Thoughts & Observations From A Former NAR-ly Christian
Brandianne KJul 25, 2025
The Basics- Terminology & Founding
The term New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) was coined to explain something observable which was occurring primarily within Non-Denominational church circles beginning in the 1990s.
If you’ve taken even a cursory look at this topic, you already know that the late C. Peter Wagner was the observer who began to call the movement by the name New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). His Wikipedia page begins by explaining:
“Charles Peter Wagner (August 15, 1930 — October 21, 2016) was an American missionary, writer, teacher and founder of several Independent Charismatic Christian organizations. He is known for leading and building the New Apostolic Reformation, a network in the Apostolic-Prophetic Movement. In his earlier years, Wagner was known as a key leader of the Church Growth Movement and later for his writings on spiritual warfare.” (Wikipedia accessed July 24, 2025; website linked below.)
Although, I would disagree that Wagner founded the movement, he certainly observed and then helped to foster the movement toward what it is today.
I’ve heard it said that the New Apostolic Reformation has a nonsensical name- that there are no new Apostles and the movement isn’t aligned with Reformed theology.
The name is a little hard to understand, perhaps. Let’s dig into that!
You’ve likely heard of the Protestant Reformation- an awakening within the church in the 1500s in which a movement began in protest of the Catholic church, leading to the formation of Protestantism and classical Reformed theology.
The New Apostolic Reformation was named such based on the assertion that there is a new reformation in the church as people awaken to the importance of restoring the office of Apostle within church government.
Practically, this means that NAR churches can be identified as moving away from founding churches on theological agreements and instead base their church communities around so-called Apostolic leaders.
