Equipping Church, The (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "SOME OF MY REGULAR holy moments these days in my car, far from my church building..." (more)
Key Phrases: equipping vision, equipping church, equipping model, Church of the Resurrection, Jesus Christ, Leadership Training Network (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A comprehensive look at how to mobilize lay members of your church into effective gift-based teams, illustrated with successful examples.

From the Back Cover

Picture your church as a place where the priesthood of believers finds its expression in creative and powerful ways. Picture leaders and staff equipping and unleashing people to minister in ways consistent with how God designed them. Think of the effectiveness, vitality, and contentment that come when the body of Christ nurtures itself through the healthy give-and-take of each member.

In The Equipping Church, Sue Mallory describes the benefits, the structure, and the culture of an equipping church and shows how your congregation can become one. This book is about limitless possibilities. Think "vision." What might your church look like if its members became vital, fully empowered partners in ministry? How can you help them discover and release their full potential? How would their roles change--and yours?

AN EQUIPPING CHURCH IS A CHURCH WHERE: * pastors and leaders enable church members to share in ministry * people’s gifts, talents, and life callings are matched with areas of service * ministry opportunities are recognized and developed * the culture encourages the growth of a broad array of ministries *a well-designed system addresses needs of every kind, both individual and corporate *the pastor doesn’t have to be all things to all people

Unpacking insights and principles uncovered by Leadership Training Network over the last several years, Mallory helps you customize an equipping system and culture in your church. You’ll proceed from preparation (what you need to know), to foundations (what you need to change), to construction (what you need to do). In the process, Mallory takes you inside the story of her own church, Brentwood Presbyterian, to observe the different stages of their trial-and-error journey and how it has transformed their approach to "doing church." See how they dealt with various concerns that arose along the way, and meet men and women whose lives have been changed because Brentwood took the ministry road less traveled.

Each chapter includes a section of "Equipping Principles," questions for discussion and reflection, and a summary of different equipping churches from around the country. With the accompanying Equipping Church Guidebook, this book will be a mile marker in your church--and the gateway to a more effective and biblical approach to ministry.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310240670
• ISBN-13: 978-0310240679
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,964 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive text on lay ministry, November 1, 2001

By	Dr. William McNabb (Piedmont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Sue Mallory, one of the nation's leading experts on lay ministry has written the definitive text on the subject. This book along with the companion guidebook, give a step by step process for empowering and enabling a church's members to engage in meaningful ministry.Topics include how to recruit volunteers, how to discern people's talents and gifts, how to train people to serve in ministry and how to support and nurture those people.Up until now most of this material has been available only in workshops or on tapes. It is great to have the complete plans for a lay ministries program in one book. (Actually, two with the guidebook).

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive text on lay ministries, November 3, 2001

By	Dr. William McNabb (Piedmont, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Sue Mallory, one of the nation's leading experts on lay ministries has written the definitive text. This book, along with the companion guidebook, show churches how to recruit, train, and support volunteers. She gives the vision for an alive, involved church and tells you how to get there. I could not recommend it more highly.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Breadth of Helpfulness for Church Leaders, January 9, 2010

By	C. Stephans - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Sue Mallory offers a deep well of insights in The Equipping Church. She writes as someone with rich experience in equipping lay ministers to do ministry in a local church. She also shares the benefits of her experience working with the professional staff of the church. There are many lessons, ideas and insights for readers of this book. Mallory writes with a humble and helpful tone that conveys her passion for church ministry and the body of Christ.

The equipping church serves to guide readers along the journey of generating a high level of participation and growth among church members according to each member's gifts from God. She provides clear counsel thoughout her book that also includes principles and examples for each chapter. All of her writing includes personal stories from her own journey, both successes and failures. Mallory includes theory and method so the book is persuasive and practical.

I think this book will be helpful to all readers to desire to better lead and equip Christians for ministry and to faciliate churches becoming healthier and more effective in bearing witness to Jesus. Mallory focuses on the gifts of ministry listed in Eph 4.11-13 -- pastors, teachers, prophets, apostles and evangelists. She also addresses other gifts that being might have such as computer skills, organization, giving, training, etc; however, she does not discuss the Spirit's gifts such as faith, healing, prophecy, tongues, miracles, discernment, wisdom or knowledge--those Paul lists in 1 Cor 12-14. I think that any discussion of equipping the church ought to include discussion of these gifts also.