A new season is upon us. I have been traveling throughout the United States and to distant places to explain and impart understanding of this new season. In recent months, I have worked in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Ukraine. In all of these locations, I have worked closely with extraordinary brethren to refine our understanding of this season and to impart wisdom, so that the season may be properly engaged. In Asia and Africa, this new season is often referred to as the “Apostolic Season.” In the United States it is frequently referred to as a season that places emphasis on the government of God.

Since 1990 the prophets have been saying that a change in the season of God was coming and that we were in a period of transition. In 1990, the season was still the Charismatic Season. The emphasis of that season was on the gifts of the spirit. The most asked question of that season was “what is your gift?”

With the approaching of the year 2000 or Y2K, as it was famously called, a near panic ensued. The predictions of a global catastrophe caused by computer glitches, exposed the weakness and immaturity of the Church. These facts were dramatically highlighted by the reactions of the church community following the events of September 11, 2001. In the United States, a Christian influenced government retreated to the supposed safety of strict laws and wars on two fronts. And the Church continued to speak about change while yet pursuing an agenda of numerical growth, financial propriety, and political influence.

During that time, there were some, mainly cosmetic, changes. Post-modernism made its appearance, primarily in the form of the “emergent church” movement. This movement attempted to remedy what it considers the exclusionary and socially reprehensible practices of the modern church. Other cosmetic changes were assertions of purpose, defined by the requirements of the local institution; or user-friendly, market sensitive churches. As an example, the 100th anniversary of the Pentecostal movement that began at Azusa Street in Los Angles, came and went, confirming the ministries of motivational speakers as its current manifestation.

Meanwhile, on the world stage, change has been the order of the day. The Soviet Union collapsed, releasing many nations to find their destinies. Apartheid ended in South Africa. Dictators died or were overthrown. Japan collapsed as an economic power, and both India and China rose in economic prominence. Nations were suddenly adrift and struggling to find their way.

In this environment of global change, the new season in God was ushered in. God has stirred the hearts of leaders in the Body of Christ to move away from the current preoccupations of the Church, to the more serious consideration of representing the nature and character of God himself. This is a shift from the narcissism of leadership to the maturity of responsible sons of God.

Character, not merely style, has become the substances of the current season. Being empowered by the spirit as sent ones has replaced the ministry of gifts.

The restoration of community, based in divinely ordained relationships, as opposed to membership in an institution is the new reality. These relationships have replaced membership,

Discipleship is no longer for the purpose of consolidating church membership. In this new season, those in authority rule for the benefit of those under their care. The goal of discipleship is to release the disciple into his or her divine purpose and to assist them to engage their unique destinations. Fathers are replacing pastors, and spiritual children are coming to maturity.

The purpose for being on the earth is not to work to leave the earth a better place than when you entered it, but to be conformed to the very image of Christ in your time here. Seeing all things through spiritual lenses is replacing a reasoned view of reality; a life of trusting God is replacing a rational decision making process; divine wisdom is replacing secularism. The realities of heaven and earth meet in the Body of Christ, and define earthly existence as being to show the glory of Christ in the way the community of the Body of Christ governs itself.

The evidence of the changed season is that there is a new level of enablement by the Holy Spirit to match the hunger in the hearts of believers, many of whom are not content with being spectators, but want to engage the reality of being an expression of the character and reality of God himself. They want to be mature sons of God.

God himself has prepared this answer for the times that have come upon the Earth. In this season of global uncertainty and growing distress among nations, the sons of God will govern themselves so righteously that the nations of mankind will see the wisdom and counsel of the Body of Christ.

In future newsletters, I will give more details of my travels and experiences, and the scope of the work I am undertaking.

Thank you for your encouragement and for laboring with me in the ministry of the Kingdom. Our desire is to exalt our glorious King, and to bring honor and glory to our Eternal Father.

Sam Soleyn