Advising
A guide for the road ahead.
We believe every leader and every church can take meaningful next steps toward gospel-infused leadership and mission. Sometimes all you need is a fresh conversation. Sometimes you need a guide for the road ahead. Either way, we’re here to help.
No cut-and-paste answers here.
Your first meeting is Free.
Our advising is rooted in practice, centered on the gospel, and tailored to your context. We don’t offer cookie-cutter plans. We listen, discern with you, and help you take the next faithful step forward.
We offer three pathways, depending on your needs.
Advising Pathways and Pricing
Personal
Advising
$150
Per Session*
For individual leaders seeking personal growth and wise counsel for the challenges of ministry. Ideal for Ministry leaders, missionaries, team leaders, and nonprofit directors
Format: Monthly 60-minute personal advising sessions
Minimum Commitment: 6 months
Focus Areas:
Personal leadership development
Navigating change in ministry
Building healthy teams and rhythms
Ministry
Leadership Advising
$350
Per Session*
For leaders leading at the organizational or movement level. Ideal for Senior pastors, nonprofit CEOs, executive directors, and organizational team leads.
Format: Monthly 90-minute executive advising sessions
Minimum Commitment: 6 months
Focus Areas:
Organizational leadership and scaling
Strategic planning and complex decision-making
Board and team dynamics
On-Site
Advising
$1,500
Per Day*
For churches seeking clarity and direction toward gospel-saturated discipleship, leadership, and mission. Ideal for church leadership teams, elder boards, lead pastors, and directional teams.
Format: Onsite or virtual church assessment and recommendations workshop, followed by optional ongoing coaching (monthly or quarterly)
Focus Areas:
Discipleship strategy and next steps
Leadership development pathways
Church planting vision and readiness
Organizational clarity and team alignment
Guides for the Road Ahead
Meet your Advisors
Dr. Todd Engstrom
Dr. Todd Engstrom Drawing from two decades of ministry experience, including 18 years at The Austin Stone Community Church as Executive Pastor of Ministry Strategies, Todd brings a proven track record of building healthy, scalable systems that serve people, not just processes. He has led in several church contexts, pioneered citywide disciple-making initiatives, developed leadership pipelines, and coached church planters and ministry leaders across the world. Todd also leads the Greater Austin Mission Society, connecting churches and ministries to advance the gospel together. He and his wife, Olivia, live in Austin, Texas, where they continue to serve and worship at The Austin Stone, and are raising their five children to love Jesus and his mission.
Jeff Lowndes
I bring over 15 years of hands-on leadership experience in both church and business contexts. I served as a core leader and elder in a church plant, leading through startup, team formation, pastoral care, and long-term sustainability. I've also worked in leader development and training with global businesses. At the heart of my work is a passion for helping individual leaders reconnect with their why, lead from clarity rather than pressure, and cultivate healthy, faithful cultures around them.
Brad Watson
Brad is a pastor, author, and speaker. He currently serves as the director of spiritual formation and equipping at Providence Church, in Austin, Texas. He has over 15 years of experience leading and planting churches in urban centers in Portland, Los Angeles, and now in Austin. He’s passionate about seeing the church equipped and empowered to live out its calling in every sphere of life and has trained, coached, and developed networks of churches on the West Coast, Australia, Japan, and Europe.
He and his wife, Mirela, have two daughters, Norah and Maitê, and one son, Truman. Brad loves reading great novels, listening to good music, paddle boarding, and cheering on Liverpool at B.D Rileys, the best Irish pub west of Dublin.
Testimonials
What people are saying.
“Todd and The Equipping Group gave immediate confidence to my leadership due to their reputation and years of experience. The resources and coaching anticipated my needs and where our organization has been in order to take a leap forward. Todd was responsive, thorough, and managed my capacity by cutting through all the information available and pointing me towards what would readily grow my understanding and skills. My team and organization are more prepared to “fight in our weight class” because of TEG.”
Bruce Kendrick, Watermark Church, International Missions Director
“When we began to plant Capitol City, the word from the Lord was clear: ‘Be a Barnabas." I spent the better part of 4 years trying to determine how to do just that. One can only imagine the joy I experienced to have Todd and TEG provide strategic consulting to help us organizationally restructure to make that possible. The fruit has been almost immediate. My stress level is down, the church is doing the work of ministry, and God's presence is palpable. Striving to be a servant leader is tough enough emotionally, but we have been incredibly blessed to get some "how to" along the way.”
Robby Moore, Capitol City Church
*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.
OUR PROMISE
We advise with open hands — offering our best, grounded in experience, but always deferring to what God is already doing in and through you. We won’t try to fit you into a system. We’ll listen, contextualize, and help you take your next faithful step.
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.
P.S. Whether we meet online or in person,
the coffee's on us.