EquipCast
Encouragement and inspiration for sharing your catholic faith
Displaying all 6 Episode of EquipCast with the tag “parish ministry”.
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Episode 186: From Pew to Purpose: How to Live the Apostolate You Were Made For
Episode | June 17th, 2025 | 1 hr 40 secs
apostolate, apostolic mission, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic evangelization, catholic laity, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic mission, catholic parish life, catholic podcast, discernment, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, fr. andrew mattingly, jim jansen, laity, lay apostolate, lay vocation, making disciples, ministry vs apostolate, mission in the world, parish ministry, renewing the temporal order, spiritual discernment, vatican ii laity, works of mercy
What’s at stake if we stay busy in church but miss our calling in the world? It’s easy to think serving at church—teaching, volunteering, helping with Mass—is the main way lay people live out their faith. But here’s the truth: our primary call isn’t just ministry inside the Church—it’s apostolate out in the world. That means bringing Jesus into your workplace, your neighborhood, and your everyday life. That’s where you’re meant to shine. And what’s at stake? Souls. If we don’t take time to discern our apostolate, some of the people God placed in our path may never encounter Him. This isn’t just about filling time—it’s about stepping into the mission only you can fulfill. The Church needs you. And the world desperately needs Jesus. Tune in for a powerful conversation with Fr. Andrew Mattingly, who tells us that sometimes, reaching the world means cutting back on “good” church programs—because when a parish is over-programmed, it can pull focus from the real mission. But when we zero in on what actually forms people for their apostolate, we gain clarity, energy, and fruitfulness. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most.
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Episode 183: Charisms in the Chaos: How a Parish Community Mobilized After a Tornado
Episode | May 20th, 2025 | 50 mins 39 secs
amanda pfeiffer, archdiocese of omaha, called and gifted, catholic, catholic church, catholic community, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, charisms, charisms in crisis, church outreach, disaster response, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith in action, holy spirit, making disciples, mandy busch, parish ministry, spiritual gifts, st. patrick's elkhorn, tornado recovery, unity in mission, works of mercy
Can something as simple as kindness really change someone's view of God? Simple acts of love and kindness are how Jesus shows up in people’s lives. When someone feels seen, heard, and cared for—especially in their mess or suffering—it softens hearts. It opens a door. That’s when people start to wonder, “Why are you doing this?” And we get to say, “Because Jesus loves you.” When we meet people in their suffering with compassion—feeding them, clothing them, praying with them—we’re not just meeting physical needs, we’re revealing the heart of Jesus. And when people experience that kind of love, they start to believe again that God is real, that He sees them, and that He hasn’t forgotten them. In today’s episode, I sit down with Mandy Busch and Amanda Pfeiffer to share the incredible story of how their parish community responded after an EF4 tornado struck. Instead of just reacting, they mobilized hundreds—each person using their unique spiritual gifts—to serve with compassion, leadership, and faith. We talk about how discovering and using our charisms—the gifts given by the Holy Spirit—can be a game changer for unity and fruitfulness in mission. When we stop comparing and start collaborating, the Church comes alive. Like a puzzle, every piece matters. And when we come together in love, the result is powerful.
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Coach's Corner 20: Healthy Roots Equal Abundant Fruits – Church Growth Explained
Episode | May 13th, 2025 | 8 mins 16 secs
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, church community, church growth, church leadership, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, fruit tree metaphor, healthy ministries, making disciples, ministry success, missionary discipleship, parish ministry, root and branches, spiritual growth, vibrant church
What’s the one thing that can produce lasting fruit in our parish ministries? If we want to see real growth in areas like attendance, vocations, and community life, we must focus on making and maturing disciples. There are no shortcuts—superficial fixes won’t yield lasting change. True fruitfulness comes from healthy individuals, thriving ministries, and a clear vision rooted in mission. In this episode, I break it all down using the metaphor of a fruit tree—and show why discipleship is the key to everything.
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Episode 161: Grow a Healthy Small Group Movement with Michael Hall
Episode | September 17th, 2024 | 56 mins 1 sec
archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic christian outreach, catholic ministry, cco, church community, church growth, community building, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, faith journey, healthy small groups, intentional accompaniment, jim jansen, making disciples, michael hall, missionary mindset, parish ministry, parish renewal, podcast, small group coaching, small group dynamics, small group leadership, small group movement, small group multiplication, small group strategies, small groups, spiritual growth
Small groups are vital for parish renewal—you might even be part of one yourself. But is your small group thriving and growing, or is it feeling a bit stagnant? Do you find it challenging to reach beyond the usual participants? And most importantly, are your small groups truly helping people grow in their faith journey? Today, I chat with Michael Hall, author of Intentional Accompaniment and a seasoned leader with Catholic Christian Outreach of Canada. Michael has a wealth of experience building and sustaining healthy small group movements, and he’s here to share some of the strategies and mindsets that can transform your small group from a stagnant gathering into a dynamic, missionary force. Whether you’re leading a small group, coordinating them for your parish, or simply a passionate member of one, this conversation is full of insights that can help you breathe new life into your small group ministry and make a real impact in your community.
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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.
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45: Ministry or Apostolate?
Episode | February 16th, 2021 | 1 hr 3 mins
archdiocese of omaha, catholic apostolate training, catholic culture change, catholic discipleship, catholic evangelization, catholic lay formation, catholic leadership, catholic ministry vs apostolate, catholic mission, catholic outreach, catholic parish renewal, catholic pastoral vision, catholic podcast, catholic small groups, evangelical catholic, faith formation, fr. jeff lorig, jim jansen, lay apostolate, parish ministry, peter andrastek
Have you ever wondered about the difference between a ministry and an apostolate? Until recently, I hadn’t. These words seem like synonyms, and talking about their differences feels a bit like quibbling or semantics. However, because we’ve forgotten the difference, most of the energy in our parishes goes toward building up ministries. But without the apostolate of the laity, the Church becomes a country club, only concerned with serving its members. So what is an apostolate? And how does remembering help the lay faithful evangelize?