2015

LAUNCHINGSALT & LIGHT

GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION

A FOOTPRINT IN EVERY NATION

The purpose of our lives is to be Salt & Light – to bring out the God-flavors and help people see the goodness of God. John C. Maxwell

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LightSALT &

The Heart of John Maxwell .........................................…. 5

The Capstone of Training .............................................…. 6

Celebrations in Fiji …................................................................ 8

Training to Transformation ........................................… 10

The Salt & Light Strategy ..................................................… 12

What’s happening in the North America .......… 18

Taking it Global .................................................................… 20

Latin America ..........................................................................… 22

China ...............................................................................................… 26

Next steps Globally …............................................................ 29

Mobilizing You as Salt & Light …................................. 31

Launching Salt & Light ........................................… 14

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

I HAVE TWO GREAT PASSIONS IN MY LIFE: leadership and evangelism. For many years, I have been known throughout the world for leadership. EQUIP has been known for training Christian leaders around the globe. The results are God-sized. Individuals in every nation understand that leadership is influence and these leaders continue to grow their ability to influence people within their churches, families, businesses, government and communities.

In 2015, EQUIP, fueled by the prayer and partnership of thousands, crossed a threshold. Christian leaders are now being trained in every nation on the planet. God has laid a foundation and is calling us to leverage this influence for great significance — Global Transformation.

For the past three years, I have been thinking, praying, talking, idea sharing, and learning with one word at the center — Transformation. EQUIP has set in motion a movement with one goal in mind — transformed lives through the power of Christ. EQUIP has the influence, content and trained leaders necessary to truly tackle global transformation. Salt and Light is the strategy. And the execution is underway.

Within these pages, you will learn how EQUIP is mobilizing churches to intentionally impact the world as Salt and Light. We have been invited in to something that is impossible without God’s vision and favor. Thank you for taking this journey with us.

Your friend,

John C. Maxwell

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2015 MARKS THE COMPLETION OF A SIGNIFICANT WORK IN THE STORY GOD IS TELLING THROUGH EQUIP. FOR NEARLY TWO DECADES, EQUIP HAS REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THE CALL TO TRAIN AND EQUIP LEADERS. TODAY, WE CELEBRATE AND PRAISE GOD FOR HIS FAITHFULNESS IN ALLOWING EQUIP TO RAISE UP CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN 196 NATIONS AROUND THE WORLD — THAT IS MORE THAN 6 MILLION CHRISTIAN

LEADERS IN EVERY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD!

From Kota to Kirabati!EQUIP’s footprint touches EVERY nation of the world!

“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.”

Ephesians 3:20 (The Message)

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IN 1997, EQUIP held its inaugural international conference to train leaders in Kota, India. In 2003, John Maxwell asked what might happen if there were one million Christian leaders in the world. EQUIP launched the Million Leader Mandate and quickly that vision expanded beyond a number, recognizing the impact that could be made when trained leaders could influence every territory on the planet. A decade later, that vision is a reality.

As we celebrate the completion of this phase of EQUIP's story, we pause to praise God for the work He has done and to thank the churches and donors who provided prayers, resources, and volunteer trainers.

ASSOCIATE TRAINERS SHARING THEIR GIFTS

400

MILLION INVESTED IN RAISING LEADERS FOR GOD'S GLORY

$50

MILLION MILES TRAVERSED TO MEET WITH LEADERS

45

TRIPS TO CONFERENCES AROUND THE GLOBE

4500

JUNE 26, 2015 – LEADERS FROM KIRABATI, A SMALL ISLAND NATION OF 102,000 IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC, TRAVELED 2,150 MILES TO WORLD HARVEST CHURCH IN SUVA, FIJI. ALONGSIDE LEADERS FROM ACROSS OCEANIA, THESE FOUR PASTORS CAME TO GROW THEIR INFLUENCE AND BECOME MORE EFFECTIVE LEADERS FOR CHRIST IN ONE OF THE POOREST NATIONS IN THE WORLD.

CELEBRATIONS IN FIJI

1. John Maxwell and family mark the 196th nation!

2. EQUIP honors leaders from Kirabati representing the final nation to be trained!

3. Conference attendees seek the Lord for transformation.

4. EQUIP board members and staff celebrate capstone event!

5. John Maxwell prays during training session.

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TRAINING TO TRANSFORMATION

FOUNDER JOHN MAXWELL SAYS, “A LEADER IS ONE WHO KNOWS THE WAY, GOES THE WAY, AND SHOWS THE WAY.”

FOR TWO DECADES, EQUIP HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR TRAINING AND EQUIPPING CHRISTIAN LEADERS AROUND THE GLOBE.

