Growing Maturity

Ultimately, these growing convictions necessitated a departure from the original denominational setting. This radical step was not one that everyone who had been involved with the prayer group felt able to take, so although that group had attracted hundreds of people, “Living Light Christian Church” came into being in 1982 with about 25 adults, along with children.

Though the church was in one sense ‘independent’, the leaders were very aware of the need for oversight and input. While reaching out for relationships with other like-minded Christians in the area, they were particularly struck by the strategy of God for His church as expressed in Ephesians 4:11-13:

“[Christ] gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Since it was evident that God’s people had not yet reached this maturity and fullness, the leaders realized that the ministry gifts given by Christ for this purpose must still be present in the body of Christ, and necessary. Evangelists, pastors and teachers were widely recognized, and people with prophetic gifting were becoming more accepted in ‘charismatic’ circles – but what about apostles? Prayer and inquiries led to a connection in St. Louis, MO with Bryn Jones, a man recognized as having an apostolic ministry. In 1983, Living Light entered into a relationship with him and the network of churches he led in the U.S., the U.K. and many other countries. The ministry of Bryn, and subsequently his brother Keri (also recognized as an apostle), and the men and women with whom they worked, was critical in shaping the vision and practice of Living Light.