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About Equipping The Saints Ministries 7405 53rd St Ct.
W University Place, WA
98467-5010 253.564.3261
Background The vision for ETS began in the early '80's, in Tri-Cities, Washington as I was beginning to understand what God was calling me to – worship, intercession, spiritual warfare, discipling, teaching and missions. To this foundation, missionary experience in Costa Rica, Spain, Mexico and India and ministry from Washington to Florida was added. Equipping the Saints (ETS) Ministry formally started in 1991 while I was in Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Los Angeles. My debt of gratitude goes to the local church and
para-church ministries, to whom I owe my training. I have never been to Bible
School or Seminary, God always seemed to block my way the various times I tried
to go. However, I have received the finest of training from the churches and
ministries listed below. I went to some full time, while I visited others when my
home church did not have services.
Child
Evangelism Fellowship (that
is where I met the Lord) 1st Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, WA
Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts People's Church, Tacoma The Grange (Evangelical Free), Pullman, WA
The Chapel
(AG), Pullman
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Pullman Baptist Student Union, Pullman
The Navigators, Pullman Pasco Bible Church which became
Tri-City
Foursquare Bethel Baptist, Richland, WA (especially Saint St.
Singles) Country Christian Center, Pasco, WA North Pasco Home Church Word of Faith Church, Kennewick, WA
Calvary Chapel,
West Richland, WA Instituto de Lengua
Espanola, Costa Rica, chapel services Agape Lighthouse, Jacksonville, FL
Youth With A Mission, Lake View Terrace, CA Glendale
Vineyard
Church
on the Way, Van Nuys, CA
The Dwelling
Place, Lakeview Terrace, CA
Neighborhood Church, University Place, WA Healing Waters Church, Tacoma, WA Faith and Vision, Auburn, WA Clover Creek Bible Fellowship, Spanaway, WA Also, I have had many friends and Bible Study and
prayer groups along the way, which have discipled and mentored me.
Unfortunately, they are too numerous to mention, and I would undoubtedly forget
a few. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! I have had the privilege of ministering in a variety of ways and places throughout my life, many within the local church, and several outside of it. I have ministered to children, youth and adults (both singles and married), in Sunday School; regular and special services (both here and abroad). The Lord has blessed me to have been able to minister in nursing homes, juvenile detention centers (here and abroad), jails, and rescue missions. I taught in private church schools. I have ministered on the street, both preaching and feeding street people, and have ministered to drug addicts (both here and abroad). I have been blessed to see people saved, healed (in all areas), set free from demonization, mature and be discipled in their walk with the Lord. The majority of times I have ministered in teams or pairs, but often on my own as part of a bigger ministry.
Before I went on my first mission trip to Costa Rica, I was licensed and ordained by Ministerial Fellowship (founded by John G. Lake). I served with Youth With A Mission in Los Angeles and Mexico. Before my trip to India, I was licensed by New Life Fellowship. I am on the board of Four Corners Ministry and am under their covering as well as that of FCMI.
Vision
Discipleship or multiplication is at the core of my vision. Whatever good I have in my is by Holy Spirit working on the word of God. All of that can be imparted and transmitted in various ways, to various degrees. My passion is to see that happen on any level possible. I prefer the most expedient ways, but God knows best. I also prefer many seeds planted, but sometimes only one can be received. But if that one seed bears fruit, it is all worth while.
Transdenominational is my scope. Anyone willing to receive is welcome at this table. There are no restrictions, and I want this word to run throughout the world, so copying and translation is welcomed. Likewise, I have benefited from and continue to fellowship with those from various 'streams' or 'tribes'. I believe we can all learn so much from brothers and sisters from many different denominational backgrounds. Cross-pollination is very beneficial. Don't get me wrong. I go to, submit, minister to and support Neighborhood Church and my pastor Bud Brown. You can email him if you like to check me out: pastorbud@harbornet.com. But that does not stop me from fellowshipping with, receiving from nor ministering to a variety of fellow believers. As I have recently observed my life, I have been transdenominational since high school.
