THE KINGDOM OF GOD: The Kingdom of God is the rule of God presented by Jesus when He announced it and deposited it into the hearts and lives of those who put their faith in Him. After Pentecost it was expanded through the Church and is now being extended into society, influencing every sphere of culture in the nations of the earth for Christ. Mark 1:14b-15 says, "...Jesus came into Galilee announcing the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Metanoia! (turn your thinking round) and believe (trust) the good news!'"

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is the good news that Jesus, by His redemptive life, death, resurrection, and ascension, has made it possible for mankind to be restored from Adam's Fall into full fellowship with God and to enter His worldwide Kingdom where His reign is expanding and manifesting daily in the nations of the earth. Jesus said: "And this gospel of the kingdom will be announced and heralded in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).”

THE CHURCH: The Church is the collective children of God worldwide, who have believed the Gospel of the Kingdom, accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and King, and entered into fellowship. They follow the teachings of scripture and

function as His authorized representatives on earth. Jesus said: "I will build my Church (Ekklesia) and the gates (authorized representatives) of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH: The mission of the Church is to glorify God by expanding His Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10)” and making disciples of all the nations. God is a King who has chosen to expand His Kingdom on earth as a colony of heaven. Individual Christians are its citizens and the local churches are its representation. Jesus said at His ascension, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name (knowledge, understanding and life) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded (placed within) you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

APOSTLES: Apostles are one of the five-fold equipping gifts defined n Ephesians 4:11 which Jesus gave to the Church when He ascended into heaven. Apostles serve along with prophets, evangelists, shepherds (pastors), and teachers to align and adjust believers for their work of ministry. In the Greco- Roman world, apostles were those who were sent out by kings to expand their kingdoms through colonization. They led groups of people in establishing functioning settlements, thereby representing their nation and extending its territory

beyond current borders where the rule of the king and the culture of the kingdom were practiced. This is likely what those hearing Jesus’ words in Luke 6:13 understood when He first called them, “apostles.”

APOSTOLIC: To be apostolic is to be gifted by God for apostolic ministry, whether the title is used or not. It can also be used to describe a person who aligns with the apostolic gift

and embraces the present functioning of all Five-fold equipping gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12. For instance, there are apostolic prophets, apostolic evangelists, apostolic pastors and apostolic teachers. All these gifts developed under apostolic influence in the New Testament starting on the Day of Pentecost which made them apostolic in their function. Paul said, “If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord (I Corinthians 9:2).”

LEADER: A leader is a servant who influences others to accomplish a specific task related to building the Kingdom of God for the benefit of those they lead. This role was exemplified in Christ when He “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded (John 13:4-5).”

APOSTOLIC LEADER: An Apostolic Leader is a builder and influencer, manifesting apostolic grace, whose mission is tonations. God is a King who has chosen to expand His Kingdom on earth as a colony of heaven. Individual Christians are its citizens and the local churches are its representation. Jesus said at His ascension, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name (knowledge, understanding and life) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded (placed within) you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

ICAL: This is the International Coalition of Apostolic Leaders, a global organization founded in 1999 which is the covering agency for the United States Coalition of Apostolic Leaders.

USCAL: The United States Coalition of Apostolic Leaders represents ICAL in the United States and is one of many National Coalitions around the world. To be a member of USCAL automatically makes a person a member of ICAL.

(Special thanks to Dr. Ron Cottle)