ARE WE A PEOPLE AT HALF TIME? - Leadership Network

A New Apostolic Pastor
An Interview
with David Cannistraci
Dr. David Cannistraci
is co-pastor of Evangel Christian
Fellowship, a new apostolic
church in San Jose, California.
In a recent interview with NEXT,
he shared these thoughts on
the New Apostolic Reformation.
NEXT: What does “new apostolic
church” mean to you
Cannistraci: Apostolic can mean a lot
of different things. For me, it means that
we are drawing directly from Acts and the
epistles…, the patterns, apostles,
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers,
equipping the saints to do the work
of the ministry, cross-cultural missions
and church planting, aggressive prayer
and spirituality. So, we view the book of
Acts and the epistles as being a model.
And we don’t see it stopping there.
NEXT: Do you see American
churches, at least those with
whom you have contact, learning
from apostolic churches
overseas
Cannistraci: Yes. We have learned the
principles of cell ministry. We have
learned 24-hour prayer from these
churches. And we’ve learned how to mentor.
We’ve learned that it’s really not the
context of the seminary that duplicates a
world changer. It is relationships that
shape a person’s life. Jesus related to and
mentored the disciples and they changed
the world.
NEXT: Of all the elements that
comprise being apostolic,
what’s the core, the nonnegotiable
Cannistraci: I would have to say intimacy
with God because for me, all ministry
springs from hearing God. Maybe the
essence of being apostolic is getting out of
the bunker and going for it...crossing a
boundary to establish the Kingdom...not
being content with where we are. While
we value the past, we’re certainly not living
there. I’m not a representative for this
whole thing. This is so big that all I can
really represent is my little corner. Bill
Hybels and Rick Warren and all these
guys...they’re all kind of like me, but
they’re all quite different ...yet we’re all
part of this big cutting edge that is the
Church. It’s a movement of God...nobody’s
going to be able to name it. It is what God
is doing now and it’s so big that we can’t
claim it. All I can do is represent my little
tribe but there are a lot of tribes in
the nation. ■
As lay leader, I continue to be fascinated with how my personal
journey intertwines my faith and work as a small business
owner. It is ironic to me that I took two days away from my
business to attend this church learning event (Silicon Valley
Fast Change Learning Adventure), and found it equally powerful
in learning things I can apply at work. It was as informative as
any business seminar I have attended.
Dan Engstrand
Congregational President, Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Minneapolis, MN
Silicon Valley Learning Adventure
www.leadnet.org
I came to learn and network with church leaders from across
the United States. I left with an explosion of new ideas going
through my mind…inspired and motivated to go out and
‘change the world.’”
Tammy Kelley
Executive Director, Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church
Tipp City, Ohio
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