APEST and Church Planting Teams

When someone asks me about how church planters should think about APEST and teams, I usually start with this simple progression:

1. The planter needs to understand their own gifts in light of APEST, because it will influence what they focus on. (i.e. if Teacher they often move quickly to the Sunday gathering so they can teach, if Shepherd they will lean towards the gathering community, etc.)

2. The planter needs to understand the make-up of their planting team and recognize what APEST gifts may be missing. When planters think of teams, they usually think of ministry "categories" like worship leader, youth pastor, children's director, etc. However, I suggest they should think of a fully-functioning APEST team, which will mean they need to identify and activate all five callings.

3. The planter will need to determine how each gift will have equal input into the mission and ministry of the church plant? How will they listen well to the other gifts?

4. The team will then need to determine how to ensure the equipping of the saints? How will the church encourage and empower those with the gift of teaching to equip other teachers? How will those who have an apostolic calling fan the flames of other “sent ones”? How will the gifted evangelist equip others who have the evangelistic calling?

5. Finally, how will they measure "success" from an APEST perspective? How can APEST become the new (and more comprehensive) marks of the church?