Sending Brethren
Sending gifted brethren existing churches to strengthen them is beneficial to churches that already have elders, but this practice must have played a very key role in stabilizing new church plants in the first century.
Apostles Sending Brethren
In many cases, we see that an apostle would send one of his co-workers back to an existing church to help strengthen it. We often read of Timothy and Titus being sent to strengthen existing churches. These men traveled with Paul, helping in the work of preaching, teaching, and planting churches. Paul even indicates that Timothy and Silas were ‘apostles of Christ’ along with himself. But there were other, less-famous men that Paul sent to strengthen churches as well.
Paul sent Tychicus and Onesimus to Colosae to comfort the church there. He sent Tychicus to Ephesus to send word of how he was doing and to comfort the hearts of the Ephesians.
The short epistle of II John deals with the issue of receiving brethren. These brethren may have been sent by John or by a local church that John was associated with.
Churches Sending Brethren
In addition to apostles sending brethren back and forth, churches also sent brethren to other churches to strengthen them.
The first church we read about in the book of Acts was in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem numbered in the thousands. At the beginning of Acts 8, we read that the Jerusalem church was scattered throughout Judea and Samaria during a time of great persecution. Acts 11:19-21 shows us that some of these brethren went as far as Antioch. In Antioch, something rather new began to happen. Instead of evangelizing Jews only, the believers in Antioch also preached Christ to the Greeks. Many repented and believed.
This church, with a huge number of new converts, was probably in need of help. The Jerusalem church responded to this need by sending Barnabas.
Acts 11:22-26
22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
There is no indication that Barnabas was ordained as an elder or deacon of the church in Jerusalem before he was sent out. It is also important to notice that neither Saul nor Barnabas stayed in Antioch permanently as ‘full-time pastor.’ Instead, we see that they taught the church in Antioch for a whole year. Later, these two would be sent by the Spirit on a mission often referred to as the First Missionary Journey.
We also see that the Jerusalem church was generous with its ‘human resources.’ The Jerusalem saints could have decided that they did not want to get rid of a fine man like Barnabas. Instead, they were generous. They wanted to help their brethren in Antioch.
During the time Barnabas and Saul were in Antioch, the church there also received ministry from prophets visiting from Jerusalem.
Acts 11:27-28
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Whether Agabus and the other prophets were sent with commendation from the church in Jerusalem, we do not know. But we do see here the importance of brethren circulating between churches in different cities in order to strengthen them.
Acts 15 tells of the apostles and elders in Jerusalem sending other brethren to strengthen the church in Antioch.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
15:32-33
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33 And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
Here again we see that the Jerusalem church sent prophets to help strengthen the saints in Antioch. They were able to let go of ‘chosen men’ from among their own company. The Jerusalem church may have lost some of their own valuable people for a time, but they were concerned with the other churches. Jerusalem’s generosity was a great blessing to the Gentiles. Silas and Barnabas, both men that the Jerusalem church sent to help the Antioch church, later became a great blessing to many Gentiles. They both ministered with Paul, spreading the Gospel throughout new territories.
It is interesting to note that Silas and Judas were sent to Antioch with a written recommendation from the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. The letter also pointed out that the Jerusalem church had not sent the false teachers. Those teaching Gentile circumcision earlier had come from Jerusalem. It may have wrongly appeared to some in Antioch that these men had the endorsement of the Jerusalem church. In the case of Silas and Judas, the apostles and elders wrote a letter, which clarified that these men did indeed have the churches endorsement, unlike the Gentile circumcision teachers who had gone up earlier.
Letters of Commendation
Other believers besides Paul and Silas were sent with letters of commendation. Consider the case of Apollos.
Acts 18:24-28
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Apollos presents an interesting case. Though Apollos had a partial knowledge of Jesus before he met Priscilla and Aquila, he had a thorough knowledge of the scriptures. After being more carefully instructed, Apollos was a powerful minister in the church. There is no indication that Apollos was ordained with the laying on of hands in this passage, but the believers in Ephesus apparently recognized his gifts. While the passage does not say that the church decided to send Apollos, they certainly were willing to write a letter of commendation for Apollos to the brethren in Achaia, so that Apollos would be well received. Apollos is an excellent example of a brother being sent to edify a new church. Paul speaks well of Apollos ‘watering’ ministry in Corinth in I Corinthians 4. Gifted visiting brethren can be useful in the word that has been planted by church planters in new churches.
