An apostle is someone commissioned for a particular task or role, one who is sent forth with a message. In the New Testament the word denotes primarily the original twelve disciples and secondarily other prominent leaders outside the Twelve. Marvin Vincent records three features of an apostle: 1) one who has had a visible encounter with the resurrected Christ; 2) one who plants churches; 3) one who functions in the ministry with signs, wonders, and miracles.6 Of course, this defines the founding