The Equip Pipeline is a two-semester leadership development experience designed to identify, develop, and invest in emerging leaders from our local churches.

Participants are recommended by their pastor and challenged to grow in calling, character, competency, and practical ministry leadership. Together we will provide curated content, real mentorship, collaborative learning, and hands-on ministry experiences.

Developing This Generation of Local Church Leaders

Our Mission:

In cooperation with NOBTS and NAMB

Apply Today

FOR PARTICIPANTS

- WHAT YOU GET

Books, excerpts, videos, resources selected to help you grow as a leader, delivered through Pathwright.

Intentional mentorship from your pastor and access to dynamic ministry leaders.

Develop the actual competencies churches are looking for in emerging leaders.

Learn alongside other emerging leaders through monthly PBBA gatherings.

- YOUR COMMITMENT

The Equip Pipeline requires you to fully engage:

  • Invest 4-5 hours each month in courses, classwork, and mentoring.

  • Prioritize the monthly PBBA gathering.

  • Fully engage in collaborative learning.

  • Participate in Saturday active-learning experiences.

  • Respect the investment your pastor and church are making in you.

Come ready to learn, participate, and grow.

FOR PASTORS

Pastor, do you have leaders you would give more to if you could?

You see potential in them. They are faithful, teachable and already serving. You would love to give them more training, more exposure, and more intentional development, but ministry rarely leaves enough margin to build everything yourself.

The Equip Pipeline is designed to come alongside you.

You identify and recommend the leader. PBBA helps provide curated ministry content, collaborative learning, practical experiences, and exposure to other ministry leaders. You remain their pastor and primary mentor.

Pastor Recommendation Form

- YOUR INVESTMENT

We are asking each recommending pastor to invest approximately one hour each month in intentional mentorship with their participant.

There is no required format. Use the time in a way that fits your relationship, ministry context, and the areas where your leader most needs to grow.

    • Share a meal with the leader and their family.

    • Prayer walk together in the community.

    • Take them with you on ministry visitation: hospital, homebound, outreach, or pastoral care.

    • Prepare a message, Bible study, or lesson together.

    • Invite them into appropriate leadership conversations or decision-making.

    • Serve together in a ministry environment.

    • Plan a best-practices Q&A around an area of ministry or leadership.

    • Talk through a real ministry challenge and explain how you are thinking through it.

    • Debrief a sermon, meeting, event, or ministry experience together.

    • Give them responsibility, observe them lead, and provide feedback.

- THE GOAL

Move beyond information into transformation.

The Equip Pipeline can provide content and experiences, but the most important development will happen when a trusted pastor invites an emerging leader close enough to watch and walk.

Our goal is not simply to help participants know more about ministry.

We want to help pastors develop leaders who are ready to serve the local church.

- THE OPPORTUNITY

Some pastors are already planning to run the pipeline in their weekly programming. Review the scope and sequence, and consider adding this into your midweek discipleship rhythms.

  • Introduces the cooperative mission, structure, and theological convictions of the Southern Baptist Convention, equipping disciples to understand how local churches partner together for gospel advance, global missions, and church planting

  • Helps participants develop a biblical understanding of the church’s identity, nature, mission, and values — discovering God’s design for the local church as His primary instrument for making disciples, displaying His glory, and advancing His kingdom.

  • Equips participants with a biblical foundation and practical framework for evangelism and missions — exploring God’s heart for the nations, the missionary task entrusted to the local church, and the call of every believer to make disciples in our communities, our country, and the world.

  • Helps participants discover how God has uniquely shaped them for His mission — identifying spiritual gifts, God-directed passions, and their calling to live as sent disciples through the local church and in everyday life.

  • Focuses on the development of Christlike character through spiritual disciplines, personal holiness, and healthy rhythms of life — developing disciples who are intentionally growing and maturing to fulfill God’s mission.