Unlike Apollos, who probably had that letter of commendation with him when he went from Ephesus to the church in Corinth, Paul wrote that he did not need a letter of commendation to the Corinthians.
II Corinthians 3:1-2
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Paul didn’t need letters to the Corinthians. They already knew him. He had brought the Gospel there. Paul’s reference to letters of commendation indicate that sending such letters was a common practice. Paul agreed to send money to Jerusalem by whomever the Corinthians would commend by their letters. Paul even includes commendations in some of his epistles, such as his instructions to the Romans to receive a sister named Phoebe, servant of the church in Cenchrea.
Some churches today do send letters with members in good standing when they transfer to other churches. Some may see ordination papers as a type of letter of commendation. Both are a little different from what we see in scripture. Sending a letter with a godly member who plans to move to another city may well be a good practice, but many of the letters sent with brethren in scripture were written to endorse their ministries. Ordination papers are a bit different from the letters of commendation in scripture as well. Some get ordination papers through following a set of academic guidelines or other requirements of a denomination. It is possible for someone to be ordained without having a close relationship with those doing the ordination. The letters in commendation in scripture endorse the character of the brethren with whom they are sent. Letters of ordination can last a lifetime. The letters of commendation in scripture were written as needs arose. When a person was to be sent to another church, a letter of commendation was written. Paul wrote many commendations for Timothy. He didn’t just write one letter for Timothy to use for a lifetime. A lifetime letter of commendation can be dangerous because a preacher of the Gospel can fall into sin or error. In a couple of epistles, Paul sends greetings from a brother named Demas, but in another, he informs his readers that Demas had left him, having loved this present world. Offering current letters of commendation is a wiser practice than one-time ordination papers.
An obvious difference between the letters of commendation in the scriptures and letters of ordination is that ordination papers are often associated with local overseership ministry. There is no indication that local overseers needed ordination papers in the Bible. Why would they? The churches in which they were ordained would already know them. Some of the brethren sent between churches that we see in the New Testament probably had never been ordained by the laying on of hands like elders. There is no indication that prophets needed such ordination, or that Apollos had been ordained. These men had gifts from God. The churches they were a part of recognized these gifts, and sent them on.
Letters of commendation could be sent from the disciples, as in the case of Apollos, by apostles and elders, as in the case of Judas and Silas, or from a single apostle like Paul. No letter of commendation in scripture was ever originated by a denominational headquarters in response to completing a course of academic study.
The Need for Sending Brethren in Modern Church Planting Efforts
Many strategies to plant churches today are based on the idea of a church planter either staying permanently with a new church as a pastor. This strategy could tie down a church planter, and keep him from fulfilling his calling in other areas. Other strategies allow for a church planter to bring a specially educated, ordained minister to serve as pastor before moving on.
But in scripture, we see that the practice of the apostles was to appoint men from within local churches to be elders and oversee the local flock of God. Leaving churches behind with no one mature to care for them is a painful option for many church planters. Paul and Barnabas did this early on in their church planting, but we see that later in Paul’s ministry, as the number of Christians in Gentile areas grew, there were a number of men that Paul could send to existing churches to help them be strengthened in the faith. Existing churches were also able to send brethren to less mature churches.
Antioch is an interesting case for us to examine. The many new believers there needed teaching and strengthening. Paul and Barnabas helped the church during this crucial time, but then continued on to a greater level of ministerial responsibility that the Lord had for them. Prophets who visited Antioch from Jerusalem also helped to strengthen them. A church with many resources sent help to a church with fewer resources.
Indonesia’s churches have many ‘human resources.’ Many think of church planters, evangelists, and pastors as the human resources that can be used in church planting. The way church meetings have been conducted for centuries has caused us to pay attention to a few ordained ministers, who have chosen to pursue ministry as an occupation. However, Paul teaches us that everyone has received a gift to edify the whole body of Christ. We should expect there to be many believers who have gifts that could strengthen and comfort new believers in church planting efforts.
Imagine how wonderful it would be for a church planter who realizes the Biblical pattern of God raising up elders from within new churches, to know many mature believers who are willing to visit these new church planters to prophesy, and teach doctrine, how to sing and worship God, intercession, or whatever a new church needs.
