Successful Equipping

The local church has more power to transform lives than any other organization on earth. Unfortunately, churches don't always experience that transformational power because they aren't equipping believers for kingdom service! The process of developing an equipping church (see Ephesians 4:11) can seem like just another project—which none of us has time for. However, if we don't put in the effort required, we miss a large part of Christ's purpose for his church. At my church (and a number of churches I've consulted for) we've discovered that successful equipping rests on three truths:

• Church leaders must be passionate about equipping
• What you value drives the culture you create
• Your culture shapes attitudes, behaviors, and systems

To see if your church is ready for the challenge of moving to a culture of equipping, think about the answers to two fundamental questions:

1. Do the leaders in every area of ministry have a thorough understanding of the impacts and benefits of the shift to an equipping culture? Only leaders who completely understand the nature of an equipping culture will be able to successfully guide others along the way. {Ed. If you need help with this, see Church Volunteer Central's Give Us 30 Days program.}

2. Do the key staff leaders have the skills to equip their teams and build up other leaders as equippers in their areas of ministry, and are they willing to do so? If the skills and willingness aren't there, you can't expect much progress.

Culture Change Starts at the Top
When it's time to finalize the plan for an equipping ministry, the lead pastor is the only person you can afford to have holding the pencil. Senior leadership demonstrating commitment and time given to equipping will establish its value from the top down.

The change to an equipping culture—leaders moving from doers of tasks to developers of people—brings growing pains. Every leader in your church will respond differently to the call to focus on raising up others, and some (remember that we're still human) will feel the spotlight is no longer on them as leaders. Don't make the process more important than the people. Acknowledge the growing pains, and take care of the people (both the leaders facing a different role and the complacent people being asked to take up the biblical call to ministry) going through those pains. Consistent affirmation of the value of equipping and his/her role in the equipping process is vital to successful culture change.

Chances are good that most, if not all, of your leaders believe the principles found in Ephesians 4. So even though there will be some growing pains, when they (and the congregation) start to see an overall attitude of servant leadership and willingness to equip emerging leaders, a culture shift will have begun and will gain momentum.

At my church, we're keenly aware of the importance of giving the people—and the process—time. As you begin the educational process, don't be discouraged or surprised when you hear responses such as, “I don't have time to equip volunteers. There's too much to do to work through volunteers. Volunteers aren't dependable. Volunteers aren't qualified to do that. That's my job!” Culture change is usually difficult at first, but following biblical principles for the glory of God always wins out!

Grounded in the Midst of Change
Keep in mind that the purpose of the process is to develop each individual member of the body for the benefit of the body as a whole. Equipping isn't a program to cycle people through, it's the means to elevate believers to serve God and others.

We have seen that when church leaders and volunteer teams begin to rally around the biblical principles of equipping, the excitement is contagious. Genuine spiritual growth and leadership development has a way of getting people's attention. The life-change that happens when people become active and contributing members of the body of Christ is an experience like no other.

Charlene Armitage was the human resource director for a large school district before becoming director of equipping at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, where she has served for five years. Her greatest joy is being a catalyst for all believers to discover their special designs and match them to ministry in the community and in the church.

Copyright © 2006, Group Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.