No matter what your calling or desires in ministry, there is a place for you in GMRN.

However to ensure that the work of God runs efficiently and that the mandate given by God is carried out correctly, it is essential that involvement at various levels of ministry can only be allowed to those who have qualified for such involvement, and have proved themselves faithful and worthy of such a position.

There are the various levels of involvement that you may experience as you become an integral part of GMRN. These levels may be considered as various circles of association, beginning with the wider circles, and narrowing down to the innermost circle of involvement with those who make up the executive leadership.

The Example of Jesus

When Jesus walked the earth He made himself available to all men, but in varying degrees. The crowds who followed him had access to his public preaching and teaching, and could come close enough to receive ministry for healing, but access to Jesus was limited due to the number of people who were pressing in to touch him. In the Acts of the Apostles we see something similar in the ministry of the Apostle Peter, where people would gather to just be in his shadow as he passed by, because they were unable to gain direct access to him. This is something that cannot be avoided when a ministry reaches out to the masses, and is still seen today in the lives of many great men and women of God who minister to large crowds of people.

Jesus had many disciples at varying levels. There were those who followed him from a distance, and those whom He drew closer to Himself and spent intimate times with. And even amongst the twelve who were closest to him, there were three who formed the innermost circle of association with him, and came to know him better than the others.

When someone needed ministry from Jesus, they were thus directed firstly to His disciples, and if the disciples considered it necessary to bring such a person to Jesus, they then brought that person to Him. A similar process is carried out in GMRN, where no outsiders are permitted to make direct contact with the executive leadership, but are required first to contact those ministers who have been appointed to the task of taking care of various needs. Where the need requires the attention of the Apostolic Oversight of GMRN, such a person will be recommended to and permitted to make contact with the leadership.

Constraints of Time and Place

It is our intention at GMRN to be available to everyone as much as possible, but constraints of time and place often make it impossible for this to take place. There is also a protection that is needed from those who seek to attack and destroy, who are sent by the enemy to stop or hinder the work. For this reason the GMRN network has been set up in such a way that only those who have proved their faithfulness and trustworthiness are permitted to become involved in the closer workings of GMRN and are thus invited to take a place in the inner circles of ministry.

There is nothing hidden or secret in what is carried out in the work, but there are many activities which must be hidden from the enemy and thus are not publicly displayed or made available to those who are not qualified to be involved in them. Just as children do not know what takes place in the intimacy of their parent's lives, so we reserve the right to withhold from public knowledge those secrets which God has revealed concerning the future and which the enemy must not know.

Spiritual Birthing and Fatherhood

When a child is born to parents, there may at times be a question regarding paternity, where the father of the child might have been someone other than the supposed parent. Medical proofs involve a study of genes and characteristics which prove that a man is the father of the child in question.

However for most of us, this is not necessary as the child grows, because it soon becomes clear who the parents of the child really are. When a child begins to show physical characteristics that are very similar to the mother or father, we tend to say things like, "He looks just like his dad" or "she looks just like her mother."  This becomes even clearer when the parent sees the child show in their behavior, qualities that clearly reflect some of the parent's personal idiosyncrasies. This is something very precious to a parent, when he sees himself in his child, and realizes that this child is indeed of his own flesh and blood.

Though this is seen so clearly in the physical and even to some degree in the soul and the expressions of mind, emotions and will, there is another quality which is not so obvious, and often neglected, when it comes to spiritual parenting. This is the birthing into another of spiritual qualities, anointing, and unique qualities of ministry. However the symptoms and manifestation of this can be as clear as the identifying of the genetic characteristics of a parent in the child.

The Apostle Paul speaks of spiritual fatherhood in the following verse:

"For though you have ten thousand mentors in Christ, yet [you do] not [have] many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." 1 Corinthians 4:15 (GMR)

The Apostle John speaks of it in the following verses:

"I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him [that is] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father." 1 John 2:12-13 (GMR)

"For I rejoiced greatly, when the brothers came and testified of the truth that is in you, since you are walking in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." 3 John 1:3-4 (GMR)

How Does It Take Place?

We all tend to pick up the anointing and spiritual qualities of those whom we admire and follow in the Lord. In most churches, you will see those who truly love and respect the leader will become just like him spiritually, and probably exercise the same kind of manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. There is a birthing that takes place in the Spirit. A transfer of anointing and mandate, that causes the spiritual child to follow after and adopt the same spiritual mantle as the spiritual father.

This is far more than mentorship. Mentorship is a temporary thing, where the mentor develops a specific quality in the disciple, and then releases the disciple to go on his or her way, developing further in other areas under the ministry of other mentors. But spiritual parenting is something far deeper than that. It is the very impartation of the spiritual essence from the leader, creating a kind of spiritual dna in the spiritual child. This occurs in all who follow a man of God and look to him for direction.

Can You Have More Than One Spiritual Father?

It is possible for you to move from one spiritual father to another, but you cannot have two spiritual fathers at the same time. The Scriptures say that no man can serve two masters, and no child can have two sets of parents. Thus in order for you to change your spiritual parentage, it becomes necessary to let go of the existing spiritual parentage and embrace another.

This takes place automatically if you begin to be associated with a new leader in an intimate way, and begin to pick up that person's spiritual qualities. You might find a conflict beginning to take place between you and your existing spiritual father, because you are now being torn in two directions. In the end you have to make a choice. You must either return to your previous spiritual father, or renounce what you have received and move to the new. You cannot remain neutral.

Many attempt to sit on the fence, and attempt to embrace what is being offered spiritually by many different leaders in the Kingdom of God. In the end they are like a person who has committed adultery with many partners and does not fully identify who they are truly married to. You can only be committed to one at a time.

The Criteria For Moving Into The Inner Circles

This process, which takes place automatically and cannot be avoided is the basis on which we identify whether a person is truly committed to us or not. Those who hold leadership positions in GMRN all carry the same spiritual qualities in ministry, though they may vary in callings and gifts. They are like a family who shares the same genes as the rest of the family members.

It is thus easy to identify those who have truly committed themselves to the vision of GMRN and have received of the mandate that birthed GMRN. They all show the same spiritual qualities and share the same aspirations for the Kingdom of God. Thus when a person manifests these qualities and they are clearly discerned in the Spirit, recognition is given of this by inviting them into a closer association with the leadership of GMRN and a more active role in the functioning of GMRN internationally.

We do not therefore qualify people on their academic accomplishments, or on their gifts to the ministry, or any other natural abilities. They are qualified solely on the basis of showing a true commitment to the mandate of GMRN by manifesting the spirit of one who considers themselves to be part of the GMRN family.

Only once a person manifests such qualities are their other qualifications taken into account, and they are then trained and released into that level of ministry that God has called them to fulfill. No one is squeezed into any kind of mold that they do not desire, but all are encouraged to find out for themselves what God has called them to. Then they are placed in a position to fulfill that calling in the context of the mandate and vision of GMRN.
 

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