  • Introduces foundational leadership principles rooted in the example of Jesus Christ — soul care, gospel-centered stewardship of time and priorities, and servant leadership — developing habits and skills for faithful influence and long-term ministry effectiveness

  • Equips participants to cultivate the relational fabric of gospel ministry — healthy friendships and family life, life-giving church relationships, biblical hospitality, and peacemaking through conflict — because ministry isn’t just done with people, ministry is people

  • Unpacks four key practices for making disciples who make disciples: Identify those around you in need of the gospel · Invest in their lives to share the gospel · Invite them into relationship with Jesus and the church · Increase the scope of God’s Kingdom through meaningful multiplication.

2 Semesters
8 Competencies

  • January 3:
    Orientation & Important Documents

    • Watch: Welcome Video

    • Download: Cohort Schedule

    • Download: Important Documents

    • Read: Grading Rubric

    • Review: Reading List

    Southern Baptist Convention

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Southern Baptist Convention.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 42.

    • Read Meet Southern Baptists.

    • Complete Navigating the Southern Baptist Convention.

    • Read the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.

    • Complete the Southern Baptist Convention Quiz.

    January 10 - North American Mission Board

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: North American Mission Board.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 43.

    • Watch Who We Are.

    • Watch North American Church Planting.

    • Complete How to Get Involved.

    • Interview a Church Planter. - Brian Hicks

    January 17 - International Mission Board

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: International Mission Board.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 44.

    • Watch Who We Are.

    • Read Engaging in the Mission Together.

    • Complete How to Get Involved.

    • Interview a Missionary Craig Bonelli

    January 24 - Gather with Pastor

    January 31 - What Is the Church?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: What Is the Church?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 46.

    • Read If the Church Is a People, Why Must We Gather?

    • Complete Imagery of the Church in Ephesians.

    • Read Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman.

    • Submit Compose Your Own Definition of the Church.

    February 7 - Why Does the Church Exist in the World?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Why Does the Church Exist in the World?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 47.

    • Read The Mission of God.

    • Watch The Mission of the Church.

    • Watch The Mission of the Church (J.D. Payne).

    • Watch Risk It All for Christian Mission.

    • Confirm your church membership.

    February 14 - The Values of Biblical Community

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: The Values of Biblical Community.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 49.

    • Complete Scripture Passages and Commands.

    • Read 20 Significant "One Another" Passages.

    • Watch You Can't Follow Jesus by Yourself—You Need Community.

    February 21 - Gather with Pastor

    February 28 - Motivation for Evangelism & Missions

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Motivation for Evangelism & Missions.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 51.

    • Read Evangelism by Dean Inserra.

    • Read Definitions for Evangelism and Evangelism Terms.

    • Watch Commitment to Personal Evangelism by Ed Stetzer.

    • Watch What Happens to Those Who Never Hear the Gospel? by David Platt.

    March 7 - Cultivating Gospel Conversations

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Cultivating Gospel Conversations.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 52.

    • Read How to Turn a Conversation by Joey Cochran.

    • Watch Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations.

    • Read The Art of Spiritual Conversation in a Changing Culture.

    • Watch Learn the 3 Circles Gospel Presentation.

    • Complete Share the 3 Circles Gospel Presentation.

    March 14 - The Missionary Task

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: The Missionary Task.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 54.

    • Watch Why Plant Churches?

    • Watch Understanding the Missionary Task – Part 1 (International Mission Board).

    • Listen to Understanding the Missionary Task – Part 2 (North American Mission Board).

    • Complete Reflection on the Missionary Task in the Book of Acts.

    March 21 - Gather with Pastor

    March 28 - Discovering & Shaping Spiritual Gifts

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Discovering & Shaping Spiritual Gifts.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 55.

    • Watch Gifted to Serve – Adrian Rogers.

    • Watch Spiritual Gifts – Fred Sanders.

    • Read The Gifts of the Spirit by Tom Schreiner.

    • Complete the Spiritual Gifts Survey.

    April 4 - Discovering & Shaping Spiritual Passions

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Discovering & Shaping Spiritual Passions.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 57.

    • Watch Know Your Why?

    • Complete Discovering Your Passions.

    • Complete 360° Activation Insight.

    • Watch Understanding the Connection Between Your Work, Purpose, and Passions.

    • Complete What Is Your Next Step?

    April 11 - Discovering the Sent Life

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Discovering the Sent Life.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 58.

    • Read Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung.

