It is vital to have a clear focus for equipping.
By Cara Garrity, Development Coordinator
The 4 Es – engage, equip, empower, encourage – provide an intentional process to guide the development of the priesthood of all believers for participation in Jesus’ ministry.
Let’s take a closer look at equip. When we equip, we develop and multiply. The appropriate training is given to provide the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the assigned responsibilities. As this happens, people are developed and leaders are multiplied – eventually disciples, ministries, and churches are multiplied as well.
When you need to drive a nail into a piece of wood, do you reach for a screwdriver, a wrench, or a spoon? Probably not. They are not the right tools to get the job done. Something like a rock might do the trick, but you may fumble a bit more than you would with a hammer. Using the right tool makes a difference.
Imagine your car breaks down on the side of the road. You phone a service to send help, but when help arrives you realize they sent you a surgeon instead of a mechanic. Of course, the surgeon is well trained and highly skilled. However, that does not necessarily mean they are equipped with the skills required to get your car back on the road. Being equipped with the appropriate skills for the required task makes a difference.
Using the right tools, at the right time, to equip the right people, with the appropriate knowledge and skills for the ministry’s responsibility at hand, is essential to effectively develop and multiply leaders.
When we do not have a clear focus for equipping, we may find ourselves using a wrench to drive a nail and sending our surgeons to repair cars.
The GCI Process of Development provides two tools to facilitate focused equipping:
The Catalogue of Development Resources provides an overview of key GCI resources to equip. (See page 6.) The resources are organized according to the area of ministry participation that is most relevant. Note that the Catalogue of Development Resources is not a linear or step-by-step guide for leadership training. It is simply a guide to help local leaders assess the right tool to equip the right person at the right time for the ministry responsibility assigned.
The Apprenticeship Square and Information/Imitation/Innovation Triangle provide insight into how someone is equipped. How will the information and skills be delivered? Apprenticeship is an effective way to pass along the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and multiply ministry leaders.
The Information/Imitation/Innovation triangle challenges us to deeper spaces of formation and transformation as we walk alongside one another in development.
Consider the following questions:
- How will you know if you are using the right resources, at the right time, to equip the right people with the appropriate knowledge and skills for the ministry responsibility at hand?
- What is one equipping priority for your team this year?
