(This lesson was adapted, with permission, from material developed by Dr. Bill Hamon and Christian International Ministries Network.)

This teaching is designed to present a plan for establishing and training prophetic teams in the local church or ministry. Please note that this is only one possible approach. It is not meant as a rigid pattern for every local church to follow. Flexibility is emphasized, and the model presented here should be modified according to one's purpose, vision, locale, culture, leadership style, organizational structure, etc. We encourage each ministry to adjust the teaching to adapt to what they sense their individual purpose and pattern is for establishing and training teams. This teaching should be adjusted to fit every church's (or school's) own particular needs. Individuals on each team should be made aware of the ministry's vision, organizational structure, goals, guidelines and qualifications for candidates for prophetic teams.

(This teaching targets establishing prophetic teams who are moving in the vocal gifts. But the team concepts shared here are not limited to prophecy. The concepts could easily apply to forming and training "healing teams.")

The following is a suggestion on how to select and establish team members. It is one model for developing and training a team. This model has three stages.

STAGE ONE: Identify Potential Ministry Team Members

The Pastor or leader will need to identify those who evidence a greater ability or potential to operate in the prophetic. To discern potential candidates for further team training, the following opportunities are suggested.

GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO EXERCISE THEIR FAITH TO "GET A WORD"

(This is one commonly used method at the beginning of new ministry) This can be done by having mature saints willing to be "practiced on" and have the group minister to him/her.

Step 1

During scheduled ministry, have two or three potential team members stand behind and lay hands on the ministry recipient's shoulder. And then they extend their faith for a word for the person being ministered to. After the leaders have ministered, have the newest potential team member give their thought, impression and/or prophetic word.

Step 2

As new participants come to the school/class, the potential team member should be "promoted." (As an example, he/she might have started out as fourth but now is the third to prophesy.)

Step 3

Eventually the potential team member will minister immediately following the leader and will stand in front of the ministry recipient.

Step 4

If the potential team members continue to grow in their prophetic gift, then allow them to stand in front of the ministry recipient and prophesy first.

During this training period, the minister must be alert to adjust any error on cassette tape - without publicly correcting trainees.

Not many people receive prophetic ministry using this method. However, remember that the purpose of this style of ministry is to give opportunity to prophesy so that a base or core group can be selected for further training, thereby multiplying and expanding the ministry's effectiveness.

THOSE WHO HAVE A HEART TO MINISTER AND AN ABILITY TO PROPHESY WILL SURFACE

Give potential team members who have a heart and ability to minister as much opportunity as possible to prophesy. Keep in mind that they grow "by reason of use" (Heb. 5:14). Remember, leadership should be looking for more leaders.

Note that the responsibility to correct and adjust remains with the leadership. You may need to privately adjust those who are demonstrating persistent problems. Examples of potential problems include:

• Some will want to teach/prophesy by going over every scripture they have read on the subject.

• Some might want to preach/prophesy and lecture and scold, hoping that will being immediate change or repentance.

• Some may prophesy too long. (This usually happens when they are trying to clarify, by human reasoning, the word given, or they desire an agreement from the person they are ministering to.)

As potential leaders begin to emerge, constantly impart the vision of the house, encouragement, and values such as integrity, servanthood, right spirit, etc.

LOOK FOR THE "CORE" PEOPLE IN A TEAM

From those who remain in the group, look for those who are faithful, loyal, teachable, etc. The core will begin to surface. Begin to concentrate on the next phase, which is training these people as possible ministry team leaders.

STAGE TWO: Scheduled Training Meetings

At this stage of development, you should have been able to glean a good "stock" out of potential team candidates. Next is to progress to scheduling specific meeting times for these potential members only. Remember, you don't have to recruit them for teams! Just make the announcement and the eager ones will show up. Here is a sample format for the training meeting:

1. A good activation to use at this stage is the circle. Form a circle of about ten people (or however many potential leaders you have). Place one person in the center of the circle and in order around the circle, have each member give a "thought from the throne." After you have done this exercise about three times, you can begin to see who has persistent difficulties in certain areas. Ask the candidates, "Who would like to share any observations you have made about yourself? Such as, 'I notice that I repeat a lot' or 'I tend to talk too long because it doesn't seem like the one being prophesied to understands' or 'I'm not sure the word I received was from my soul (mind, will, emotions) or my spirit'." If the team members make observations about themselves, it will help them to grow and be more productive. Remember to use the "oil of encouragement" to help them stretch!

2. During this exercise, you can also have the trainees take turns being the "leader" while you observe. Make sure there is ample time for feedback.

3. Remember, you are not just looking for trained team members, you are also looking for leaders for the team(s). As you train the teams, look for individuals who exhibit the traits listed below. When you see an individual with these traits, you may have identified a potential team leader.
   • Consistent and accurate in giving and judging the word
   • Able to manage the circle well
   • Are faithful
   • Have good attitude

STAGE THREE: Utilization Begins

When you have enough group or team leaders to facilitate your group, then you are ready to utilize the new team leaders in prophetic teams. God wants every one to put their gifts to work to bless and edify their fellow members of the Body of Christ.

