Robert Miller
17 October 2023
Seven trainees graduated from the Equip Training Program at St Jude’s Carlton on October 26. Equip helps churches and ministry organisations run effective traineeship programs to raise up the next generation of ministers for the church.
The program was originally launched by Dr Peter Adam in 2001, and has since trained dozens of people for ministries in Melbourne and around the world. Graduates of the program have gone on to serve as vicars and lay workers, missionaries in places as diverse as Japan and Niger, theological college lecturers, and church planters.
St Jude’s trainee Bridget Penington reflected that “The program has been an engaging and fun source of learning alongside my church-based ministry traineeship. Having input from a variety of different teachers has been really valuable, and I’ve really appreciated having a cohort of other trainees to learn together with and to pray together with each week.”
Read more: We need to talk more about vocational discernment, and pray
Equip is a two-year program for ministry apprentices and new church staff, providing training in leadership, evangelism, discipleship, using the Bible in ministry, and theology. The aim is for trainees to be well prepared for theological study if they choose to do that next. The program runs for one morning a week, and is designed to complement the other components of ministry traineeships such as individual coaching and on-the-job ministry experience.
Equip director the Reverend Robert Miller said “It’s been a great joy to work with these emerging leaders as they test the waters of full-time ministry – I can’t wait to see what they do in the future and how God may use them for his kingdom.”
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