Statement of Faith
The Bible is the all-sufficient rule for faith and practice. The following statement of truth is not intended to be exhaustive, but to be simply a common expression of faith:
I ran across this covenant, which Four Corners Ministry has adopted as their own. It is so good and reflects my thoughts so well, I am going to include it here: 1. Obedient to the Holy Spirit ‑- Like Jesus, we only seek to do what we see the Father doing. We acknowledge His right to break our rules and offend our sensibilities. John 5:19, Psalm 12 7: 1, 1 John 3:8 2. Relational ‑- We are a community of friends with shared vision and values, driven by friendship rather than function. John 15:14‑15, Luke 10: 1‑22, 1 Peter 4:7‑ 11, 1 John 4:7‑ 12 3. Indigenous -‑ We respect, value, and honor cultural diversity. Revelation 7:9‑10, Daniel 1, 1 Corinthians 9:20‑21 4. Inclusive ‑- We work with anyone provided they share our vision and values, regardless of race, age, gender, or church background. We build unity and enjoy diversity. Colossians 3:11, Ephesians 4:3‑6 5. Like Jesus ‑- We seek to be like Jesus, in the way we do what we do. For us, the means do not necessarily justify the ends. 6. Deeply rooted ‑- We are committed to growth in maturity rather than size. Psalm 1: 1‑3 7. Creative and innovative ‑- We embrace God‑inspired creativity as integral to authentic expressions of prayer. Exodus 35:30‑35, Genesis 1: 1‑2, Psalm 45: 1, Proverbs 8:22‑31 8. Just -- We will pursue justice and freedom from oppression for humanity and the created world. Isaiah 61, Luke 4:19‑19, Romans 8:19‑21, Isaiah 58 9. Good Stewards ‑- We take responsibility for ourselves, for those around us, and for the resources that God has entrusted to our care. Matthew 25:14‑30, 2 Corinthians 9:6‑15 10. Sacrificial ‑-- We believe that a lifestyle of prayer is costly at every level. 2 Corinthians 8: 1‑5, 1 John 3:16‑ 18, Romans 12:1‑2 11. Celebratory ‑- We believe that Jesus came to bring life to the full and that we have a Christian duty to celebrate all that is good. Fun and laughter are central to ETS, and we do not need to justify these. Genesis 1:3 1, Psalm 24: 1, Matthew 11: 19, John 10: 10 12. Simple -- We are a network of like‑minded people, not some new slick organization. In character we are wild and unpolished, passionate about developing people rather than our own profile. Psalm 1 16:6, Luke 10:3‑5, John 3:8
Purpose The direction of this ministry is found, as you might
have supposed, in Ephesians chapter 4 where Paul talks about the five-fold office
gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. These were given to
"Equip the Saints to do the work of service", hence the name, ETS –
Equipping the Saints. In addition, and equally foundational, is 2 Chronicles
29:11, where Hezekiah gives this charge to the priests and Levites, "My
sons, be not now negligent, for the Lord has called you to stand before Him,
minister to Him, burn incense and be his ministers." ETS exists to equip the saints with a firm knowledge
of who their God is, who they are in Christ and what their purposes are in
life. Its chief goal is to establish, motivate, and challenge all whom would
listen to awaken, rise up and take a united stand establishing, expanding and
extending the kingdom of God in every righteous way possible. God has given
each of us a circle of influence that no one else has to the same degree that
we do. No one else touches all the lives that we do to the same extent that we
are able. God, then, has charged us to know Him and make Him known in our world.
He has also challenged us to ask Him for more influence that we can truly be
all we can possibly be for Jesus. So why have yet another organization? As I have served in various capacities
around the world, I have seen a pattern emerge over and over. Many ministers
are thrust into ministry at a young spiritual age, with little or no training.
Most are barely more mature and trained than the ones they minister to. They
usually have a full-time job with a family to support. What they typically have
available to them for preparation to minister is measured in minutes, rather
than hours. Many can draw from the depths once and awhile to do this and still
minister effectively. But to do this week in and week out would frustrate most
ministers and those ministered to. To be sure there is a plethora of materials
available, but most come at a cost of time and money that make them impractical
for the ministers I mentioned to use. My goal is to provide condensed materials
that can be studied quickly, expanded on easily, and at the price all can
afford -- free. I can reproduce my studies at four cents a double-sided page.
Even cheaper for me, I can offer them via compact disc, email and via my web
site. If this resonates within you, then I pray you will
give some time to avail yourself of the materials. I don’t have all the
answers. I challenge everyone to check me out in the Bible and in the Holy
Spirit to see if such things be so. You are invited to use the materials here
to help establish and extend the Kingdom of God, which is my very purpose. I
only ask that you do not sell these materials without my express permission. I
desire to have most available in Spanish, some are being translated into Telugu
(a language in India). If you desire to translate them into another language,
please feel free to do so. If you do, please email me a copy so I can copy it
and make it available to benefit as many as possible. I want the foundation of ETS to be as large as
possible, open to any avenue through which the Lord may lead me in the
equipping of others. This is impossible to fully define at present. All I know
is that I never thought I would do all God has had me do so far, so only HE
knows where, who, what, and how He will lead me farther along in this journey.
This vessel is available, let all the glory be to HIM! The materials available are: my book, Forget None of
His Benefits (a 800+ page study on who our God is according to the word) and
over 60 teachings (some are a work in progress to be made available soon).
Eventually all teachings will be available in both English and Spanish. I ask that you will pray for the vision of ETS
Ministries and I pray that you might be blessed by the teachings. I am open to
any input you might have. Feel free to duplicate the teachings via print, CD's,
or email. In short, use them as you would like. I long to see God's word run
throughout the world! I would appreciate any feedback you may have. Serving Him Together, Bart
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