Ultimately, new believers in a new church should grow and mature. A church should eventually have teachers, prophets, elders, and the various other members of the body. Church planters and brethren sent behind a church planter to strengthen the work should have this vision in mind.
According to Hebrews 5:12, after a certain period of time, if a church grows and matures properly, its members should become teachers. This doesn’t always happen. Some churches don’t mature properly. The practice of having new believers sit and listen only, and never use their gifts to edify others, can stunt the spiritual growth of a church. Those who minister to new churches should keep in mind the vision of new believers growing to use their own spiritual gifts.
‘Reproduction’ is a key word to keep in mind. Teachers should seek to train new teachers in a church. Prophets should encourage the gift of prophecy in a church. Consider Paul’s instructions to Timothy, which shows the reproducible nature of the gift of teaching.
II Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Let us consider the advantages to itinerant church planters followed by visiting gifted brethren who ‘water’ their work, in comparison to traditional methods of church planting. One major advantage is that the method of the planting and watering method is that we have scriptural examples of this type of ministry. Paul commanded churches to follow his example and to hold to the traditions he taught.
Another major advantage is that this method allows church planters to plant many more churches. Huge amounts of money need not be spent on campaigns to train young Bible college students to be professional pastors. Allowing the Lord to raise up local elderships is much less expensive. Churches can be established that follow Biblical patterns for leadership, rather than innovations that have been introduced throughout church history.
Visits from gifted brethren can be a key ingredient in helping new congregations develop, grow, and mature until the new church's own gifted brethren are mature in their own lives and ministries. We can all see how teachers can come and strengthen a new church. But there are brethren with gifts that attract less attention who can strengthen new churches as well. Have you ever been to a church where there was a total lack of joy and enthusiasm while the saints were singing to the Lord? A brother or sister who is fervent in praise and worship can stir up other believers just by singing with fervor. In the house church I attend, the intensity of our praise and worship has been greatly increased by a brother and his wife who have started attending. Their excitement in worship is contagious.
If a young church needs to learn to pray, a gifted intercessor from another church can come to a prayer meeting and pray with the new believers, giving them an example of fervent prayer. Even brethren with gifts that seem more mundane, like administration, can come and help new churches set their affairs in order.
One Irian Jayan brother I know helps other churches by teaching their leaders not to simply store church funds mixed in with their own money, but rather to keep it church funds in a separate place. This type of advice may be obvious to many of us, but some new believers need to learn such simple skills.
Some visiting brethren may be able to move to an area where there are new churches to be a part of the local body and encourage new believers. Others may be able to take a few weeks off of work, using their vacation time to strengthen new churches. Gifted college students may be able to use some time during their summer breaks to stay in the home of a new believers who is part of a new church plant, and share their gifts in church meetings and at other times. Some brethren who visit may be able to take a long trip just to visit for one meeting.
Imagine how the burden on apostles and evangelists would be eased if, every time they planted a church and were called to leave it, they knew that saints from other, more mature churches, were ready and able to come and strengthen existing churches.
Think of an evangelist, on the frontiers of the Gospel. He goes to a village and preaches the Gospel and goes on to new territory. After some time, the believers in the village grow and mature through ministering to one another and by receiving ministry from visiting brethren from other churches. The evangelist later returns, spending time with the villagers he won to Christ and their spiritual children. From this village, he goes out to another, nearby, unreached village. When he leaves this village, he can ask brethren from the first village he evangelized to visit and strengthen the new church plant. In this way, the Gospel can spread, and evangelists and apostles can be free to travel and preach the Gospel. The burden of discipling and encouraging new churches can be shared with existing churches.
There are probably a multitude of believers in Indonesia who could help water church planting efforts, but who don’t think of it as their place to do so. Many believers have gifts, but, because of tradition and the practice of many churches, don’t realize that they are supposed to be using these gifts in church meetings. If they realized that their gifts are to be used in church gatherings, and can be of use in gatherings of new church plants, many of these people might be excited at the possibility of being used by God in this way to advance the Gospel.
The Biblical methods for church planting and strengthening existing churches are superior to many of the methods later generations have invented.
© Paul L. Hudson, Jr. 2001
