God calls ministers to equip the Church for the work of the ministry. After many years of working in one local church, I experienced what I’ll call an ‘enlargement’ of my view of God’s calling. In preparing mission volunteers for work overseas, we equip the domestic church to do a better job of reaching its own community ed-italia.com. The mission volunteer teams then equip the foreign church to better reach its community for Christ. In both cases, the church is equipped. And, God is glorified through changed lives on the mission field, in volunteer mission teams, and in the domestic church!
The ‘centerpiece’ of my work through EquipUs is the Pastor Training Schools. This began in the city of Barahona, Dominican Republic. We teach 70-85 pastors and our approach is to “Entrust the Gospel to faithful men who will, in turn, entrust it to others.” God has blessed this work and the pastors have been faithful in implementing what they have been taught. Evidence of this is the increase in baptisms among these 50+ churches after one year of work with the pastors: an average of 44%! Currently, the churches are showing an average annual growth rate of 18.5% via baptisms. I believe our Prayer Teams are the first ones responsible for these results. God has answered through American pastors who volunteer to teach, and mission volunteer members who do construction work, medical clinics, sports camps, or any of several mission/evangelism outreach projects concurrent with our Pastor Training Schools. As Henry Blackaby said in Experiencing God, “See what God is doing and join Him in it.” YOU can make an eternal difference in someone’s life.
Recent Posts
VIP Ministry Update
Who is the VIP in this ministry update? That would be the Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:7). And because He has been at work through our combined efforts, we have some some Very Important Prayers to offer in return! Ministry Updates - A new series Our...
EquipUs In Belize – Photo Update
EquipUs engages in Equipping For Life. Subscribers know that. But even when we know that, seeing what EquipUs volunteers can accomplish is informative and encouraging. I don't do very many photo gallery posts but I don't know a better way to update readers and...
Everyone Needs to be Like a Leper?
Thank You and leprosy in the same sentence? That's an odd combination. Yes! Everyone needs to be joyously thankful, but not all will be. And, NO!, I don't mean we all need a bad disease. But there is an incredible display of grace and insight behind two little words:...
Mission: Belize 2022
Some very exciting opportunites lie ahead. Mission: Belize covers some of those. Every mission requires support and that's true whether our task is raising kids, managing a business, or sharing the Gospel. But every endeavor contains multiple, specific support needs....
Connections: Love and Leadership
Connections: I love pointing them out in places where they don't seem very obvious. My teaching style runs along that line and I have always referred to it as connecting the dots. I recently helped a group see some of those connections between love and leadership....
I AM: God By Any Other Name
Those who know Your name put their trust in You! (Psalms 9:10) This Life Lessons post flows from that incredible truth. It is ample reason to spend some time learning God's names. But there are others. If you are enlightened, encouraged, or equipped by my...
I AM: A God By Any Other Name
What names have you given God? Why would I ask the question? In concluding the series Faith: Why Is It Difficult, I asked this question: What has God done to make it so easy? To answer that, we'll have to wrestle with a question Jesus' asked His first disciples. Our...
The Most Terrifying Truth About God
Enlightenment and Evangelism What is the most terrifying truth about God? Many would cite His wrath. Another truth about God is His judgment. Is that the most terrifying? Some might even suggest God's limitless power is a terrifying thing. The power to create all...
Hands Needed
Help Find Help! This is a call for help. It's probably not what you are thinking. Please give me a second to explain because you may know where to find the help we need! One of my favorite pictures of mission volunteers speaks volumes! Together, we can do what none of...
Easter: What Did You Lose?
Easter: The Losses As a follower of this devotional blog, you will probably hear a good Easter sermon. It's likely you will hear about the gains of Easter. That's a good thing. We gained much in Christ's victory over death. But what did you lose? Do you think about...
A Great Motivational Speaker?
Hear For Free - Perfect Motivational Speaker Imagine you have a bought a ticket to hear a great motivational speaker. You walk into the long-anticipated event and the great speaker says, "I've got the right to tell you what to do!" How would you react? What if you...
First Loved
We love God because He first loved us - I John 4:19 That short statement says a great deal about God. It also says a great deal about us. And it speaks volumes about what our Father can say in so few words! First Loved - A Reminder This short, simple verse is a...



