s model for how the Church is to function. Within it are the keys to the most effective leadership, governance and organization of the Church universal and for individual churches. In a local church it looks like this: A body led by elders representing each of the five-fold gifts and under the authority of a leader with apostolic gifting. These leaders train and equip others to operate in these five and other gifts in order to work together perfectly, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that the church accomplishes its mission.

Not only are the original offices of apostle and prophet in operation today, but also the apostolic and prophetic gifts and functions are very much in operation, along with those of evangelist, pastor and teacher. We know this for many reasons, but for starters we have only to look at the language that says, “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” and “that we . . . may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ.” Since this clearly hasn’t happened fully yet, there is good reason to believe He hasn’t removed the gifts He provided to help bring it about.

All of these gifts, when exercised wisely together, greatly and supernaturally add to the ability of a church body to realize the fulfillment of God’s purposes for people’s lives and His purposes for that body. This is what I call “The Five-fold Effect.”

Figure I-1 is a simple graphic representation of the five-fold ministry model and the close relationships between each of its five elements and the church body or congregation. You will see this diagram again in Chapter 4 with variations of it presented and explained throughout the book as visual aids to the understanding of the concepts being discussed. For now, just get familiar with its overall look and shape, and keep it in mind as an aid in thinking about five-fold leadership.

But it’s not just for the Church. The five-fold ministry plan of leadership was given to the Church, but it is intended for the marketplace as well. That means it is for our everyday lives, activities and businesses. You and I have an opportunity today to apply it in our own spheres of influence and thereby enjoy The Five-fold Effect in our lives. Furthermore, I believe this has been God’s plan all along, from the Beginning.

That’s what this book is about. What The Five-fold Effect is, how it works, and how to apply its principles to your life and your business, which is part of your marketplace ministry.