Frequently Asked Questions

We believe that the Lord Jesus continues to give apostles to help build the church today (see Ephesians 4:11) and to work alongside elders, deacons and saints, according to the pattern described in the New Testament.

For a more in-depth answer, read the article linked below.

What Are the Marks of a True Apostle? What does the Bible say about apostolic ministry and its role today?

Four12 believes that Christ gives leadership gifts and offices to His church to equip believers and build healthy churches. On a local church level, elders and deacons are ordained into offices (or positions) of leadership. On a broader, translocal level, we understand God gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as grace gifts into churches. Some of these 'grace gifts' help oversee churches and so carry different positions of authority. Their authority is recognised and invited by the local church and is for the strengthening and maturity of the church.

For a fuller explanation of how Four12 understands grace gifts and ministry offices, we recommend reading the article below.

Offices & Grace Gifts Exploring leadership and authority in the New Testament church.

Among other things, the apostolic brings us into the big vision of God, and we begin to see that not only are we impacting our neighbourhoods, but we begin to come into God's vision for the nations of the world!

Explore the resources below to dig deeper.

The Role of the Apostolic What do apostles do today?

The Ministry & Role of the Apostle Answering questions about the apostolic.

The original twelve Apostles and Paul had unique qualifications because of their distinct roles in the establishing of the New Testament and the birthing of the Church. They had to have walked with Jesus or been eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ. Today’s apostles are not like these original ‘eye-witness apostles’ but instead build upon their foundations. The qualifications of an apostle today are a special grace and calling from Christ, evidenced by a track record of working with and planting churches, and of mobilising God’s people for the great commission.

This is expounded on more fully in the article and the recommended video below.

What Are the Marks of a True Apostle? What does the Bible say about apostolic ministry and its role today?

01 What Defines an Apostle? Understand the origin of the Apostle and why we still need the gift today.

The recognition and releasing of apostles is a process involving church leadership, confirmation from teachers and prophets (Acts 13:1-3), and a broad witness among the saints. Furthermore, accountability, mutual submission and teamwork help to provide the Scriptural and relational safeguards that keep apostolic ministry healthy.

This is unpacked more fully in this session below.

03 Recognising & Ordaining Apostles Find out how we recognise and ordain men into the apostolic.

Those released into apostolic ministry carry an area of authority entrusted to them by the Lord, and they work closely with the elders of each local church. While the apostolic provides big-picture direction, helps churches remain firmly established on the foundation of Christ, and mobilises them for the nations, elders remain responsible for shepherding God’s people in the field entrusted to them. Neither role is greater than the other; together, they serve side by side to see the church of Jesus healthy, established, and advancing.

Watch this session for more about how elders and apostles work together.

Apostles & Elders The apostolic works closely with elders to advance the Kingdom and steward His Church.

14 Eldering in an Apostolic Household How elders should work in partnership with the apostolic to build a healthy church.

We believe elders are raised from within the life of the local church as they demonstrate Christlike character, faithfulness, spiritual maturity, and a proven ability to shepherd and lead God's people. Rather than being appointed to a position, they are recognised over time as God develops and confirms His calling through the local church and its existing eldership.

Within Four12, the recognition of elders takes place in relationship with both the local eldership team and apostolic leaders who know them and can speak into the life of the church. It is not filling leadership roles, but recognising those whom God has already prepared to serve His people according to the pattern of Scripture.

The resources below are an excellent starting point to jump into the topic of eldership on a deeper level.

Who Appoints Elders? The role of the apostolic in choosing elders.

Eldership Training Equipping elders to lead, disciple, and grow in their gifting and calling.

Four12 believe that healthy leadership must be accompanied by healthy accountability. Rather than authority resting with a single individual, we seek to build according to a New Testament pattern of working in a team. We believe accountability is most effective when it exists within genuine relationships rather than through distant structures or control, and aim to cultivate a culture where leaders walk in humility, transparency, and mutual submission, recognising that authority in God's Kingdom is given to serve, not to dominate.

For a deeper understanding of how accountability and partnership function within Four12, we recommend watching the Partnering & Mutual Submission messages.

Partnering & Mutual Submission – Part 1 How authority and submission should be practiced in God's kingdom.

Partnering & Mutual Submission – Part 2 How can we achieve healthy church accountability that is neither controlling nor flaky?

Four12 is built on shared conviction. We hold firm beliefs around Scripture, the nature of Salvation and Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the nature of the church. True partnership requires us to agree on these things. This doesn’t mean we conform in every detail – we navigate differences to build a shared foundation strong enough to bear the weight of walking together.

Watch the short clips below for more.

Our Approach to Theology How Four12 approaches diversity in theological beliefs in partnership.

United but Different How do we build strong, united partnership, even in our differences?

Four12 believes in the ongoing ministry of apostles and the gifts of the Spirit, but we are not part of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). While there may be some similarities in language, we differ significantly in theology, leadership culture, accountability, and our understanding of the church's mission.

Read the full article below.

Four12 Versus the New Apostolic Reformation Comparing Four12 and the New Apostolic Reformation.