    • Watch What Is Your Role in God's Mission? – J.D. Greear.

    • Watch The Sending Gospel with Afshin Ziafat.

    April 18 - Gather with Pastor

    April 25 - Discipline Challenge / Being Formed

    • Watch Leadership Coaching: Why Do We Do the Discipline Challenge?

    • Review Discipline Challenge Instructions.

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read Imago Dei.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Being Formed.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 59.

    • Watch Overview of the Imago Dei – Gavin Ortlund.

    • Watch D.A. Horton on the Imago Dei and Spiritual Formation.

    • Complete Draft Your Personal Mission Statement.

    May 2 - Being Disciplined

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Being Disciplined.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 60.

    • Read Spiritual Formation by George Ross.

    • Watch What Are Spiritual Disciplines? – Ken Boa.

    • Read Chapter 1 of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney.

    • Watch Spiritual Discipline – Noah Oldham.

    • Complete Reflection on Spiritual Formation.

    May 9 - Being Balanced

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Being Balanced.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 61.

    • Watch Sabbath in the Storyline of the Bible – BibleProject.

    • Read Wisdom and Sabbath Rest by Tim Keller.

    • Complete Reflection: Why Rest Matters.

    • Watch How Can Embracing Limits Make You a Better Leader? – Pete Scazzero.

    • Watch Work Like Harmony – Jeff Bezos.

    • Submit Long-Term Rest Plan.

    May 16 - Gather with Pastor

    SUMMER BREAK

    Participants are encouraged to remain active in their local church, continue Scripture memory and Bible reading, intentionally invest in disciple-making relationships, and prepare for Semester Two.

  • August 29 - Soul Care

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Soul Care.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 62.

    • Watch God's Primary Call on Your Life: Intimacy with Jesus – Vance Pitman.

    • Watch Ministry: A Miserable Place to Find Your Identity – Paul Tripp.

    • Complete 10 Questions Every Believer Should Ask Themselves.

    • Complete Jesus & Soul Care.

    • Take the Soul Care Assessment.

    September 5 - Gospel-Centered Goal Setting

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Gospel-Centered Goal Setting.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 93.

    • Watch 8 Habits of Great Leaders (Part 1) – Craig Groeschel.

    • Read Gospel-Centered Goal Setting.

    • Watch Make Your Bed – Admiral William McRaven.

    • Complete SMART Goals.

    • Submit your Gospel Life Plan.

    September 12 - Servant Leadership

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Servant Leadership.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 94.

    • Read Kingdom Character: Suffering, Service, and Sacrifice.

    • Read Serving Like Jesus at Work.

    • Read The Hidden Currency: Why Responsiveness Is the Most Undervalued Leadership Skill.

    • Complete Reflect on Your Motives.

    • Complete Create a Personal Plan to Serve.

    September 19 - Gather with Pastor

    September 26:
    Friendships & Family

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Friendships & Family.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 95.

    • Read Relationships by Noah Oldham.

    • Read Loving Your Family While Living on Mission.

    • Watch Without Good Friends, You Will Die – John Piper.

    • Read Biblical Friendship Cannot Be Hacked.

    • Read Pastors Need Friends.

    • Complete the Relational Health Survey.

    Church Relationships

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Church Relationships.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 98.

    • Listen to Friendship – Timothy Keller.

    • Complete Five Takeaways from Keller's Sermon.

    • Read The Church as Family by Trevin Wax.

    • Read Community: No Masks Allowed by Noah Oldham.

    • Watch Do You Have a Friend Like Jonathan?

    • Complete Healthy Friendships in Your Local Church.

    October 3 - Biblical Hospitality

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Biblical Hospitality.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 99.

    • Read Biblical Hospitality Defined.

    • Read Hospitality in the Bible.

    • Watch The Study and Challenges of Biblical Hospitality.

    • Read Practicing Biblical Hospitality.

    • Complete Reflection Questions.

    • Complete Hospitality Exercise & Reflection.

    October 10 - Managing Conflict

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Managing Conflict.

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 100.

    • Watch Christ-Centered Conflict Resolution.

    • Read Five Questions for Resolving Conflict.

