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All church leaders long to prepare God's people for works of service and to see the body of Christ built up until all reach unity and maturity. But how does this happen in the church? Leadership Training Network is an organization committed to influencing and resourcing innovative church leaders who equip people for biblical gift-based team ministry. In scanning the landscape it has spotted a growing movement of leaders committed to equipping people that crosses all barriers of denomination, geography, and style. The focus among healthy churches is shifting from church growth to church health, from gathering people to dispersing people into the marketplace and community, placing people into ministries that match their life-long callings. The Equipping Church describes sixteen 'equipping heroes' - churches that are already implementing these biblical principles. Mallory's story of becoming the Director of Equipping Ministries in a California church serves as a framework to explain what an equipping church is, how it functions, why this is a biblical model, and what is involved in making this transition. It addresses the felt need of pastors who know they should equip lay people, but want examples of churches who are already successfully doing it.
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