The EquipCast

Episode 150: How to Reach One More: Equipping Disciples for Mission Alongside Our Protestant Brothers

Episode  |  May 14th, 2024  |  49 mins 32 secs

catholic, catholic and protestant collaboration, catholic ministry, church outreach strategies, cross-denominational unity, disciples, evangelism, evangelism skills and mindset, evangelization, evangelization training program, making disciples, practical steps for mission, reach one more success stories, spreading the gospel together, transforming lives through faith, unity in mission podcast

Episode 149: Find Jesus Among the Marginalized: A Conversation with Jill Lynch

Episode  |  May 7th, 2024  |  54 mins 29 secs

altruism vs. love, catholic, catholic ministry, christian service, dignity in service, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, homelessness awareness, humanitarian aid insights, jesus among the poor, making disciples, marginalized communities, service with empathy, st. vincent de paul society, understanding poverty

Why do you help the poor? In a culture where lending a hand to those in need is often seen as a noble thing to do, it's crucial for us as Christians to understand the deeper motivation behind our actions. As believers, we serve the poor out of love—a love that sees Jesus in the faces of those in need. To delve into this profound aspect of service, I invite you to listen to my recent conversation with Jill Lynch, Executive Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Omaha. In this enlightening discussion, Jill shares her insights on recognizing the humanity and inherent worth of homeless individuals, challenging stereotypes and emphasizing the importance of empathy and dignity. Jill sheds light on the obstacles faced by the homeless, from securing identification to accessing transportation, and discusses proactive measures to prevent homelessness among the working poor. Through personal anecdotes, she illustrates the holistic approach of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, offering targeted assistance to those on the brink of homelessness. Above all, Jill emphasizes the profound truth that serving the poor is not just an act of charity, but a way to encounter Christ Himself. By treating each individual with respect and compassion, we fulfill the mission of seeing the face of Jesus in the marginalized.

Episode 148: How to Recognize Sacred Moments: A Conversation with Archbishop Lucas

Episode  |  April 30th, 2024  |  42 mins 34 secs

acts of the apostles, archbishop lucas, catholic, catholic ministry, christian community, disciples, divine opportunities, evangelism, evangelization, faith sharing, holy spirit's guidance, inspirational conversations, making disciples, personal witness, spiritual encounters

Wouldn’t it be nice if God performed some undeniable miracle and every person in the world converted? The reality is…he did. Jesus performed numerous miracles, and people still walked away from him (John 6). So, we must look to the ordinary moments. Moments with coworkers, family members, new acquaintances, and friends that may seem mundane at first, but with an openness and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, they become opportunities to share one’s faith or engaging in conversations about spirituality. Today, I sit down with Archbishop Lucas to talk about those moments. He emphasizes the Holy Spirit's role in orchestrating these encounters and God's unconditional love for all people, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Phase 6: Expansion - How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 23rd, 2024  |  45 mins 38 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Now that we’ve built a clear path, how do we make sure is survives? What comes next?
In this sixth and final episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path, Jenny Wiswell and Fr. Marcus Knecht from St. Gerald discuss the phase of expansion. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and responding to the diverse needs of parishioners at different stages of their faith journey. They underscore the importance of discernment, communication, leader recruitment, and staying humble and receptive to feedback.

Phase 5: Alignment - How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 23rd, 2024  |  43 mins 49 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, church ministry alignment, disciples, enhancing parish engagement, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, maximizing ministry impact, ministry assessment tools, navigating ministry options, parish mission alignment, parish pathway development, parish strategic initiatives, strategic planning for parishes, strengthening faith communities

What do you do with ministries that existed before the clear path? By the time you see the fruit of changed lives in your parish, it’s likely that you will ask how you can help your non-clear path ministries serve the community’s mission and goal to make disciples. In this fifth episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship, Nicole Cook and Kristi Preisman from St. Columbkille describe the process of alignment. They began by talking with their ministry leaders to understand roles, strengths, and areas in need of improvement. They determined how each ministry aligned with the overall mission of the parish and identified areas where ministries needed to adjust. Their goal was to ensure that each ministry at St. Columbkille plays a meaningful role in helping people connect with God and take their next steps in their faith journey.

