About Dick
Dick Westerhof is a pioneer. He is the Founder and Lead-Pastor, together with his wife Arleen, of the God’s Embassy Church in Amsterdam. Since its inception in 2005, ‘Embassy’ has grown to be-come a leading Apostolic Center – ‘By Design’ – which is committed to releasing believers into all societal spheres of influence to effect positive spiritual, social and system change. The ‘By Design Apostolic Center’ includes multiple foundations, ministries and businesses all of which are having National and International impact.
In 2009 Dick founded the Coalition for Apostolic Reformation (CAR), a National foundation commit-ted to educating believers about the Gospel of the Kingdom and equipping those with a calling and desire to impact the Seven Spheres of Influence (religion, family, education, business and econom-ics, government, media and arts and culture).
In 2014 he started the Kingdom Training School. This school trains believers and helps them to understand and embrace the Kingdom principles. This school launches them in the sphere that God called them for.
In 2018 the ‘By Design Apostolic Network’ was launched. It currently covers dozens of other churches, ministries and businesses with the same vision.
In 2020 he initiated the Royal Business Community to equip and support business leaders in devel-oping a holistic Kingdom mindset for their calling and assignment in the marketplace. Dick himself was a successful entrepreneur-pastor until 2020 when, just before the COVID pandemic hit, God called him out of business to build the ‘By Design Apostolic Network.’
In 2023 he started the School for Apostolic Leaders. This school helps Christian leaders to under-stand the essential and crucial leadership role of apostles.
In addition to all of this, Dick’s ability to think and to act innovatively have led to the realization of new effective structures for apostolic wineskins. These are now being implemented nationwide.
Dick is also the author of two books, ‘What next?! A new mindset for today’s church.’ and ‘By De-sign, A prototype for apostolic centers that bring transformation’.
Dick has a Masters degree in Civil Engineering from Delft University of Technology. He and his wife Arleen have been married since 1995 and live in Duivendrecht, the Netherlands
The Four Pillars of Dick's Apostolic Approach
Kingdom →
Manifesting God's reign on Earth, influencing societal spheres with Kingdom values.
Apostles →
Leadership that equips believers, ensuring a dynamic and pioneering Church direction.
Ecclesia →
The "assembly" or "gathering", representing the active community of believers.
Kings and Priests →
Believers empowered to reign in life and intercede, merging royal authority with spiritual service.
Kingdom
“The command to rule the earth was not cancelled by the fall”
“Jesus reclaimed the authority that Adam had given away”
God has decided that He will make people in his likeness and that those people will have dominion on earth. This council decision is described in
Genesis 1:26.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule …’”
God gives a clear command: men are to rule over all the earth and subdue it. (Other versions say “Let them have complete authority” or “Let them have dominion”) That’s what Adam and Eve did when they lived in the garden. Until they gave their authority to the devil through sin.
The Lord Jesus came to restore this. During the temptation in the desert, the devil said to Jesus, “I will give you all the kingdoms of the world.” The Lord Jesus does not deny this but only says that He will not bow down to him.
After his death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus can finally say “To Me has been given all power (authority) in heaven and on earth; go and make disciples of all nations…”
He gives this commission to apostles!
The Lord Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God. Signs and wonders are a manifestation of that. His emphasis on the kingdom is also found in the Lord’s Prayer. Pray for the kingdom to come. This is because God’s will is already done in heaven but it is his command that it also happens here on earth.
“…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Apostles
“The new wineskin is led by apostles.”
“Apostles are ideally suited to make the Kingdom of God visible in the world due to their vocation and personality.”
The Lord Jesus commissioned us to bring the gospel of the Kingdom. He chose from among his disciples twelve whom He called apostles. Apostle means sent one. In those days this was a high-ranking officer from the Roman army sent by the emperor to bring the culture of Rome into conquered territory. Thus, apostles are called and sent by God to make the Kingdom of God visible in all creation.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service…”
Ephesians 4:11,12a
Apostles are given along with the other ministries to ensure that the saints are equipped to carry out the mission. With the prophets, the apostles lay the foundation upon which the house of God is built.
“…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:20
Paul said in the first letter to the church of Corinth that the apostles are to take the lead.
“And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”
1 Corinthians 12:28
The expression translated in English as “first of all” is proton in the original text, which means first in place and position.
In the time of transition in which we now live, a transfer of leadership is also taking place. The leadership of the shepherd and teacher we have had for centuries must now give way to the originally intended leadership of apostle and prophet.
Ecclesia
“The ecclesia is not the same as the institution of the church”
“We are called to rule in the gates”
The Lord Jesus introduced the term “ecclesia” Himself.
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church (Ecclesia), and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Matthew 16:18
The ecclesia was the city council where decisions concerning the city were made. Thus, the ecclesia is an authoritative body where what happens in and with the city is determined. The primary role of the council is a place of influence in society. From this perspective, the apostle is the appropriate person of the 5-fold ministry to lead the ecclesia.
One strategy for exerting influence is that of the seven mountains or spheres of influence.
1. Media/Communication
2. Education
3. Government
4. Arts and Entertainment
5. Family
6. Economy / Business
7. Religion / Worship
In each of these spheres of influence, the intention is for the equipped saints to take their place and be light and salt. The result will be that in each sphere of influence the Kingdom of God will become visible in the values corresponding to those of Heaven.
After all, it is already written in the Old Testament that we are called to be the head and not the tail.
“The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.”
Deuteronomy 28:13
Kings and Priests
“The earth is not a waiting room for Heaven”
“Perfect harmony between our role as king and our role as priest”
By whom will the mission be carried out? The mission to make the Kingdom visible in this world is clear. This is done under the leadership of apostles. The base from which this is done is the ecclesia. It is the equipped saints who must carry out the work.
All creation is eagerly waiting for the children of God to take up their task and bring restoration.
“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
Romans 8:19-21
Creation has suffered because of man’s sin. Now that authority has been restored, the children of God can bring the necessary restoration. Hence, the children of God are called kings and priests.
“…and [He] has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”
Revelation 1:6
The Lord Jesus was both king and priest, and there was perfect harmony between these 2 roles.
“Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’”
Zechariah 6: 12,13
The equipped saints are called to take up the role of priest and intercede and bring reconciliation but also take up the role of king and have impact in the sphere where God has placed them.
Contact Dick
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