Christians are called to live as salt and light in every area of society, faithfully representing Jesus wherever He has placed them. We encourage believers to serve Christ with integrity and humility in their families, workplaces, communities, and spheres of influence. While we value godly influence in society, we do not believe the church's primary calling is to take control of cultural institutions or to advance God's Kingdom through political, economic, or social power. We believe Jesus has called His church to make disciples, proclaim the gospel, and build healthy churches.

For a deeper exploration of this topic, read our article on the Seven Mountains Mandate.

The Danger of the Seven Mountains Mandate & Dominionism Why is it vital that the church remembers its mission in the world?

Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, and the Kingdom continues to advance through the preaching of the gospel, the making of disciples, and the work of the Holy Spirit. While Christians are called to influence society as faithful witnesses, we do not believe the church is commissioned to take dominion over earthly institutions or establish God's Kingdom through political, cultural, or societal control. Our mission remains the mission Jesus gave His church: to make disciples of all nations.

Watch the two-part Be Equipped series for more.

Kingdom Now – Part 1 Discussions around issues relating to understanding the Kingdom of God.

Kingdom Now – Part 2 What is ‘Dominion theology’ and its role within Kingdom Now theology?

Christians should evaluate every cultural ideology through the lens of Scripture. While concerns about justice, inequality, and human dignity are important, we do not believe Critical Theory or Cultural Marxism provides a biblical framework for understanding identity, sin, reconciliation, or God's solution to human brokenness. We believe true unity and transformation are found in Jesus Christ, who reconciles people to God and to one another through the gospel.

Read the full article on white privilege below.

White Privilege & Cultural Marxism The Church faces complex challenges with the popularisation of secular ideologies.

Christians are rooted in Christ and the New Covenant rather than in the observance of Jewish customs, language, or traditions. While understanding the Jewish context of Scripture can be helpful, we do not believe believers are required to adopt Jewish practices or use Hebrew names to relate rightly to God.

For a deeper exploration of this topic, read our article on the Hebrew Roots Movement.

The Jewish Roots Movement and Its Mistakes A response to the Jewish Roots movement and the faulty premises that sit beneath it.

Church discipline is a loving and biblical process aimed at restoration rather than punishment. When believers persist in unrepentant sin, church leaders have a responsibility to practice church discipline as part of being a healthy church built on New Testament practices.

Watch the session below for a fuller explanation of church discipline within the church.

08 Discipline God disciplines those He loves.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force but the third Person of the Trinity. He empowers believers, leads the church, reveals Christ, and enables us to live lives that honour God.

Learn more in the resources below.

The Person of the Holy Spirit – Part 1 What Scripture says about the person of the Holy Spirit.

The Person of the Holy Spirit – Part 2 Let us not honour the Holy Spirit with our lips yet neglect Him as Lord.

Making disciples is at the heart of Jesus' mission for His church. Discipleship involves helping people follow Christ, grow in maturity, and learn to obey everything He has commanded. We see discipleship as a lifelong journey best lived out in relationship, community, and active participation in the life of the local church.

Explore the resources below to learn more about discipleship and spiritual growth.

13 Jesus’ Last Words | Discipleship What was Jesus' final mandate to us all before He ascended?

15 Non-Negotiable | Discipleship If we love God but don't obey Him, can we say we love Him?

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience where a person is filled with the presence and power of God through the work of the Spirit. This empowering enables us to do all that God will require of us and which we cannot do in our own strength. Although we might have had an initial experience, we are to go on asking the Spirit to fill us and empower us ongoingly, as we walk with Him. The work of the Holy Spirit provides us with ‘power’ to share our testimony, to help overcome sin, to operate in spiritual gifts, and to experience an assurance that we belong to Christ. None of these occurrences comes about through our own ability but through the enabling grace of God as His Holy Spirit works in our lives.

Find out more about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in this downloadable booklet and recommended series.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit What it means to be filled with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Unpacking truths about the Holy Spirit for every believer.

Being baptised in water is one of the first unforgettable steps a new follower of Jesus takes. It is a simple step of obedience by faith, yet it is profound in what it represents. It is a public display of the gospel, an outward act that reflects the inward miracle of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Water baptism reflects how we have broken with the old, sinful life and have been brought into a new, resurrected and hope-filled life.

Read more in this downloadable booklet.

Water Baptism Unpacking the significance of water baptism.

Women bring value and have a role to play as ministers of the Gospel and building up the body of Christ, within the bounds of Scripture. God’s design is for men and women to work alongside each other as a team – fulfilling different roles, but each needing the other to reflect the nature and person of God more fully and accurately.

You can discover more about women and their role in the church in the resources below.

08 The Gift of Women in the Church A panel discussion focusing on the value and role of women in the church

The Complementarian Woman The joy in doing things God’s way.

Four12 believes that both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy originate from the same Holy Spirit, but that the role and function of prophecy changed with the coming of the New Covenant. In the Old Testament, prophets often served as God's authoritative mouthpieces to His people. In the New Testament, the gift of prophecy is made available more broadly through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and is intended to strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers while remaining subject to testing and discernment within the church.

