Who We Are

We are all about helping
leaders and teams move
from theory to transformation.

Equipping you for your next step in gospel-infused mission & ministry.

Our Mission

We exist to help you make disciples,
mobilize leaders & multiply churches

Through practical, accessible training, advising, andresources, we help leaders, teams, and churches live out the good news of Jesus — in everyday life, in leadership, and on mission — all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.

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Our Process

How We Equip

We don't believe in one-size-fits-all training. Every person,every church, every community is unique. That’s why our process is simple but deeply personal.

✓ Make Disciples

✓ Mobilize Leaders

✓ Multiply Churches

1

Making Disciples

We believe every follower of Jesus has a role to play in displaying and declaring the gospel.We come alongside leaders to equip everyday believers to deepen their faith and disciple others. Various resources—including self-paced courses, workshops, and free articles and exercises—provide practical tools and guidance for individuals and leaders seeking to pursue disciple-making in your everyday life.

Group of seven people sitting around a wooden table in a modern office or coworking space, engaged in conversation, with one person in the background working on a laptop at a desk.

2

Mobilizing Leaders

Every leader has unique gifts, and we love helping you thrive in yours. Whether you’re an emerging or established leader, we’re here to serve you. Recognizing the importance of strong, contextualized leadership, we offer comprehensive training and support for both emerging and established leaders. Our Residency Labs are proven processes that equip leaders with the skills and discernment needed for effective mission and ministry. Additionally, personalized advising and cohort-based trainings provide ongoing development opportunities, fostering a community of leaders committed to gospel-infused mission.

A group of people sitting around a table outdoors, engaged in conversation, with one man speaking and gesturing, and drinks on the table.

3

Multiplying Churches

We are honored to work with multiple denominations, networks, and churches to come alongside your unique church planting efforts. We support the growth of churches by providing specialized training and resources for church planters. Through both in-person and online training options and Residency Labs, we equip church planters with the practical skills, proven competencies, and support networks necessary to plant and nurture healthy, gospel-centered churches in your specific mission field.

Two men talking at an event booth with a large sign that reads, 'Take your next step in gospel-infused mission & ministry.' The booth has many small blue pillows and pamphlets, with two women, one working on a phone and the other engaged with two men. The setting appears to be an indoor conference or seminar.

Our Core Values

Our hearts as we serve you.

Practitioners Over Experts

Everyone is in process; no one is an expert. The Equipping Group’s trainers have proven fruit in the areas they train and are current practitioners of their content. We’re like experienced guides and humble servants.

Experiential Over Informational

Our aim is long-term fruit, rather than a single training experience that fades quickly. Participants don’t just learn about a topic, but experience it in light of the gospel, and practice it too.

Familial Over Formal

We value transformation and aim to serve you with excellence. At the same time, we believe God’s people are primarily a family, so we pursue familiarity with groups we work with, as spiritual sisters and brothers.

Deeper
Over Wider

We prefer to serve our partners over longer periods of time. Our trainings involve prep work and follow-up exercises, and we work with you or your group’s leader to shape training specifically around your culture and needs.

Accessible Over Exclusive 

Training can be expensive, leaving some who need it most are unable to access it. Our team follows the Apostle Paul’s example and raises financial support. We live by a “pay-what-you-can” policy.

Collaboration Over Competition

We are all tiny slices of God’s one “kingdom pie.” By partnering with other churches and organizations, training their leaders, serving on their teams, and supporting their equipping efforts, we promote Jesus’s name over TEG’s.

Pay What You Can Policy

You heard us right …

The Equipping Group offers a "pay-what-you-can" model and raises support to make training accessible to those in need. While scholarships aren't available for every training, we’re excited to offer them when possible.

TEG TEAM

We believe that teamwork does, indeed, make the dream work.

Ben Connelly
Founder

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Ben serves disciples, leaders, and church planters through The Equipping Group and co-leads Salt+Light Community and Plant Fort Worth. He’s an author, trainer, and former seminary professor with experience in church planting.

Dr. Todd Engstrom
Executive Advisor

Headshot of a smiling man with short, dark hair and blue eyes, wearing a black shirt against a plain white background.

Todd helps leaders and churches turn big ideas into practical frameworks for gospel-centered mission and discipleship. He strengthens TEG’s training and strategy efforts nationwide, drawing from years of leadership experience.

Lee Ann Woolbright
Communications & Operations Strategist

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Lee Ann brings 12+ years of experience helping ministries communicate clearly and beautifully through design, branding, and strategy. Her passion is purposeful, mission-driven communication that points to Jesus.

