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Vanguard Ministries

'...whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40

What it is:

The goal of Equip Education is to build disciples of Jesus Christ. In that endeavor, Vanguard Ministries is the student-operated ministry outreach of Equip Education.

How it works:

Classes at Equip Education are limited to 12 students. Each class elects one or two representatives to the Vanguard Ministries Advisory Council. The term of service on the Council is 2 months. This allows a rotation of students through the Council. The Advisory Council meets twice per month during the academic year to pray, evaluate current ministry activities, and make decisions regarding future ministry activities. The ministry keeps track of student service hours for the purposes of Bright Futures Scholarships.

What we're trying to learn/Why we have a ministry component:

We are compelled to incorporate a ministry component into the Equip Education program for two reasons:

  1.  Students are capable of more than we typically entrust to them. God has given each one gifts to be used for His Kingdom. Our desire is to help them recognize and develop those gifts in order to organize and run a ministry that is powered by the Holy Spirit.

  2. Building disciples of Jesus Christ includes modeling a lifestyle for students to emulate. The mission at Equip would be a failure if the instruction were limited to word and did not include deed.

Thus Vanguard Ministries was created to cultivate the gifts God has given each student and to help them put their faith into action.

How does it happen?

  • Prayer
    • With any endeavor, be it academic or missional, we must rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Before any action is taken, our students are charged with seeking God's will for Vanguard Ministries, not their own. Our desire is not to build students up to see what they can do, but rather what only God can do as they are obedient to Him.
  • Organization
    • Each class elects students to an Advisory Council to represent their ideas to go and serve. Representatives meet to discuss, narrow, and refine those ideas. The Advisory Council is responsible for selecting ministry activities, formulating workplans, implementing those plans, promoting the events to students and families, and many other tasks.
  • Service
    • Philippians 2 reminds us that we are to be imitators of the life lead by our Savior Jesus Christ. And in Matthew 20 He tells us that He, "...did not come to be served, but to serve..." It is our goal that students be lead by the Holy Spirit through prayer and organization in order to put hands and feet to what they say they believe.

Equip Education Staff Involvement:

Staff members of Equip Education oversee all aspects of the ministry. The goal is to let students make their own decisions, and this goal is achieved almost all of the time. It is the responsibility of Equip Education staff to ensure student safety in ministry activities and supply assistance in the area of organizational development.

Student Service Opportunities:

Participant in Ministry Activity

  • Arrive on time
  • Know the ministry
  • Know the goals for and expectations of that particular ministry activity
  • Show the love of Christ to whomever you encounter

Advisory Council Member

  • Represent student interests before the Council.
  • Set strategic direction for ministry.
  • Formulate and implement workplans.
  • Evaluate effectiveness of ministry activities.
  • Promote service opportunities to students and their families.
  • Keep all necessary ministry records.

Ministry Coordinator

  • Strategic coordinator for all activities related to a supported ministry.
  • Correspond as necessary with Equip Education staff and supported ministry staff.
  • Serve as advocate for supported ministry before Advisory Council when necessary.
  • Be informed about effectiveness of all supported ministry activities.

Outreach Coordinator

  • Distribute outreach/event information to classes.
  • Correspond with webmaster to ensure outreach information is posted on website.
  • Serve as hub for outreach/event information.

Media

  • Capture images and video of ministry activities.

Website

  • Post updates to ministry website.
  • Create new webpages as necessary.