New Covenant Ministries International

New Covenant Ministries International (NCMI) is Christian ministry team, an Ephesians 4:11-13 (apostolic/ prophetic/ pastoral/ evangelistic/ teacher)-based trans-local team of men and women working together for the benefit of advancing the 'Kingdom of God' through working with local autonomous churches throughout the world whether they 'relate' to the NCMI team or not. NCMI started in South Africa through a group of friends developing and deepening their commitment and friendship to each other during the 1980s. Dudley Daniel was a key influence in developing these friendships and through the recognition by these friends and others of the God-given gift on his life, he also led the NCMI team for many years. The NCMI team believes that the "New Testament Model" of church governance is the "Kingdom of God Model" and encourage churches who relate or work together with this team to live and or build their church accordingly. The main focus of the NCMI team is to "To disciple the nations by planting New Testament churches in every village, town, city, and country that God calls them to, either by prophetic words or doors of opportunity that He (God) opens to them." NCMI have seen many churches 'planted and established' throughout the world along with others leave their existing denomination or movement and begin relating to the NCMI team in their desire to be more biblical. They believe that churches are relationally connected to each other through their relationship with God, each other and the NCMI team.

NCMI believe that each local church leadership is autonomously led by a team of elders and pastors. These elders have a formal leader known as the "lead elder", and/or "visionary elder", whose primary role of difference to the other elders is to hear God and then in consultation with the elders give vision or direction to the eldership team and subsequently to their local church. In the case of not having an eldership team the visionary elder is encouraged to invite the NCMI team and others to help them in setting direction and vision. NCMI did not originate this idea, many movements worldwide have adopted this structure and are thriving in it today.

The NCMI team believe the final decision-making body or highest governing authority within each church is a group of men called the 'Elders', who are not required to be chosen on the basis of age or formal theological qualifications, although theological training is encouraged but on the God-given call on their lives. NCMI encourage the elders within local churches relating to the team, in the process of choosing new elders or pastors to choose men according to Scripture, especially citing 1 Timothy 3-5, Titus 1 and 1 Peter 5. Along with this, the NCMI team (citing Acts 14:23 and other Scriptures) believe that apostles under God appoint or ordain elders and so encourage the local elders to include them in the prayerful consideration and final appointment and ordination of elders. They do also believe that NCMI team members within a local church may be elders, but that this doesn't make them superior to other elders in any way (1 Peter 5:1 Acts 15:1-30, 1 Cor 7:17, 11:16) and while at 'home base' they function as elders and not in their trans-local call.

The NCMI team, which is sometimes simply referred to as ‘the team’, believe that there should be no formally recognized headquarters. Based on the lack of an official headquarter and the relational connection of autonomous churches, they claim that they are not a denomination and not a movement. There is undeniably an incredible amount of influence that the NCMI team have into 'relating' churches. The NCMI team has gained this increasing respect and or influence with churches over time by long-standing relationships and support, and by what they call ‘invited authority’; meaning that each relating church has asked for or invited the input of the NCMI team.

The concept of ‘invited authority’ is also applied to the relationship between the elders and the congregation, meaning elders out of mutual relationship and care are encouraging people to live their lives according to Scripture.

The beliefs of NCMI are not completely unique. Their theology and practices are also held by a number of other similar movements in varying degrees including; The International Churches of Christ (ICOC)’, ‘Every Nation Movement’, ‘Calvary Chapel Movement’, ‘Salt and Light Ministries International', 'Newfrontiers', 'Ichthus Christian Fellowship', 'Link NZ' and ‘Sovereign Grace Ministries’.