THE RESULT?6 MILLION LEADERS TRAINED

IN 196 NATIONS.

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THE IMPACT

This army of leaders has grown in its potential. Christian leaders all over the globe — in China, India, Latin America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East — have built a formidable foundation. EQUIP’s leadership training has helped them hone their skills, grow their influence and multiply leaders and their teams.

With the crisis our world is facing, EQUIP is focused on mobilizing transformational leaders in every stream of influence. Transformational leaders put leadership principles into action, yielding positive change in their own lives and leveraging that change to impact the culture around them. EQUIP exists to mobilize these leaders to transform their government, business, church, community, family and eventually,

their nation. EQUIP is partnering with churches to mobilize believers as Salt & Light in the community. With the church at the center of the movement, EQUIP is partnering with leaders at every level in nations around the globe to be agents of transformation in their sphere of influence.

A MOVEMENT OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION IS UNDERWAY.

• Planting churches in nations where proclaiming Christ is a death sentence. • Serving the poor, disenfranchised and orphaned. • Offering refuge to individuals fleeing war and oppression. T

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NOW, ALL OF OUR ATTENTION TURNS TO LEVERAGING THIS FOUNDATION FOR GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION!

“By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (The Message)

THIS MOVEMENT OF GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION IS FUELED BY THE CHURCH. WHY? THE CHURCH

HOLDS THE KEY TO ULTIMATE TRANSFORMATION – AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS CHRIST.

THESALT & LIGHT STRATEGY

TThe key to global transformation lies in unleashing the power of Jesus Christ in lives. And to do that, believers have some work to do to engage a lost and secular world.

EQUIP is coming alongside churches with a strategy called Salt & Light that is inspired by the ultimate transformational leader. What made Jesus transformational? He saw things others didn’t see. He said things others did not say. He believed things others did not believe. He did things others did not do. Jesus was intentional and Jesus challenged believers to be salt and light in a lost and broken world.

As John Maxwell says, our purpose as believers is to bring out the God-flavors and shine God-colors in a dark world. This begins by mobilizing believers in our churches to intentionally penetrate their community and add value to individuals who are far from God and not looking for Him.

Every community possesses people who have an incorrect view of God, who are looking for unconditional love and who need help but do not see the church as a place to seek that help. Most believers do not have a plan to strategically engage and help these people.

The Salt & Light strategy provides believers with tools and a game plan to add value to others. Adding value starts with meeting others where they are — physically and spiritually. The Salt & Light strategy moves believers outside of the church and into the marketplace to facilitate conversations about what people want — success. We understand a big idea — a relationship with God leads to a better and brighter life. Salt & Light provides a platform to establish a relationship to introduce that idea, draw individuals to the church and launch transformation in lives across our communities.

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THE SALT & LIGHT MOVEMENT LAUNCHED FROM THE JOHN C. MAXWELL LEADERSHIP CENTER AT 12STONE® CHURCH IN FEBRUARY 2015. JOHN MAXWELL, EQUIP AND WELL-KNOWN PASTORS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA CHALLENGED CHURCH LEADERS TO EMBRACE OUR CALLING TO BE SALT & LIGHT AND INTRODUCED A STRATEGY WITH RESOURCES TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE - FOR EVERY CHURCH, OF ANY SIZE, IN EVERY COMMUNITY, ACROSS THE GLOBE.

LAUNCHINGSALT & LIGHT

Pastor Tom Mullins, president of EQUIP,closing Salt & Light conference with prayer.

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TRANSFORMATION FACILITATORS

LOCAL CHURCH

ROUNDTABLES

WHAT IS THE SALT & LIGHT STRATEGY?

EQUIP provides materials that cast vision and challenge believers through Jesus’ teaching about Salt & Light and lays out a plan to mobilize them into action. The Salt & Light strategy encourages believers to meet non-believing peers where they are and add value to their lives around a topic relevant to everyone — success.

EQUIP provides training materials that churches can use to prepare lay believers to host and lead roundtables among their peers. When facilitated properly, roundta-bles are excellent environments for building relationships and learning. Facilitators are equipped to lead with transparency and promote discussion.

EQUIP provides video and print resources to engage individuals in roundtable discussions called “Essentials of Success” with leadership and personal growth expert John C. Maxwell.

STEP 1: A CHURCH BODY EMBRACES JESUS’ PURPOSE TO BE SALT AND LIGHT IN ITS COMMUNITY.

STEP 3: TRAINED FACILITATORS REACH INTO THEIR SPHERE OF INFLUENCE TO ADD VALUE TO NON-BELIEVERS WHERE THEY ARE IN THE MARKETPLACE AND COMMUNITY.

STEP 2: MOBILIZED BELIEVERS LEARN HOW TO WORK AS AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION.

