This May, hundreds of leaders in SCC churches gathered for training and fellowship from all areas of the conference—from Santa Barbarato Rolling Hills—for Equip26. Thirteen breakout sessions included classes titled “Reaching Gen Z Today,” “Seeking the Shalom of the City: The Church in the New Mission Field,” “The Steward’s Calling: Managing God’s Resources With Integrity,” and more.
“The goal of Equip26,” shared SCC Executive Secretary and Ministerial Director Danny Chan, “is to resource and inspire ministry leaders in our conference to deepen and expand their reach in the communities they serve. We recognize that Equip attendees are often the hardest working and most devoted leaders in the local church, so gathering them for equipping is the least we can do to support them in ministry.”
Starting with a general session, all attendees came together for a short welcome message before breakout sessions began and people dispersed to the classes that interested them and were most relevant to their ministry.
“It’s a way for resources, if you need help,” remarked Raquel Romero from Lincoln Heights Spanish church. “You’re not alone. You have a church that will help you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Hispanic region, any type of region—we’re all together as one family.”
Beyond the training aspect, Equip26 allowed for connection between members whose churches are in different parts of the conference. The day ended with everyone gathered together one last time to hear about similar events coming up, like Impact26 in September.
“The event made me feel inspired to become a better leader, and it also made me want to inspire others to be a better leader as well,” shared Isai Bercian from
Lancaster Spanish church. “It made me think of ministry in a different way that I never thought of before.”
“Healthy churches do not happen by accident,” Chan noted. “They are cultivated through intentional investment in leaders. Equip26 was created to bring pastors, educators, and local church leaders together around practical tools, shared resources, and meaningful relationships. We believe that when leaders gather and share resources, our churches become healthier and our communities are better served.”
“There’s so much information that’s given. It can be used in so many different ways. And no matter the age— from young children to my age, seniors—it’s just so much to learn and you can take back to many others,” Aarona Pollard from Philadelphian church said with a smile. “So if you’re not sure about attending, come. You’ll love it.”