Definition of the Destiny Orientation (D.O.)

The Ministry Gift Assessment reveals a key aspect of your destiny; how you express yourself, what we call your Destiny Orientation (D.O.). It could be called your core trait or your functional trait    . If you’re authentic to yourself, that is, to the way you’ve been created, you will interact with the world around you, with your relationships, spiritual life, work, ministry, school and more according to this orientation. Understanding your D.O. is crucial to discovering your destiny.

The destiny orientations are based on the gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11-13 (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher). We believe that everyone has a primary destiny orientation based on one of the Ephesians 4 gifts. But, it’s more of an orientation than a gift or office. In other words, you’re oriented towards one of these five gifts in terms of how you think and function.

Because of this approach, we take a broad view of what is included in the orientations. For example, within the prophetic, we include worship, prayer, even the arts. See the short descriptions following for more

The Scripture says, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10) It is our goal to help you fulfill this verse by helping you understand your gifts and calling in the Lord. God created you with a destiny, to do what you love AND what you’re good at to accomplish something significant for God in your lifetime.

Purpose of the D.O.s/Gifts

Your destiny orientation is part of your design. It’s the way God made you to function. This means you have strengths and abilities that others with different orientations do not have. It also means you are not as good at some things that they do easily. If you embrace your orientation rather than fighting against it or trying to force yourself to be something else, you will align yourself with how you are designed. This will maximize your fruitfulness and fulfillment.

We believe God primarily motivates through positive means such as love and delight rather than rules or duty. (“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4) The Destiny Finder approach is delight-driven. If you can do what you’re good at, and what you enjoy, you’ll be the most productive as well as the happiest!

Short Descriptions of the D.O.s/Gifts

These are very short descriptions of the five D.O.s

Builder/Apostolic

The Builder D.O. is all about the big picture, mobilizing and organizing teams of people to accomplish a goal that would be beyond them individually. People with this orientation are focused on the vision, and they have the ability to rally people to that vision. Builders include apostles of course, but also pioneers, entrepreneurs, general contractors and visionaries, etc.

Revealer/Prophetic

The Revealer D.O. is focused on hearing from God; His power and presence; quality and core values and creativity, arts and/or music. Revealers want to impart and implement what has been revealed to them or discerned by them: it can be God’s word or will, the core values of an individual group, or even a warning to help keep an individual or group on track. Revealers include prophets, but also prayer warriors, worship leaders, artists, quality control specialists (they fight for the purity of the product or service), etc.

Recruiter/Evangelistic

The Recruiter D.O. wants to persuade others to do or receive what he/she has experienced or has to offer. They focus on quantity and they are totally convinced about their cause or experience. They care about those outside the group and they reach out naturally to include others. Recruiters include evangelists, but also people functioning as salespeople, public relations specialists, speakers, writers, marketing people, YouTubers, communication experts, advertising execs, etc.

Connector/Pastoral

The Connector D.O. is focused on quality inside the group. They foster community and care deeply for each individual within their group. They counsel and support and bring healing and comfort as they connect people together. Connectors include pastors, but also counselors, doctors, nurses, coaches, mentors, liaisons, community organizers, peacemakers, etc.

Trainer/Teaching

The Trainer D.O. loves to understand and explain things. They are focused on truth and information and helping others to learn and apply the truth and information they possess. They are detail-oriented and like to study and communicate their knowledge. Trainers include teachers and trainers of all kinds, but also scientists, researchers, instructional designers, authors, technical writers, installation experts, etc.

It’s a Gift-Mix

Most people do not function in only one gift. In fact, most of us function in all of them to a greater or lesser degree…the key is which ones we are strongest in. That’s why we provide a bar chart showing your entire gift-mix so you can see the relative strengths of each gift in your design.

Example of the D.O.s/Gifts in Operation

“And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

A great example is Eric Liddell of Scotland in the 1920’s. As a young man, he was preparing to join his sister on the mission field in China but he was also a gifted runner. His success on the track drew crowds to whom he preached the message of Christ. He became known as “The Flying Scotsman” and was one of Scotland’s best hopes for a medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

His sister felt that his running was interfering with his service to God. She badgered him to quit running and go to China. His response to her said a great deal about how he pursued his destiny: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” He was gifted to run; he knew that God made him that way and that God delighted in Eric’s use of the gift.

Eric created a controversy at the Olympics when he would not violate his personal belief to run on a Sunday and he forfeited his place in the 100 meters. Later in the games, a team mate, inspired by his commitment to his values, bowed out to let him run the 400 meters. In a stunning upset, Eric beat the three favored American runners, set a world record, and won the gold medal (Immortalized in the movie, Chariots of Fire, Best Picture 1982)

He used his gifts to glorify God and spread the gospel. Eric went on to be a missionary to China, dying in Japanese prison camp in occupied China in 1945. His Destiny Orientation was probably Recruiter/Connector. Those two were his basic orientations and core traits and his life is a testimony to a destiny fulfilled.