Equip Intensives Overview
Equip Intensives are quarterly seminars where participants commit to a 3-month period of reading a few books, listening to a few podcasts, and a few writing assignments, concluding with a Saturday seminar led by our pastors. Our pastors will teach and lead discussion around the reading and writing for the quarter.
The intensives will run on a 2-year rotation, a total eight intensives over that 2-year period, covering topics like discipleship, theology, ecclesiology, apologetics, and more. Participants should aim to commit to the full 2-year rotation or at least a large chunk. We have purposefully designed the Intensives to cover vital aspects for both individuals and the church. However, please still sign up even if you can only do one or two.
The first intensive begins October 1, 2023. Read more here.
Why Equip Intensives?
Training the body is commanded by the Lord. Ephesians 4:11–12 makes clear that the leadership of the church is to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul commands Timothy to entrust to faithful men what he has been taught so that they can go and teach others.
Additionally, the local church is the ideal setting for developing local church leaders. We want to help train people within our body to carry the leadership load of the church. This may mean a person becomes a pastors at Ridgewood, a community group leader, a well-trained church member, or a person may be eventually sent out with a church planting or missionary team.
We have a passion for developing leaders and seeing people grow in godliness. Our church’s leaders were blessed to be a part of similar programs that were instrumental in helping them discern calling and experience growth. We also want to help push people towards maturing in Christ (Col 1:28), and we want to multiply. We need more godly and trained leaders in our church to benefit both the long-term ministry of Ridgewood and future church plants and revitalization work.
Our aim is fourfold:
Help attendees grow in their knowledge of God’s Word and theology in general.
Train current and future Ridgewood leaders.
Equip the saints for ministry in their workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities.
Help attendees discern their long-term calling as it relates to serving the church.
Who should participate?
Male or female members of Ridgewood Church committed to spending 2 years pursuing accelerated spiritual transformation
People discerning how best to serve and lead in the church
People who desire to be poured into, receiving both encouragement and correction
Those wanting to grow in biblical attributes (1 Tim 3:1–13; Gal 5:22–23; Tit 1:6–9; Col 3:12–17)