Phase 4: Communication - How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 16th, 2024  |  40 mins 39 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Once you have a clear path built, how do you communicate it to your parishioners? Often, our parishioners are living in the new reality of the clear path, but they don’t yet see the big picture vision for evangelization. In this fourth Episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship, Jake Olson and Fr. James Keiter from Our Catholic Family describe how they navigated the phase of communication. They talk about leveraging different communication methods, the significance of personal witness and stories, and the need to communicate the clear path repeatedly to ensure understanding and engagement among parishioners.

Phase 3: Implementation - How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 16th, 2024  |  38 mins 12 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Now that you have a plan to transform your parish, how do you get started? Implementing the Clear Path to Discipleship can feel daunting when you start to understand the scope of the change that is necessary. In this third episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship, Jonathan Sanchez-Hidalgo, Director of Evangelization and Discipleship at St. Charles Borromeo shares his experience navigating the complexities of implementing programs within a parish setting. He highlights the importance of community involvement, the need for flexibility and initiative, and the ability to learn from failures.

Phase 2: Discernment – How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 9th, 2024  |  42 mins 46 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, christian community building, church leadership, clear path to discipleship, community engagement, disciples, discipleship journey, evangelism, evangelization, faith-based storytelling, hospitality culture, making disciples, mission-driven strategy, parish renewal, prayerful leadership, spiritual discernment

What does the Lord say about the plans you have for your parish? As you seek renewal for your parish community, are you intentionally asking for the Lord’s input? While many of us are prayerful individuals, praying collectively with a team about the strategy for becoming mission-oriented probably feels like uncharted territory. However, if we want to succeed, we must invite the Lord to be part of the process. In this second episode of the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship, Fr. Damian Zuerlein, Dcn. Doug Lenz, and Ann Lenz from St. Frances Cabrini discuss how as they brought change to their community, they remained open to God's direction and surrendered to His will, even when faced with challenges and uncertainties. Their experiences reflect a deep sense of faith and openness to the Holy Spirit's guidance in their parish life.

Phase 1: Assessment – How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship

Episode  |  April 9th, 2024  |  43 mins 9 secs

building clear paths, catholic, catholic ministry, church community assessment, clear path to discipleship, disciples, discipleship journey, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization efforts, faith formation programs, making disciples, parish growth strategies, parish ministry, parish outreach initiatives, pastoral conversion, phase of assessment, spiritual renewal

Does your parish’s current list of ministries help your people evangelize? It’s likely the answer is no. Most parish ministries were built during a time where people flocked to church. But the culture has changed, and our ministries need to as well. So today, I bring you the first episode in the series How to Build a Clear Path of Discipleship. Rachel Gifford, Director of Catechesis & Evangelization at St. Mary’s Parish, highlights her parish's journey through the phase of assessment. She shares how they examined existing programs to identify gaps in reaching newcomers and building up disciples for the work of mission. Challenges included resistance to change and feeling overwhelmed, but the parish found support in prayer, coaching, and revisiting their mission. Despite the difficulties, they saw positive outcomes, with new families registering and a renewed sense of faith in the community.

Trailer: How to Build a Clear Path to Discipleship

Episode  |  April 8th, 2024  |  2 mins 41 secs

build your clear path, catholic, catholic ministry, clear path to discipleship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples

Imagine if your parish provided a place for you to build relationships of trust with nonbelievers. Or if it had a ministry that proclaimed the Gospel and fostered conversions. What if your parish taught you how to evangelize and it gave you a space to celebrate and commiserate with others trying to do the same? Around here, we’d say that parish had a Clear Path to Discipleship. So how do we get to this ideal? If you want to hear real stories of parishes who have built a clear path, join us for our series "How to Build a Clear Path to Discipleship".