Aaron Gibbs
European Partner

Aaron equips pastors and church planters across Central and Eastern Europe through training, coaching, and contextualized resources. He and his family have served in Slovakia since 2019 and love life and ministry there.

Kaynenn Parker
Church Planting Advisor

A woman with long, curly brown hair wearing a teal button-up shirt and smiling at the camera.

Jess has served in ministry for 20+ years, coaching church planters’ wives and couples and helping plant two churches. She also runs operations for Hurley House, a bakery and hospitality company in Fort Worth.

Jess Connelly
Spouse Advisor

Headshot of a smiling African American man with short hair, a beard, and wearing a dark green shirt and a gold necklace against a plain light background.

Kaynenn pastors Pillar Church in Fort Worth and is pursuing theological education at Midwestern Seminary. Originally from Boston, he’s a husband and father passionate about gospel ministry and church leadership.

Board of Directors

Jeff Lowndes (Los Angeles, CA)
Camp Rollings (Fort Worth, TX)
Tomy Wilkerson (Tampa, FL)
Amelia Banks (Dallas, TX)
Toby Cotton (Dallas, TX)
Gord Fleming (Vancouver, BC)
Tina Howard (Fort Worth, TX)

Our Trainers & Contributers

  • A smiling man wearing a black cap and a blue plaid shirt, standing against a blurred background.

    Dhati Lewis

    Pastor at Blueprint Church, President of MyBLVD

  • A smiling middle-aged man with curly gray hair, glasses, and a gray plaid shirt against a dark background.

    Bill Clem

    Director of the Center for Pastoral Flourishing at Western Seminary

  • Young woman with curly brown hair, blue eyes, and a warm smile, wearing a black blazer and patterned blouse, against a dark background.

    Kaitlyn Schiess

    Author, Speaker, and Theologian

  • A smiling man with a beard and a red knit hat, wearing a tan jacket, sitting indoors near a window with plants in the background.

    Alan Briggs

    Director of Frontline Church Planting, Pastor, Sabbatical Coach

View All Our Trainers

Have questions?
We’ve got answers.

  • The Equipping Group is a collective of experienced trainers and advisors dedicated to equipping individuals, teams, and organizations for contextualized ministry, effective leadership, and impactful mission. We offer training, advising, and strategic resources rooted in practical wisdom and spiritual formation.

  • We primarily work with the men and women leading groups, churches, denominations, and networks. Whether you're a lay or paid church leader, church planter, or organizational leader, we offer support tailored to your unique context and calling.

  • Trainings: In-person or virtual sessions (lasting an hour, a few months, or a school year) on mission and multiplication, disciple-making, leadership, team dynamics, and strategic planning.

    Advising: One-on-one or group coaching, as well as customized consulting solutions.

    Resources: Access to downloadable guides, courses, articles, and curriculum to support ongoing growth.

  • We’d love to hear from you! Reach out through our contact form or sign up for a free discovery call. We’ll listen to your needs and help you find the best next step—whether that’s a resource, an advising session, or a customized workshop.

  • Yes! We believe each context is unique. We design trainings, advising plans, and other engagements that are tailored to your goals, team dynamics, and desired outcomes.

  • We are based in Texas but over half our work is with leaders, churches, and clients across North America and the world. Many of our services are designed to be effective in both in-person and remote formats. Bottom line, if you think we can help, we’d love to see how we can serve you!

  • Pricing varies depending on the kind of training, advising, and resource, as well as the size of your group, and scope of engagement. We offer a “pay what you can” policy, and will work with you to find a solution that fits your budget and needs. Contact us for a customized quote.

  • Yes! We regularly publish free downloadable exercises, reflection guides, and articles. You can find them on our Resources page.

  • Absolutely. Our team includes skilled speakers and facilitators available for conferences, retreats, staff trainings, and more. Let us know what you’re planning, and we’ll see how we can contribute.

  • The Equipping Group recognizes the annual flow involved in ministry leadership. Since our team is made up of on-the-ground practitioners just like you, we strive to offer time-specific trainings in lighter ministry seasons, and go-at-your-pace courses and resources in heavier seasons. So if you’re looking for a specific type of training, here’s a general idea:

    Online Workshops occur 4-5 times a year, usually between January and April, and between September and November.

    Digital Courses, ebooks, and similar resources, are available year-round.

    Residencies generally follow the North American school year, starting each September with applications due the previous June.

    Live training events are available year-round, pending trainer availability, and flex to your church’s/organization’s schedule.

Let’s Talk!

We’d love to meet you. Schedule a free initial conversation to explore whether The Equipping Group can serve you — or if someone else in our network would be a better guide for your journey.