“Essentials of Success” Topics:

• Attitude• Growth• Relationships

• Character• Adding Value• Living Intentional

LOCAL CHURCH

ROUNDTABLES

FACILITATORS

EQUIP provides a final, bonus video where John Maxwell shares his faith. He talks about four pictures of God — three that are misconceptions and one that’s true to who God is, and offers a model prayer of salvation. Participants who come to faith can be invited to church by their group leader. Others can start faith conversations.

STEP 4: ROUNDTABLES CREATE AN ENTRYWAY TO RELATIONSHIPS WHERE A FACILITATOR’S FAITH APPEARS RELEVANT TO A NON-BELIEVER.

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TRANSFORMATION

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NORTH AMERICA…

A MOVEMENT OF TRANSFORMATION IS UNDERWAY IN NORTH AMERICA.

The initial seeds were planted in February 2015 with the introduction of the strategy to 650 church leaders at the Salt & Light Conference. In April 2015, John Maxwell shared the vision of Salt & Light with pastors representing various cultures and communities across North America at the International Pastors & Leadership Conference presented by Bishop T.D. Jakes. Church leaders returned home, challenged to mobilize their churches to add value to a secular community who considers the church irrelevant to their lives. With a deepened understanding of their communities, a refreshed urgency to reach them and a plan to do it, churches across North America sprang into action! They developed a strategy to maximize Salt & Light in their churches and increase the momentum of their own ministries.

In fall 2015, more than 4,000 roundtables will be taking place in businesses, schools and community organizations across North America.

Salt & Light churches include two of the fastest-growing churches in North America, Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, AL and Christ Fellowship in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

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PROJECTED NUMBER OF CHURCHES ENGAGED WITH SALT & LIGHT IN 2016

25,000

THillsongTAKING IT GLOBALSalt & Light MomentumChurches around the globe are embracing the call to be salt and light in their communities. The momentum began with a collection of international pastors who attended the Salt & Light Conference in Atlanta.

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In June, EQUIP was invited to share the Salt & Light vision to international leaders at the Hillsong Conference in Sydney, Australia. John Maxwell addressed more than 25,000 church leaders, challenging them to embrace the call to be salt and light in their communities. EQUIP has plans to release the Salt & Light resources, currently available only in English, in additional languages to meet the global demand, beginning with the five most widely spoken languages in 2016.

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500 ENGLISH-SPEAKING CHURCHES ARE LEVERAGING THE SALT & LIGHT STRATEGY AS PART OF THEIR MINISTRY.

The idea of global transformation is gaining traction outside of the church community. In 2015, The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation was founded to engage corporations wanting to fund projects focused on the vision of Global Transformation. Simultaneously, international communities continue to invite John Maxwell to train leaders in the various streams of influence (business, faith, government, education,

entertainment media and youth) in their countries.

In 2015, the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation (JMLF) launched a transformation movement within every stream of influence in the nation of Paraguay. In February 2016, JMLF will partner with agencies to impact every stream of influence. EQUIP, in partnership with Lidere, will lead the faith component of the initiative.

JOHN MAXWELL LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION:ENGINE FOR GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION

EQUIP IS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE TRANSFORMATION PROJECT IN PARAGUAY, POSITIONING THE FAITH COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF THE INITIATIVE.

LATIN AMERICA

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In fall 2015, John Maxwell and his team traveled to Paraguay to begin meeting with the leaders of the various streams of influence. Among the key meetings, John Maxwell met with seven top influencers in the faith community as well as the archbishop of the Catholic Church. Those pastors prayed over the transformation launch, paving the way for transformation through prayer.

In February 2016, EQUIP churches will launch Salt & Light in the faith community, thereby increasing the Church's influence in transformation. The initial roundtables phase of Transformation Paraguay:   

Emilio Aguero

Dario Ramirez

Antonio Montiel

Santiago Maldonado

Fernando Perez

Emilio and Bethany Abreu

More Than Conquerors Church, the fastest growing church in Paraguay

Leader of the Mennonite Churches

Head of the Church of God denomination

President of the Pastors Church Association

President of the Baptist Convention

Family Worship Center, lone megachurch with 10,000 members and a church network throughout Paraguay

TOP INFLUENCERS IN PARAGUAY FAITH COMMUNITY

6677total number ofroundtables

THE TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE IN GUATEMALA CONTINUES! “TRANSFORMATION IS IN ME” CURRICULUM HAS PERMEATED THE EDUCATION AND GOVERNMENT STREAMS OF INFLUENCE. IN 2016, EQUIP WILL RETURN TO GUATEMALA AND LAUNCH SALT & LIGHT IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM GENERATED BY THE TRANSFORMATION LAUNCH IN 2013.

