What is the purpose of evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the work of the ministry?

Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are given for the perfecting and maturing of the saints, bringing believers from infancy and carnality to spiritual maturity. They equip the Body of Christ for the work of ministry and edification, so members can go out as soul winners.

Les explains that evangelists, pastors, and teachers are the three basic gifts the Church needs today. Evangelists preach salvation and may go from place to place, while pastors and teachers are gifted men, though not all of God’s men can be pastors or teachers. God gave these categories for the perfecting and maturing of the saints, to bring them from infancy, carnality, and being fed on the milk bottle up to meat-eating believers. This is for the work of the ministry and for edifying the Body of Christ, not the pastors, teachers, and evangelists themselves. Les maintains that the primary purpose of the Church is to feed its members so they can go out and become soul winners in the world, as the early church did.

Ephesians 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Who are evangelists, pastors, and teachers meant to edify?

Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are meant to edify the Body of Christ, not themselves. God gave these gifts to mature the saints, move believers from infancy and carnality to meat-eating maturity, and equip them for the work of ministry so they can win souls.