EQUIP
Establishing Quick Understanding in Precepts
Program Overview
- EQUIP’s Goals
- What to expect during EQUIP training
- What to expect during EQUIP service time
- EQUIP’s Instructors and Topics
- Telos Credit
EQUIP’s Goals
Personal Preparation
The overriding theme of the EQUIP program is learning to disciple others. However, the first obstacle to discipleship is often shortcomings in our own lives. Therefore, EQUIP’s primary goal is to strengthen each student’s personal relationship with Jesus Christ. All students are encouraged to be fully dependent on Christ, broken and contrite before Him. (See Psalm 34:18.) As this personal humbling takes place, the Lord is able to use each student in a more powerful way.
Counseling Training
The second goal of EQUIP is to provide tools and insights for discipleship. Throughout the training and service, EQUIP prepares students to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, and teaches them how to point others to Truth. Lessons on having a hearing heart, asking effective counseling questions, and demonstrating genuine love to those in need are invaluable for a Christian worker.
Practical Application
EQUIP’s third goal is to provide opportunity for practical application. Service time is crucial to the student’s learning. A wise person once said, “You have not truly learned something until it has changed your life and you have taught it to someone else.” After receiving tools for sharing Christ and His hope with others, the students are placed in a mission field to apply what they have learned. During EQUIP’s service time most students will take the position of leader and mentor to a spiritually needy young person. By applying Biblical truths to a variety of difficult situations, students gain vital ministry experience.
Life Direction
The fourth goal of EQUIP is to prepare the students for future ministry. Young people who seek God and invest in others before pursuing a vocation often discover that they are better prepared to discern and fulfill their life calling. The training given throughout EQUIP provides a valuable foundation of ministry that young adults can use for the rest of their lives. Past EQUIP students utilize their training to this day as missionaries, pastors, teachers, counselors, and parents!
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (John 15:7–8).
What to expect during EQUIP training
For the first two months, students are divided into teams of four to eight. Individuals are expected to stay with their teams at all times so that they can learn to operate as one unit and prepare for mentoring Leaders-in-Training (troubled youth). This team concept builds unity and teaches students to look out for others’ interests above their own.
EQUIP students rise early to spend time in God’s Word. After having their own quiet times, they have a team Wisdom Search. Breakfast follows, during which each student shares insights from his personal devotions.
Following breakfast and a staff devotional, classes commence. Faithful men (see II Timothy 2:2) from various walks of life teach the truths of Scripture. Students are expected to use break time to memorize their assigned Scriptures and review class materials. Weekly examinations help motivate the students to learn. In the afternoons, students often have a longer break so they can spend time outside walking or playing sports.
After dinner, students complete chores before going to their final evening session. Team meetings in their rooms wrap up the day.
After the Saturday exam, students complete weekly reports of their training and other activities. (EQUIP sends summaries of these reports to the parents.) Students also have time on Saturdays to call home briefly, write home, clean their rooms, and complete chore assignments. Sundays are a day of rest. Between morning and evening church, students are encouraged to spend time with the Lord, memorize, and catch up on their rest.
What to expect during EQUIP service time
Students who successfully complete the initial training progress into service time, during which they undergo further training and practice the discipleship skills they have learned. During this time, head knowledge becomes life knowledge. Because EQUIP training is not complete without personal application, all students are expected to complete at least four months* of service.
Ideally, EQUIP students will work as “leaders” of Leaders-in-Training (LITs—troubled youth who need special encouragement and direction) during their internship. EQUIP students who are not yet ready to work with LITs or who are waiting for LITs to arrive will be assigned other tasks and ministries as they prepare to become leaders. These ministries may include outreach to Indianapolis’s Hispanic community, work with inner-city youth through a local mission, nursing home visitation, and assistance with the many conferences and events hosted at the Indianapolis Training Center throughout the year. All EQUIP students should be prepared to minister and develop practical servanthood skills by helping with the needs of the training center.
The daily schedule during service remains similar to EQUIP, though classroom time is replaced by extensive application time. This time of application requires a high level of self-denial and commitment. Students are typically asked to work as teams as they minister to hurting young people, limiting personal freedom. Students and their families should prepare for this challenge. In the spirit of II Corinthians 12:15 (And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved), EQUIP service time is for those who are willing to give of themselves fully without expectation of earthly reward.
EQUIP students are allowed one week of vacation time per four months* of service. They may opt to take that vacation immediately following training, or they may space it out throughout their service. Students should plan on spending their vacation with family.
* Due to the necessity of scheduling around events and holidays, some practicums may be longer than four months. Please contact the EQUIP office for exact dates. Students heading immediately to another field of ministry may inquire about applying their service time elsewhere.
EQUIP Instructors and Topics (Sample)
Roy Blackwood speaks to EQUIP students about witnessing and follow-up discussions.
Course topics vary according to instructor availability and student needs. The following is a sample list of course topics and instructors:
- Dr. Bill Gothard – Biblical Counseling
- Dr. Jerry Benjamin – Relationship to Christ
- Dr. Roy Blackwood – Witnessing and Follow-up
- Pastor Don Miller – Prayer
- Robert Camenisch – Biblical Counseling and the Blood Covenant
- Bob Bulmer – Setting Goals
- Pastor Gary Fraley – Standing Alone
- Mr. Gene Schupbach – Biblical Counseling and Spiritual Gifts
- Linda Owens – Discipleship Lessons and Pottery
- Dr. Jay Juday – Counseling Insights and Applying Principles
- Dr. Mike Davis – Discerning Root Causes and Counseling from the Book of James
Credit Information
Students can receive up to 32 Telos credit hours for EQUIP training and service.
Telos credit is available at additional cost:
- Training — 8 credits for $125
- Service Practicum 1 (and paperwork) — 7 credits for $100
- Service Practicum 2 (and paperwork) — 7 credits for $100
- Service Practicum 3 (and paperwork) — 10 credits for $50
