EQUIP CHURCH MINISTRIES

Know God | Share Truth | Equip Others

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Equip believes in equipping people to do what God has called them to do – thus the name Equip!  We actually do who we are!  Equip Church is a ministry of Equip Services, Inc. providing diverse Spiritual care programs locally, regionally, and nationally to individuals and liked-minded, partnering organizations.  Our programs of focus include Christian preaching, Biblical teaching & worship, ordination & US missions programs, leadership & volunteer formation, care & prayer ministries, woman’s ministry, family, children’s and community support.

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When it comes to Christianity – the church, whether independent or part of a denomination, makes changes very slowly, and many times with much angst and argument. Since the Word of God does not change, why would the practice of our Christianity need to change at all? Well, to answer with one word – time.  As the times and our cultures change, our practices and the expressions of our beliefs must change as well – and we can change in style/type without compromising the Word of God so that we can remain relevant and meaningful to our current society; a society that includes people ages 1 to 90+ years old. THAT is a tall order since those ages have their own subcultures, music style favorites, needs, and traditions we have come to love. How impossible a task it may be to create a place and service where each of those ages feel wanted, relevant, welcomed, at home, and have their spiritual needs met? Yet, Equip Church has taken up this challenge!

 

Equip is a new kind of church that shakes off the traditional formats, while upholding uncompromised Christian truths and foundations. Equip meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month (and at other versatile times in diverse locations), giving members the freedom to go or minister as the Spirit leads. We do not own a building so are free to be unhindered by its’ upkeep, costs, and concerns. Equip Saturday Worship services highlight “Dinner Church,” with sharing a home cooked, sit-down meal before service. It allows for fellowship on a deeper level than traditional "coffee and" where you can easily be just surfacy in what you say and share about yourself. With that type of fellowship, it deepens worship because you are no longer worshiping with strangers, but friends and there is greater freedom to give yourself to worship time.

 

Equip knows that transformational life change for every believer can be found through the worship of God and the embracing of the Word as truth. Here, Equip uses live, people-led, or teams for worship, as well as other creative styles which sets the stage for Bible-based, truth-filled sermons that are educational and spiritually challenging. But we also know that everyone has their own struggles and needs that just one sermon for that week can’t meet for all people each week so we provide the opportunity to receive prayer and be cared for, not only at and after each service, but also via groups or 1:1 confidential prayer or personalized, Christian pastoral care support as needed.  For tomorrow’s leaders exploring a call to the ministry, the Equip Ordination Program and other opportunities provide onramps for church or marketplace ministry, internships, mentored-ministry or supervision arrangements that promote ongoing learning and growing in God via Equip Academy – the Chesapeake Bible Institute of Boston.  Here, there are classes for those who want to grow deeper in their faith, a seminary program for those who want training for a call God has placed on their lives to pastor or minister in a specific gifting, and we offer times for weekly community groups as well as monthly times of world-wide prayer. Overall, Equip embraces the preparation and empowerment of others by celebrating one’s gifting by God, and for providing opportunity for team-based leadership as part of serving the greater community at large. 

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We know too that needs don’t just present themselves on the day of services but throughout the week.  Our community, in-person seminars can serve as a form of community outreach to the public at large as well as to area churches as we teach on areas of knowledge or training that need more time than a 20-minute sermon can provide. In equipping others, all flourish, as we provide both in-person and online ministry or prayer and we value various forms of film, social media, Zoom, Email, or Instant Messaging, among other ways to do so.  We offer topical and relevant, Christian Bible studies, weekly prayer meetings, monthly prayer times, personal consultations, discipleship, coaching, and other compassion care opportunities as avenues to engage in the continued weekly life of the church.

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Equip believes in equipping people to do what God has called them to do - thus the name Equip!  We actually do who we are! Equip hosts independent community serving opportunities yet also embraces uniting in partnership with other liked-minded organizations.  Instead of focusing on inventing new ways to serve, we can choose to support ministries that are already established, willingly pointing one to another ministry that may be already doing what you need. There is no need to reinvent the wheel but the goal is to come alongside and make connections that benefit everyone. When God leads us to a new need to minister to, we encourage other churches to join with us in our new venture, presenting a unified community of support.

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Equip has risen to that task of creating a new and unique style and space where young, old, middle-aged, and new Christians can come, worship, learn, grow, fellowship, be equipped, be known, and be loved! Join us some Saturday or at any of our upcoming events and see for yourself.