We believe prophecy remains an important and valuable gift for the church today, helping believers hear and respond to God's leading. At the same time, New Testament prophecy does not carry the same covenantal authority as Old Testament prophecy and should always be weighed alongside Scripture and within the context of biblical leadership and accountability.

For a more detailed explanation, read our article Old Testament vs New Testament Prophecy or watch the Demystifying Prophecy message.

Old Testament vs New Testament Prophecy How has the role of the prophet changed in the New Covenant?

Demystifying Prophecy A New Testament gift for the whole church, to strengthen our faith and reveal God’s presence.

Four12 believes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in the New Testament remain available and active today. We therefore hold a continuationist position, believing that God continues to work through gifts such as prophecy, healing, tongues, and other spiritual gifts for the strengthening of the church and the advance of the gospel. At the same time, we believe all spiritual gifts should operate in accordance with Scripture, and with humility, accountability, and discernment.

For a more in-depth answer to this question, watch this discussion from the Be Equipped series.

Continuationism or Cessationism? Are the spiritual gifts for today?

Four12 believes Jesus is building His church and has given us a pattern in Scripture for how it should function. Our desire is to build healthy churches by equipping every believer, fostering authentic discipleship, and remaining dependent on the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. Learn more through the resources below.

01 Why the Church? God's plan for impacting the world.

Blueprint for Life An in-depth look at the blueprint values of the early church.

We believe healthy things grow. However, our focus is not on numbers for numbers' sake, but on the healthy duplication of life. We prioritise the depth of discipleship and the maturity of believers, knowing that as people are truly transformed by the gospel, the Kingdom will naturally expand.

Most churches are aware of their need to connect with the wider mission of God. The video below explores how churches partnered together in the New Testament.

Building Biblical Partnerships Does it matter how we relate to the broader church of God?

We believe that when the Holy Spirit moves to bring purity, change, power and direction, we need to be flexible to be led by Him. This applies to individual church members as well as leaders. We must aim at all times to be prepared to put our plans aside in favour of His plans.

Practically, this influences every part of our lives as believers, whether we are in a church meeting or not. Our highest goal in everything we do individually or corporately must be to actively seek the leading of the Holy Spirit, who is God.

We believe that the church is the body of Christ and is made up of many different members. Each member is called to fulfil their unique destiny according to their gifts and talents. We hope that through a lifestyle of accountability and unity in the faith, founded in love, each member will "become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:13

Four12 started in June 2011 with just 35 people in a room, and a dream to see the church restored to reflect what we see in the New Testament. From the start, churches from the Isle of Man, South Africa and Brazil sensed the Lord leading them to be part of this move of God - this has since grown to over 20 nations and an increasing number of churches all working together to strengthen and restore the body of Christ.

Discover more about Four12.

What is Four12? Andrew Selley explains the journey of Four12 as a movement and what its all about.

Four12 is a partnership of churches led by founder and apostolic leader, Andrew Selley. He is supported by an international team of apostolic leaders that includes Ryan Kingsley, Jonathan Stanfield, and Brad Verreynne, as well as other ministry leaders from across the field.

Learn more about the Four12 Leadership here.

Our Leaders Our Leaders Ephesians 4:11 Our vision at Four12 is to Equip, Restore and Advance the church of Jesus Christ. The Lord has faithfully raised...

Partnership begins with knowing who you’re joining. We invite you to explore who Four12 is first: our values, our convictions, and the mission we’re called to. Take your time. Ask questions. This is where partnership begins – knitting hearts and sharing vision.

Learn about partnering.

Partner With Us Learn how churches partner with Four12 through relationship, shared conviction, God's leading, and a commitment to walk together.

It is impossible to summarise our beliefs better than the outline already provided on our About Us page – see below for the link.

About Us Four12 is a global partnership of churches longing to live out Authentic New Testament Christianity and to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

We are grateful to partner with churches across a number of nations across the world. You can find out more about our partnering churches, their congregations and where they are located on our partner page.

Find a Partnering Church Find a Partnering Church Locate a congregation near you by searching the church name or country. Many of our partners are multisite churches, one church...

Four12 is a partnership of churches. We don’t plant churches or employ full-time church planters - those responsibilities belong to the local churches within our partnership. Our encouragement would be to connect with an existing church first, and from within that relationship and covering, move toward planting. We’ve seen that this brings far more support and fruit over the long term.

You can find partnering churches here.

Find a Partnering Church Find a Partnering Church Locate a congregation near you by searching the church name or country. Many of our partners are multisite churches, one church...

Four12 is a partnership of churches, and our focus is on strengthening and serving local churches through relationship, leadership, and shared ministry. Because of this, we do not generally function as a funding body for external requests or individual needs.

If you would like to understand more about who we are, visit the following page.

Partner With Us Learn how churches partner with Four12 through relationship, shared conviction, God's leading, and a commitment to walk together.

Four12 is a partnership of local churches walking together in relationship. We want to encourage you to be rooted and serving faithfully in a local church community. The life and health of the local church is central to how we understand ministry and partnership. Should you wish to attend any of our events, please note it is at the individual’s own cost (this includes all costs involved – transport, meals, tickets, visa, accommodation etc.). Where hosting is offered, it is limited to Four12 partnering churches.