GUATEMALA

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EQUIP, in partnership with Lidere, continues to lay the groundwork to prepare for the launch of Salt & Light in Latin America. In 2015, EQUIP has continued to nurture relationships with pastors of major churches and with denominational leaders in every nation of Latin America. We have also updated our database of 1000’s of pastors in 20 nations of the region.

SALT & LIGHT LAUNCH IN SPANISH

WHEN THE SALT & LIGHT CURRICULUM IS RELEASED IN SPANISH IN FEBRUARY OF 2016, THE INITIATIVE WILL BE LAUNCHED IN 20 COUNTRIES AT THE SAME TIME. 20

ChinaTRANSFORMING THE WORLD’S LARGEST NATION!

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CULTURE AND TIMING HAVE CREATED MONUMENTAL POTENTIAL FOR THE SALT & LIGHT INITIATIVE IN CHINA. EQUIP CONTINUES TO BUILD ON ITS INFLUENCE WITH MORE THAN 20 MILLION CHINESE CHRISTIANS AND TO DEVELOP LEADERS. MANY OF THOSE LEADERS ARE FOLLOWING THE URBAN MIGRATION TRENDS. OF CHINA’S 1.3 BILLION PEOPLE, 54.7% OF THEM LIVE IN URBAN AREAS IN PURSUIT OF FINANCIAL SUCCESS. IN 2014, CHINA BECAME THE WORLD’S LARGEST ECONOMY IN AN INCREASINGLY MATERIALISTIC SOCIETY. WITH SUCCESS A DRIVING FACTOR AND THE RISING SWELL OF URBAN HOUSE CHURCHES, EQUIP IS PRIMED TO IGNITE TRANSFORMATION IN THE WORLD’S MOST POPULATED NATION.

OF CHINESE PEOPLE IDENTIFY AS ATHEISTS, RANKING IT THE LEAST RELIGIOUS COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

61% *WIN/Gallup International survey released April 13, 2015

OF PEOPLE IN CHINA MEASURE THEIR SUCCESS BY THE THINGS THEY OWN.

71% *IPSOS study

1 MILLIONCHINESE CHRISTIAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN

TRAINED BY EQUIP.

2016IS THE YEAR SALT & LIGHT MATERIALS WILL

BE TRANSLATED INTO MANDARIN.

DID YOU KNOW?

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NEXT STEPS GLOBALLY

EQUIP PLANS TO TRANSLATE SALT & LIGHT INTO THE FIVE MOST COMMONLY SPOKEN LANGUAGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AS PROGRESS ON TRANSLATING THE RESOURCES INTO HINDI AND ARABIC CONTINUES, LEADERS ARE BEGINNING TO PREPARE THE SOIL FOR SALT & LIGHT.

INDIA: EQUIP’s footprint in India is expansive, having launched leadership training there in 1997. Leaders and partner agencies, including Joyce Meyer Ministries, have reviewed the Salt & Light curriculum and have been testing it with some English-speaking churches. India possesses the second largest English-speaking population and will expand efforts when the Hindi translation is complete. EQUIP partners continue to expand the reach of leadership training to remote portions of the world’s 2nd most populated nation.

OF INDIA’S 1.2 BILLION PEOPLE SPEAK ENGLISH.

10%

ARABIC SPEAKING WORLD: As Salt & Light is translated into Arabic, EQUIP continues to focus on pouring into top Christian leaders in the Middle East, Gulf States and Northern Africa. In 2015, EQUIP hosted HUB conferences in each region. Christian leaders of these regions gathered to grow, encourage one another and learn about the Salt & Light content. These are top leaders with great influence in the marketplace, education, healthcare and the church. In 2016, they will complete leadership training and strategize adapted ways to implement Salt & Light in a region where evangelism warrants immediate deportation or death.

AFRICA: Salt & Light will saturate Africa through the next generation. EQUIP is partnering with One Hope to train next generation leaders. One Hope focuses on helping kids experience God’s story in their lives and has introduced 1 billion children to a relevant gospel message. Currently, we are testing and fine-tuning a customized leadership tract for youth leaders in Ghana in preparation of launching Salt & Light in several African nations through next gen Christian leaders.

A key partner in Zimbabwe will lead the pilot project for Salt and Light in the southern region of Africa.

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I

make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now

that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening

up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 (The Message)

IF YOUR CHURCH WAS NO LONGER THERE TOMORROW, WOULD YOUR COMMUNITY NOTICE?

MOBILIZE AS SALT & LIGHT AND THAT ANSWER IS “YES!”TO LEARN MORE, VISIT WWW.IEQUIP.CHURCH

www.iequip.org