What was St. Paul's vision, what was he working at?

Ephesians.c.3.vs.9-11. And to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden in for ages in God who created all things that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Would it be too simplistic to suppose that in every city, town and village that St. Paul preached he was labouring to bring together a body of men and women totally united in work and prayer, in mind and heart, so as to effectively reproduce in each of those places the same ministry with the full manifestation and demonstration of the gifts and virtues of the Holy Spirit that were produced in Jesu's earthly ministry in Isreal? St. Paul in another place talks of the church as the body of Christ, Jesus being the Head and in another place each bodily part working together, being knitted together in love. Why that would be as though Jesus were to not only visit those cities, towns and villages but would be in permanent residence ministering to the poor and the sick and needy as of old and as ever.
Is it so far fetched and fanciful? did you not just this past week in fellowship long within yourself and say "if only I could see my Lord"? and you sighed.