We live in a world of ever-evolving technology and information moving at breakneck speeds. It seems like the world is always changing and has moved to a place of few consistencies. Yet, there are still some consistencies that happen inside the context of the church. One of those consistencies is the expectation of all believers to become mature in their faith as followers of Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
BILD has launched a tool, EQUIP, that helps with that process of learning and maturity. EQUIP is a computer platform launched in April of 2022 that helps church members at any level participate in a maturity path. It helps users move through that path by creating an online equipping center that provides places to access important resources, modules, and templates. The platform also provides a place for the user to create or house work for demonstrating progress and growth. Upon completion of programs, the users will receive certificates and badges that recognize their hard work and progress.
EQUIP provides leaders the ability to manage and oversee their individual member's progress as they work through programs, creating a centralized location for tracking progress. Leaders and shepherds are tasked with working with those in their flock to help them be rooted and built up; to be strengthened in the faith and with EQUIP these leaders have a tool that will allow them to maximize time, effort, and scale. The EQUIP platform helps users form clear expectations for their development and evidence of their development and a place for storing work and marking progress. EQUIP also houses the BILD resources in one simple access location for convenience and guidance as they move through each step of the programs.
The technology does not replace the maturing process, but aids in it. Batbayar Dashdorj, a church pastor and president of Leadership Development Biblical Institute Mongolia, said the following about EQUIP, “… EQUIP is useful for those who use it. It makes it clear about the process of learning and encourages people who are using it. Church leaders can read and help how their people think and how they are learning as well as (they) see the growth. … it encourages people to complete their learning and competencies. It helped them think through and make conclusions for what they were learning, which is to make a clear path for them to pursue and follow the way they learned.”
Benito R, an international partner of BILD, mentioned that receiving certificates recognizing the progress made in the EQUIP programs is “extremely motivating” to keep moving forward on the learning path.
EQUIP is a tool that is designed to also map out church networks and organizations. As leaders of churches use EQUIP to help mature the churches, leaders of church networks and groups of churches can use EQUIP to plan out and map out their own ministry context. They can see their groups of churches, the leaders of those churches, and the progress of the people who make up those churches. They can also enter all of the networks and churches they oversee and partner with, creating a visual map of their specific ministry sphere. With the EQUIP network diagram, these leaders can see the growth and progress of their network at either a simple glance or with the detail to see the specific work of each member of those under their direction and care.
EQUIP is a simple, transferable, and scalable solution helping with the process of bringing all christians on a faith and development path. As network leaders and pastors around the world use and benefit from the results that EQUIP offers, they will strengthen their global partnerships and create a more one-minded christian community: A community dedicated to seeing the whole world impacted by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.