    • Read Contain Your Church Conflict by Norris Smith.

    • Complete the Conflict Management Style Assessment.

    October 17 - Gather with Pastor

    October 24:
    Why?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Why?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 104.

    • Watch Discipleship – Robby Gallaty.

    • Reflect on the assigned Scripture passages.

    • Read Addition vs. Multiplication.

    • Complete Reflection Upon Your Discipleship Journey.

    ‍ ‍ Who?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: Who?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 101.

    • Read Introduction to Making Disciples.

    • Read selections from The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman.

    • Read Identifying Someone to Disciple by Frederick Cardoza.

    • Complete Reflection on Disciple Making.

    • Identify one or more people to intentionally disciple.

    October 31 - What?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: What?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 102.

    • Watch How NOT to Make Disciples – Francis Chan.

    • Watch Define the Goal of Your Disciple-Making Process.

    • Read Disciple-Making Needs a Destination and Direction.

    • Read Critical Factors of Discipleship.

    • Complete Philosophy of Disciple Making.

    November 7 - How?

    • Memorize the assigned Scripture passages and complete the weekly Bible reading.

    • Read the Coaching Guide: How?

    • Complete the Prayer Guide: Psalm 103.

    • Read Disciple Making Is Ordinary Christianity by Erik Raymond.

    • Watch How Do I Make Disciples?

    • Watch Pathways for Discipleship.

    • Read Chapter 11 of Life on Mission by Dustin Willis & Aaron Coe.

    • Complete Reflection on the Five Elements of Disciple Making.

Scope and Sequence

READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?

Your pastor sees leadership potential in you.

Equip is an opportunity to develop it.

Grow in your calling.

Strengthen your character.

Build practical ministry competencies.

Learn alongside other emerging leaders.

Discover your next step

Apply Today

FAQ’s

  • Equip is designed for emerging leaders who are actively involved in a local church, demonstrate leadership potential, and have been recommended by their pastor.

    Participants do not have to be certain that they are called to vocational ministry. Equip provides an environment to discern calling while developing the character and practical competencies necessary to serve and lead well in the local church.

    There is no age requirement.

  • Yes. Pastor recommendation is required.

    Equip is designed to work in partnership with the participant's local church. Pastors are asked not only to recommend participants but also to commit approximately one hour each month to mentoring and investing in them.

  • Yes. The cost is $50 per semester.

    This fee helps provide books, resources, digital course content, and other materials used throughout the semester.

    Any NOBTS or Leavell College tuition associated with receiving academic credit is separate from the Equip resource fee.

  • Participants will receive access to curated ministry resources through Pathwright, including books, book excerpts, articles, videos, assessments, coaching guides, and other learning materials.

    New resources will be made available throughout each month.

  • Equip normally gathers on the third Sunday of each month from 4:30–6:00 PM at:

    Pensacola Bay Baptist Association
    9999 Chemstrand Rd.
    Pensacola, FL 32514

    Some dates may vary based on the annual schedule.

    Participants will also take part in two Saturday active-learning experiences during the year.

  • January 3, 2027  Online Orientation
    January 24, 2027  First Gathering at PBBA

    August 29, 2027 Online Orientation
    November 14, 2027  Equip Celebration & Certificate Presentation

    Dates for the two Saturday learning experiences will be announced separately.

  • Yes. The interview process helps us determine whether Equip is a good fit for the applicant and whether the applicant is ready to fully participate in the cohort.

    After completing the application and required materials, applicants may be invited to:

    Step 1: Phone interview with PBBA staff
    Step 2: Interview with the Equip Team
    Step 3: Invitation to participate in the Equip cohort

  • Yes. Participants may have the opportunity to receive either undergraduate credit through Leavell College or graduate credit through New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

    Participants seeking academic credit must complete the appropriate NOBTS/Leavell College application and registration requirements by January 17, 2027.

    Normal NOBTS/Leavell College tuition and credit rates apply and are separate from the Equip program resource fee.

  • Plan to invest approximately 4–5 hours each month in online coursework, reading, assignments, collaborative learning, and mentoring.

    Equip is designed to complement active service in your local church, not compete with it.