1 Peter 4:10 states; "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Ongoing Team Training

These stages and steps are only suggested guidelines. If your vision is to establish a school for prophetic teams, then these suggestions should get you started.

Practical Suggestions For Team Formation

(This lesson was adapted, with permission, from material developed by Dr. Bill Hamon and Christian International Ministries Network.)

Requirements for Trainees

The trainee should be willing to make an up-front commitment to the training process. You do not want to spend time and energy training people who are not committed to the process and who probably will not end up serving on the teams. The trainee should understand their commitment, defining details like length of time, level of commitment required, etc. This needs to be stated up front. There should not be any surprises on the part of the trainer nor on the part of the trainee.

1. Have each individual commit to a designated length of time -- whatever length of time the school is -- from beginning to completion. It is suggested that you give one excused absence that must be obtained in advance. You need committed and dedicated people who are willing to sacrifice. Again, the eager will comply.

2. Each student must submit to the direction of the school in training sessions and ministering services.

3. They must observe the written purpose of the school along with agreements, guidelines, and schedule.

4. The trainees must use materials required for the school, such as: The teacher's manual, or other books selected by the trainer.

   Some suggested books - materials written by Dr. Bill Hamon and available at most Christian bookstores or through Christian International Ministries Network (http://www.cimn.net). Some of these books would include:

   • Prophets and Personal Prophecy
   • Prophets and the Prophetic Movement
   • Prophets Principles to Practice & Pitfalls to Avoid

5. Any financial charges if applicable. If there is a financial commitment on the part of the student, they need to be made aware of all costs (fees, book purchases, etc) up front. It is not fair to have them get part way through they program and then hit them with unexpected financial charges that they can not afford.

Practical Tips On Training Your Teams

The word "trainee" implies that the individual is undergoing training. Thus, it is an excellent idea to offer formal training sessions. These sessions should be comprised of both teaching and of activations. The activations are critical, because this gives the person practical ministry experience in a controlled setting. These training sessions should provide a safe environment for a trainee to make mistakes and learn from them without being made to feel like they are a failure.

THE ROLE OF FEEDBACK IN PROPHETIC TRAINING

Gentle but honest feedback is a critical in the training process. It helps trainees fine-tune their hearing and prophetic accuracy. Most of the time, feedback will serve to encourage a person that they have indeed heard correctly. However, there will be times when it will help them identify errors in their hearing. Feedback should be given with the goal of "helping" the person who gave the word to improve, and encouraging them in that which they did well. It should never brush over obvious errors, but it should not condemn the person for making an error.

Because feedback is such an important component of the learning process, it is wise to spend a little time explaining how to do it just before the first activation of any given training session. Make it clear why we give feedback and how important it is to be truthful and how important it is to be gentle. Help the trainees learn to give effective feedback about words that their fellow trainees give them. Remind them that they will be receiving feedback from their partner as well as giving it to their partner. Spend a few minutes telling them how to benefit from the feedback that they receive. In general, most people tend to be much harder on themselves than they are on others. If they give a word with 4 specific details in it, and they are accurate on 3 of the 4, they may go away "beating themselves up" over the one error instead of rejoicing that they heard correctly on three words of knowledge or specific details. Feedback will give us a reality check, but we must be sure to keep the emphasis on encouraging the successes rather than focusing on the occasional mistakes.

SAMPLE AGENDA FOR TRAINING MEETINGS

A. Have the students sign in and take a number (to be used later)

B. Teaching Session: Purpose is to lay foundation. Make it interesting!

C. After teaching, take a short break for a designated time with a designated time keeper.

D. Re-gather the group

E. Activation Time

Form ministry circles using the numbering system. Each circle leader (a ministry team leader already trained and instructed) holds up a large number on a card. All the people who have that designated number go to that circle and stay in that circle for that session. (Later in the school it might be desirable for teaching purposes to place students in specialized or certain groups; this system can be used without calling attention to the student or school.)

F. Re-gather the students into class (be seated) for the final 20 minutes get feedback, questions, comments, and for the director to encourage the class.

G. Dismiss the class.

H. Immediately meet with the circle leaders and support team for feedback, input, questions and answers, observations, what worked well, what did not work, adjustments if necessary and encouragement to the circle leaders.

There can be three different levels of training in your introductory school for Prophetic Teams:

1. New Trainees
2. Leaders - team leaders and support team.
3. Directors/Assistants

ALTERNATE SAMPLE AGENDA FOR TRAINING MEETINGS

A. Sign in Students

B. Teaching Session

C. Designated time for questions and answers about prophesying at church services (or similar open meetings), or anything concerning teaching, prophecy, what's working, what's not working, how to limit time.

D. Activation exercises - These vary according to what stage of development the class is in. DO NOT GET STUCK IN A RUT. Continue to believe that the Holy Spirit will show you new methods of activation. God is a Genius! Pull on His Creativity.

E. Leader's directives:

During the training, the director helps trainees develop their gifts. They also have the opportunity to impart knowledge in other areas, such as: God's Character Curriculum for P.I.T.'s. (Prophets-in-Training); The trainees will also need to learn what is expected from them in such practical areas as dress, manner, etiquette and ethics when they minister in Church assemblies, when they are traveling, and when staying in people's homes when traveling, etc.

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