Equip
Welcome to Equip International
If you have been looking for an evangelical mission organization with a difference, an organization through which you can demonstrate your faith in Jesus Christ in a practical way, then take a closer look at Equip.
Equip seeks Christians who have chosen to work in service-oriented vocations out of a desire to help others, men and women with a unique sensitivity to their responsibility for sharing Christ with their neighbors through actions as well as words. But Equip is selective; we want Christians who choose to apply their efforts through the local church in its ministry to the community rather than just work in the community apart from the church.
Too often ministries that emphasize social action have been viewed as competing with evangelical organizations for personnel, funds and time. At Equip we believe that working with the local evangelical church is imperative, because the local church is God's instrument for reaching individuals within a society. By encouraging local church members to exercise their skills in the improvement of conditions in their community, we believe we can impact their society in a way that reaps both immediate and eternal rewards.
We refuse to compromise on the evangelical preparation of our people. As a member of the Equip team you will come away from your training with not only a better understanding of your faith but also new skills and confidence for sharing that faith and defending it effectively before others.
We at Equip embrace an understanding of the Scriptures which clearly recognizes that the response of the believer to human need is an integral part of the Gospel. The love of Christ in us and through us must be demonstrated as well as heard in our preaching.
Our mission, therefore, is to prepare, send and support evangelical missionaries to assist the church around the world to be:
responsive to the poor
sensitive to the Holy Spirit,
focused on personal evangelism,
practically engaged in strengthening the Body of Christ.
We believe it is vital that God's people be joined together by mutual love for Christ and full submission to His Lordship, but not uniformity or agreement on all doctrinal issues. We allow for, and value, diversity. We see it as an essential element of true unity. We strive to honor the Apostle Paul's instruction to avoid foolish arguments that produce quarrels (II Tim. 2:23).
However, we recognize that there are essential Bible doctrines upon which faith itself must be grounded. These are such doctrines as are evident in the Apostles Creed, The Nicene Creed, and other historical confessions of orthodox Christianity. We believe the following to be such doctrines, therefore, we stand firm on this declaration of our beliefs.
* We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the fully inspired Word of God, and that they are of supreme and final authority in faith and practice.
* We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
* We believe that the Holy Spirit personally indwells every child of God, and that He empowers believers to be conformed to the "Image" of God's Holy Son.
* We believe that Jesus was begotten by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
* We believe that man, created in the image of God, rebelled against his Creator, and thereby incurred spiritual death, which is separation from God; and that all are sinners and share in the common consequences of sin.
* We believe that eternal life is the free and gracious gift of God, made possible by the redeeming blood shed in the death of Christ on the Cross; and that faith in the finished work of Christ at Calvary is the only means of salvation.
* We believe in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord; and in His ascension into Heaven where He now serves as High Priest and Advocate for all believers.
* We believe in the existence of Satan, archenemy of God, and in the reality of spiritual warfare; and that the One who is in us is greater than the Prince of Darkness.
* We believe in the imminent return of Jesus Christ to claim His Holy Bride, the Church.
* We believe in the signs of the New Covenant of Grace, given by our Lord, namely baptism and Communion.
* We believe the Church to consist of those who have received Christ's saving grace and that together we represent His presence in the world. Our role, like His, is to manifest the Father in word and deed.
* We believe that as a mission agency our privilege and obligation is to serve the local church in making disciples of all nations, by proclaiming His Word and demonstrating His Love.
