Yes, the Holy Spirit continues to work through the ekklesia, the church, the body of believers. Your argument presumes apostolic succession which is not supported in the New Testamemt. God can call anyone to serve Him as He did with Paul.
See the replacement of the apostle Judas in Acts 1. Acts 15 also shows that the apostles had already gathered presbyters to themselves to share in the governance of the Church. Looks like apostolic succession to me.