Equipping People for Ministry

Equipping People For Ministry

Equipping is different from helping people follow Jesus more by degree than content. Essentials like modeling, the centrality of the scriptures, transparency, and man-to-man remain but in greater depth. We must be able to say to those whom we have equipped for ministry “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings…”1 In effect, everything about me. The level of transparency required for equipping is daunting.

Things that help people put to use what they have seen and learned are…

1. Independent opportunity to fail or succeed. People need a chance to see God use them in a way that they can identify as God working through them. Give them a piece of campus to call their own.

2. Value innovation and initiative above uniformity. Current paradigms are launching pads, not safe havens.

3. Value progress rather than perfection. Perfectionism freezes people up. We aren’t trying to get it right, but get it done.

4. Believing God for them, with them in prayer. They have to know the hand of God is on them. Your job is to point out the hand of God and help them see it.

5. Honest periodic critiques.

6. Love them anyway.

1 1 Timothy 3:10,11