The people of God must be empowered to lead others. This empowerment comes through discipleship and mentoring, which allows laity to assume roles of leadership and ministry. Discipleship and mentoring is based upon the early church’s inclusion of laity as those who ministered within their own home as a church (Acts 12:12, Romans 16:5, 1 Cor. 16:19) and who had received certain gifting (1 Cor. 12:8-12, 25-27). These gifts are given to everyone in different measure, for the perfecting, working and edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Within West Phoenix Apostolic Church (WPAC), ordained ministry is held in high regard and as such, young and old, male and female laity is limited from most hierarchy positions of leadership and ministry. This results in gaps that widen the separation between laity and ministry and impact the mission and building of community. This writer envisions a new ecclesiological model at WPAC where space and opportunity are created for laity to develop their individual gifting and calling through discipleship and mentoring.
