In the New Testament, we see the church being led by apostles and specifically teams of apostles and prophets.

January 14th, 2026

By: David Hoskins

Many agree with this premise and yet there is significant debate as to how apostolic teams work with the saints especially regarding the engagement of territorial assignments.  

The question we need to ask is, are leaders only assigned to the Saints or are they actually also assigned to the land?

Many people are building by placing the Saints within the box of apostolic networks, parachurch ministries, or even churches and ministries themselves.   This is not a bad or evil approach to developing the Saints however, I personally believe it is shortsighted as it does not address the end goal of transforming the Earth with the Glory of God.   We must focus our thinking upon how the many pieces of the body come together for the unlocking and advancement of the Kingdom of God within regions. 

Each of these building approaches, though noble will not bring about the unity of the faith that Ephesians chapter four is calling the body of Christ to enter into.   We must see beyond the trappings of our organizations if we are ever to come into our corporate identity in Christ.

When our building plans are laced with the competition factor then something is amiss.  We know that a kingdom divided against itself will never stand.  Simply stated, our present approaches to building the church and even the Kingdom are significantly futile, and impotent to accomplish the goal of unity in the faith with Christ Jesus as the head of His “Ekklesia”.

Ephesians 4:13 (NASB)

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Apostolic teams such as Paul and Barnabas, in their relation with the region of Antioch, were not called to build an organization or a ministry. They were called to build the living stones that were being fitly joined together into a spiritual house within Antioch.

1 Peter 2:4-5 (NASB)

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Regional elders and the apostolic teams which commissioned them were also called to bring the transformational power of the gospel to the land.  The earth is crying out for its full redemption.  

Romans 8:18-21 (NASB)

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

The early elders in the Body of Christ were commissioned within territory rather than a local assembly or a ministerial organization.  They were commissioned by apostles into the land.  That means something.  Possibly a missing ingredient as to how we do Kingdom.  The earth is waiting.  

Titus 1:4-5 (NASB)

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

The role of elders included the land and the living stones.  The land was a priority as it was their responsibility to see the culture of the kingdom modeled and established as a catalyst within the culture that existed.  Part of the qualification to be a leader is that they have a good reputation in the community.  

Territorial building is the new frontier for the body of Christ.  Very few leaders even process their building plans with territory in mind.  After all, what are we trying to add this leaven of the Kingdom into, if not the land?  

Matthew 13:33 (NASB)

33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”

Kingdom leaders must begin seeing things through a different schematic lens, with societal transformation in mind.  Building with living stones is very different than building a ministry or an organization as it requires a level of servitude that we are not accustomed to. Lording over one another is not optional in the Kingdom.  Regardless of how benevolent and kind the masters act.  It’s the system that must be updated with current revelation.  

In many ways, our denominational approaches and organizational approaches are actually counterproductive to the collective nature of the body of Christ, springing forth within regions.

If we remain tribal in our thinking, we will do so to our own harm.  We must press in to see the fullness of the tapestry that Holy Spirit desires to weave within territories.

Leaders must move toward the idea of being a holy nation of kings and priests unto our God.

We are stronger and better together.  It is the job of apostolic teams to move us toward that mark.  

We must move from a house, only mindset to a city mindset.  A kingdom mindset must arise for our distinctions to become strength connected with strength rather than the divisional trappings that separate us and destroy our potential.

We will never become a city on a hill that cannot be hidden until we start thinking about territory and how the living stones are to be connected and aligned within territory to see that holy city emerge.  

Matthew 5:14-16 (NASB)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Apostolic teams in the Bible were never about building a ministry unto themselves.  It was never about building a denomination or an organization.  

Their mission was to bring the fullness of Christ and His Kingdom to bear within territory through the saints.

Leaders are not called to be owners, they are called to be stewards.  They do not own the saints and they do not own the land.  Perspective is everything…

We are His “Ekklesia”, those called out to govern from a heavenly posture until earth begins to reflect and resemble the design of the Father “in earth as it is In heaven”.  

Pray this way:

Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.