“EQUIP training and service time taught me valuable communication skills that I regularly utilize in my current job as a home health aid and nursing student. As I learned to listen to God, walk in fellowship with Him, and respond from His perspective, I came to see the pain, frustration, and insecurity that motivates others outward hostility and anger. The many facets of communication I learned during EQUIP—encouraging growth in others, setting goals, planning for success, confronting in love, listening and truly hearing the heart, resolving conflicts, asking skillful questions, and giving honor to Christ in lifes daily experiences—continue to benefit me and those God brings into my life.”

—Rachel Johnston, EQUIP XVIII; Team Leader, EQUIPs XXI and XXII

“Having had two daughters participate in EQUIP, we have found the program to both equip them with tools for ministry to others and provide an environment that confronted their own hearts. The fruit from EQUIP was daughters that learned to be flexible and joyful in the midst of serving in humble tasks. We feel this was very beneficial in equipping them to be women that would better serve both their family/home, as well as the Body of Christ.”

—Kerin Morgan, Mother of Jennifer and Katheryn, EQUIPs XIII and XVIII

“My perspectives, responses, relationships to authority, and many other areas have been forever changed through the experiences I was privileged to have with young people sent to the Training Center.”

—Joel Curtis, EQUIP X

“The information I learned and the lessons God taught me seem to be applicable no matter where I am, because everywhere we go, we deal with people, and every person needs Jesus. EQUIP taught me how to listen to someone’s heart more than to their words, and how to effectively share the message of hope with them.”

—Jenny Barwick, EQUIP V

“My training, work, and struggles at Indy caused my spiritual depth to go so much deeper than I ever could imagine. My personality and spiritual gifts were honed and developed, so that I am still very much like the person I was post-EQUIP rather than pre-EQUIP. It helped to draw me out of my comfort zone and to feel more free to reach out to others. I felt like a totally different person coming home, and still do.”

—Mary Beth Jones, EQUIP II

“The things I learned in serving there have forever changed the way I minister. [At EQUIP] I learned to exhort, to pray, to walk with God, to listen to problems, and to counsel—things that I did not do until God taught me these things there. Especially, I learned how to disciple. All these things are now the basis of most of what I do in ministry opportunities in the inner city and life in general, and will be the keys for future ministry as a pastor… I learned more in that year at Indy than I did in my whole life as a Christian, and it set the tone for my entire life. I think it is by far the greatest program in conjunction with the log-cabin program and also in all of ATI and other ministries that I have heard of.”

—Joshua Bielinski, EQUIP V

“EQUIP completely changed the way I view people and their struggles. I have a new compassion for those who are struggling that I never had before. Because of some things God took me through at EQUIP, I have a relationship with Him that I would not trade for anything… How great the harvest could be if there were only more young people willing to give up their all for a year (or more!) to invest in the lives of troubled teens.”

—Carmen Martin, EQUIP XI