The EquipCast

Practical Evangelization & Parish Ministry Tools for Catholic Leaders

About the show

The EquipCast is your weekly playbook for practical evangelization and parish ministry tools. Hosted by Jim Jansen and powered by Everyday Evangelization, this show is built for diocesan directors, parish leaders, and everyday Catholics who are ready to stop the programmatic noise, break through the grind, and build a clear path to discipleship that actually changes lives.

We’ve been talking about the New Evangelization for thirty years, yet church renewal often feels like an endless cycle of empty activity while generations continue to lose their faith. If you are tired of managing decline and spinning your wheels in the messy middle of ministry, you don’t have to carry the weight alone.

Every week, we break the default of "doing more" to deliver honest conversations and real stories from people who are finally seeing their faith communities thrive. Hit subscribe, head over to EverydayEvangelization.org to grab your free tools, and discover how to leave your ministry better than you found it.

Episodes and Blog Entries

  • Episode 12: The Ideal Parishioner

    Episode  |  May 4th, 2020  |  46 mins 1 sec

    Sometimes the consumer culture of the United States creeps into our parish life. When this happens, the ideal parishioner becomes the loyal customer who shows up to all the events or the person who “does their time” volunteering. Fr. Lorig and Jim Jansen suggest that the ideal parishioner is instead the person who comes alive because they are engaged in the mission of the Church. The ideal parishioner thrives because they say yes only to the things that give them life. Tune in for some tips on discernment and for ways to draw others into the mission.

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    Discipleship - What it looks like in real life.

    Episode  |  April 22nd, 2020  |  20 mins 47 secs

    Whenever Jesus calls someone to be a disiple, he doesn't stop at "follow me", he says, "and I will make you fishers of men." We cannot separate the call to be a disciple and the call to be a missionary. But how does one create missionary disciples? Jim Jansen spoke at SEEK 2020 unpacking the everyday experience of forming others for mission.

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    Episode 11: Don't Be a Hero. Be a Hero Maker!

    Episode  |  April 21st, 2020  |  54 mins 42 secs

    Doing leadership doesn't mean doing everything, and delegation doesn't mean giving away tasks. Leadership means giving your superpowers to someone else.

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    Episode 9: Post Virus Hopes

    Episode  |  April 20th, 2020  |  49 mins 24 secs

    Most of us realize that everything we're going through now will probably have long term effects on the culture and the Church. What hopes do you have for the Church when this is all over? Join Fr. Jeff Lorig and Jim Jansen share their insights and dreams for the Church that could be.

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    Episode 10: Why Best Practices aren't the Best

    Episode  |  April 20th, 2020  |  46 mins 49 secs

    Everyone is crazy about best practices. Conventional wisdom says if you want to be successful at anything, particularly in ministry, you need to implement best practices, but they don't always lead to success. Join Jim Jansen, Director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, as he shares his insights on the topic of best practices.

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    Episode 8: What’s On Your Heart

    Episode  |  April 6th, 2020  |  32 mins 35 secs

    On the Wednesday after schools shut down due to the Coronavirus, Christine French was in a continuous stream of webinars and on-line meetings. She felt anxious and busy, and she knew this was not what the Lord was calling her to. Hear from Christine about how she paused and listened to the voice of God.

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    Episode 7: In the Life of the Parish - How St. Gerald Parish is Continuing Its Mission

    Episode  |  April 6th, 2020  |  36 mins 21 secs

    In the midst of the pandemic, what does Church life look like? Mark Nelson shares the lessons that he has learned working at St. Gerald’s and serving on their Servant Leadership Team.

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    Episode 6: Why Accompaniment is More Necessary than Ever

    Episode  |  April 3rd, 2020  |  34 mins 4 secs

    Accompaniment is the current buzzword that many speak about passionately. Jen and Jim unpack the word. Then, they challenge us to 1) intentionally and consistently journey with a number of people, and 2) equip others to do the same.

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    Episode 4: Getting the Most out of Your Communications

    Episode  |  April 3rd, 2020  |  31 mins 23 secs

    In a world where it is as easy to switch parishes as it is to switch the channel or click another link, Blair Bonczynski and David Hazen give their advice on how to rise above the noise and make a real connection with your parishioners. The secret? You don’t need to be an expert, you just need to get out there and try!

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    Episode 5: Funding the Mission with Tact and Grace

    Episode  |  April 3rd, 2020  |  37 mins 50 secs

    Without a Sunday collection, parishes are wondering how to ask for money in order to keep the lights on and pay the staff. Shannan’s advice, “It’s not actually about paying the bills. It’s about vision, hope and transformation.” Make a connection, tell your story, build relationships, and invite people into the mission!

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    Episode 3: Where Church Happens

    Episode  |  April 3rd, 2020  |  51 mins 15 secs

    We’ve always said, “It’s not about the building.” So if it’s not about building, then where does church happen? And where can it happen now? Join Calvin Mueller and Andy Dejka for Friday’s EquipCast as they discuss building a culture of community in small groups during the pandemic crisis and beyond.

  • EquipCast coming soon!

    Article  |  March 30th, 2020