Ephesians 4:11-13 mentions the role of apostleship. The author of our study equates these two roles as being the same. There is a good argument for doing this. The office of Apostle had the primary objective of taking the Gospel to places that had not heard of Christ, irrespective of personal cost or inconvenience. Secondly, the Apostles represented the wider church when they ventured forth in Christ's name, often sent out on particular mission given them by the church (Acts 12:25). Though both Ephesians and Corinthians speak of this role as being one that has ceased in its fullness, there are still characteristics in this office that should be applied to suggesting a gift set that contemporary disciples have.

The primary text for the missionary is found at the end of Matthew’s gospel when the resurrected Jesus issues the great commandment to... ^"'19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" The missionary is not simply a philanthropist. The missionary is one who is armed first with Christ to do the work of Christ in his name for the reclamation of the world.

A key image would be Jesus sending out the disciples: "¹After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ²He told them, '[t]he harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" (Luke 10)

Practical application for the expression of this gift touches not only the life of the believer but also the entire church. The whole nature and health of the Church is dependent upon its missionaries, both local and global. Foreign missionaries encourage and impact both established Christian communities and new communities that are for the first time hearing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Through missional efforts the global Church of Jesus Christ is growing by leaps and bounds. New churches, schools, orphanages, etc. are cropping up in areas that have not known the call of Christ. Old abusive patterns of relating are being challenged, as they were in the church's earliest years with the message of hope, equality and equity for inherent in the Christian Scriptures and, therefore, in the Christian way of life.

Local missions have take and repaired the pain of loss through natural disaster. Have clothed and fed the least and loneliest in our society, all through the precious name of a Savior who calls to reflect God in all that we do. Sacramental is a way of life.