Rob Miller
19 December 2024
The Equip Ministry Training Program recently farewelled its final graduates after 23 years of serving the Church in Melbourne. Equip is ceasing operations to make way for new structures for raising up future gospel workers. Former participants and contributors paused to give thanks for two decades of faithful and fruitful ministry in preparing young men and women for the work of ministry leadership.
The program was originally launched by the Reverend Peter Adam and St Jude’s Carlton in 2001. More than 150 people have graduated from Equip, which provided a 2-year learning cohort for ministry trainees in churches and ministry organisations. Participants gathered weekly for training in Bible teaching, leadership, pastoral skills, and ministry resilience.
Graduates of the program have gone on to serve in a vast range of ministry roles. Former Equip participants are currently serving as missionaries across the world including in Japan, Spain, and Niger. Others are serving as theological college lecturers and principals, church planters, campus evangelists and lay workers. At least 20 Equip graduates serve in ordained ministry in the Melbourne diocese.
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2024 Equip graduate and St Jude’s Carlton ministry trainee Chris Varughese said Equip had been a valuable part of his ministry traineeship. “It’s helped me think about how I apply scripture in my walk with God, as I preach, teach, and share the gospel across contexts and cultures,” he said. “Sharing this learning experience over these last two years has been a delight.”
Asked how Equip has prepared him for future ministry, Mr Varughese explained: “As I begin full-time study at Ridley College and explore the possibility of ordination, I’m thankful that Equip has prepared me well for theological study as well as ministry beyond it. I’m also glad to have built friendships which I hope will be long and fruitful.”
Former participant Alexi Chiswell similarly reflected on the opportunity the program provided to build friendships in ministry: “Equip was the most longed-for part of my week. It was a solace to spend hours in God’s word each week with others training for ministry, who became friends. In Equip, we were tangibly practising the truth that before we are ministers, we are disciples.”
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Mrs Chiswell continued: “My fellow Equip students became partners in prayer, lifelong friends and ministry supporters. I thank God for them and I am still spurred on by their faithfulness as they minister the gospel across Australia and the world.”
Equip management committee chair the Reverend Sam Oldland said the decision to close the program was not about a lack of willingness or capacity to train new gospel workers. “Rather, we’re excited to be moving into new partnerships and ministries to raise up more servant leaders for Melbourne and the global church,” he said
Mr Oldland, who also oversees ministry training at St Jude’s Carlton, said partnering with Ministry Training Strategy would support its training of more gospel workers each year. He said trainees also undertook a theology certificate at Ridley College, which provided an opportunity to receive excellent teaching and build ministry networks. “With the support of MTS and Ridley, we’re in a position to grow our training program and send out more leaders to serve God’s Church.”
Mr Oldland encouraged any clergy wishing to train future gospel workers to connect with MTS to explore partnership and support.
Rob Miller is director of Equip and serves with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students at Melbourne University.
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