One of the ways that Pacific Islands University seeks to serve the communities around us is to have an annual Ministry Equipping Conference. (Hopefully, we'll soon have news about the 2017-18 M.E.C.) Our intention is to do what the name implies--provide God's people with some tools that they can use in accomplishing the tasks God has called us to. It's an endeavor that shouldn't be limited to institutions of higher learning.
In Ephesians 4 we read,
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
(Ephesians 4:11–12, NASB95)
The Lord didn't give these gifted individuals to do the work--at least not all of it--He sent them to equip the entire body for the mission.
Hebrews 10:24-25, talks about the people of God, the church, assembling together. It may come as a surprise to some to read that the purpose of this gathering together is not to enjoy the awesome music or be dazzled by the production. It is to "provoke one another to love and good works" (King James).
According to 1 Corinthians 12 the church is like a body--various parts functioning in cooperative unity, each part enabling every other part to function more effectively.
 Leverage: It's a term that high-rollers use. I invest a little bit, but use my insignificant contribution to gain access to a whole lot, so my small investment has a much larger impact than it possibly could by itself.
It has been said that rather than trying to do the work of five people one is wise to find five people to do the work. Equipping others to serve. It is a task of teachers, pastors, parents, leaders--really all of us.
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