Get equipped to read and teach the Bible

Stylised Church icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised Eye icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised resurrection icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised curse of sin icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised sun icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised earth icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised dove icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible
Stylised fire icon for Equip, a Christian conference to help ordinary Christians read and teach the Bible

Equip is designed to give ordinary Christians tools to handle the Bible well, so you can read it carefully, understand it more fully and teach it faithfully.

4-8 January 2027

Get your early-bird tickets before 1 November 2026!

Register

Strand Groups

The Strand Groups are at the heart of the Equip Conference. Each day, we gather in small groups led by experienced Bible teachers and learn tools for understanding and teaching the Bible. Equip is designed to be completed over several years, with one strand each year.

Strand 1*

In your first year at Equip you’ll learn how to carefully read and teach a New Testament passage. You’ll learn how to dig deep into the details, read it in its context, find the main idea, and apply the passage to yourself and others.

Strand 2*

Your second year builds on Strand 1, this time you’ll learn how to carefully read and teach an Old Testament passage, focusing on how to understand the passage in the context of the big story of the Bible.

* Mandarin language Strand Groups are available for Strand 1 and 2 at Equip North in Auckland.

Strand 3

In your third year, you’ll learn how to trace a topic carefully from Genesis to Revelation. You’ll work to understand what the Bible says, and faithfully summarise and teach that to others.

Strand 4

The fourth and final strand is all about Ethics, and understanding what the Bible has to teach us about the way we should engage in the complex ethical issues that we face in our world.

Main speaker giving a Bible talk/sermon at Equip, a Christian Bible Conference in New Zealand

Main sessions

Every day at Equip begins and ends with us gathering together to spend time singing praise to our great God, listening to the Bible powerfully taught by experienced preachers and hearing stories of how God has worked in the lives of others.

Evening sessions — free and open to everyone

You’re welcome to attend our evening meetings, even if you aren't registered for the full conference. This is a great way to get a taste of what Equip is like.

North | Rory Shiner, 1 Corinthians 11-14
7:00 pm, Auckland EV Church, 80 Olsen Avenue, Hillsborough, Auckland.

South | Richard Chin, Colossians
7:30 pm, Kaiapoi High School, 101 Ohoka Road, Kaiapoi

Someone speaking at a seminar at Equip, Christian Bible Conference in New Zealand

Seminars

As well as Strand Group teaching and listening to great preaching, each afternoon you’ll get the chance to attend seminars.

These practical seminars cover topics like evangelism, youth ministry, leading a small group, discipleship, personal holiness and more.

Timetable

A typical Equip conference will follow this timetable:

Mon

9:00-9:30 am, Registration 

9:30-10:30 am, Main Session

10:30-11:00 am, Morning Tea

11:00 am-1:00 pm, Strand Groups

1:00-2:00 pm, Lunch

2:00-3:30 pm, Seminars

3:30 pm, Free Time

5:30-6:30 pm, Dinner

7:00/7:30-9:00 pm, Main Session

Tue

Wed

Thu

7:30 am, Breakfast 

9:00-10:30 am, Main Session

1:30 pm, Lunch

10:30-11:00 am, Morning Tea

11:00 am-1:00 pm, Strand Groups

1:00-2:00 pm, Lunch

2:00-3:30 pm, Seminars

3:30 pm, Free Time

5:30-6:30 pm, Dinner

7:00/7:30-9:00 pm, Main Session

Fri

7:30 am, Breakfast 

9:00-11:00 am, Strand Groups

11:30-11:30 am, Morning Tea

11:30 am-1:00 pm, Main Session

1:00-1:30 pm, Clean-up

Get equipped to read the Bible

✳︎

Get equipped to teach the Bible

✳︎

Get equipped to read the Bible ✳︎ Get equipped to teach the Bible ✳︎

Children playing in the children's programme for families at Equip, Christian Bible Conference in Auckland New Zealand

Families at Equip

Families with kids of all ages are welcome at Equip. We run a Youth Strand and kids' and crèche programmes to free up parents and caregivers to study God’s Word.

  • Youth school years 9-13, enjoy their own version of Strand Group led by experienced Bible teachers.

  • Equip Kid’s Programme is full of Bible, fun, games and crafts for school years 1-8. It’s run by experienced volunteers during the morning session and Strand Group time.

  • Our youngest are looked after by caring and experienced volunteers. They’ll enjoy singing songs, hearing bible stories and playing games during the morning session and Strand Group time.

A group of students sitting around a table in a classroom, focusing on their work, at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
People camping in a park with tents, cars, and trees, some people sitting and chatting, others walking around, at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
Group of ordinary Christians during a lunch break at the Equip Conference in Christchurch. A conference for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
Group of ordinary Christians at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
A large group of people gathered in a church or auditorium, at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
A group of people walking on a hilltop path during sunset, at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better.
A group of diverse people gathered in a seminar at the Equip Conference, for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
Indoor gathering with people eating at tables, a buffet table with cups, at the Equip Conference in Auckland. A conference for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
A diverse group of ordinary christians gathering indoors, standing in line and interacting at a table, at the Equip Conference in Auckland. A conference for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better
A large worship service at the Equip Conference in Christchurch. A Conference for ordinary Christians who want to read and teach the Bible better

Locations

North | Auckland

Equip North is held in Hillsborough, Auckland, at Hills Church and Auckland EV. It’s non-residential, so if you’re not an Auckland local, please organise your own accommodation for the week.

Morning and afternoon tea, lunch and dinner are provided at the venue and included in every ticket price.

 

South | Christchurch

Equip South is held at Kaiapoi High School, just 15 minutes out of Christchurch. Bunk/cabin and tenting accommodation is available at Blue Skies Kaiapoi, which is about a 5-minute walk from the High School.

Morning and afternoon tea, and lunch are provided and included in every ticket price. If you are staying at Blue Skies your ticket includes dinner, otherwise we ask you to provide your own.

 

Equip Central

We’re unable to run a conference in the lower North Island this year because of some venue complications.
We hope to see you at one of the other locations.

Come and get equipped

Get your early-bird tickets before 1 November 2026!

Register

Speakers

North | Auckland

A smiling man with short gray hair wearing a peach button-up shirt and a dark gray zipped jacket standing in front of green foliage.

Jay Behan

Ruth

  • The Rev. Jay Behan is the bishop of the CCAANZ. Jay is a gifted preacher and winsome communicator. He is passionate about talking to people about the good news we have in Jesus and seeing people grow in their faith. He is married to Jaimee and they have three children. He loves family time, watching rugby league, and attempting (in vain) to get better at golf.

A man with curly hair and a beard smiling in a suit jacket and dress shirt, standing outdoors with blurred trees in the background during autumn.

Rory Shiner

1 Corinthians 11-14

  • Rory studied Arts at The University of Western Australia, theology at Moore College, and completed a PhD in Australian Church History at Macquarie University. He is the senior pastor of Providence City Church in Perth, where he lives with his wife, Susan, and their four boys. His most recent book, Forgiven Forever, is out now.

South | Christchurch

Smiling man with glasses standing in front of leafy green bush

Ben Hudson

Deuteronomy

  • Ben and Laura were both greatly blessed by faithful campus ministry while studying at university, during which time a burden and desire to serve the Lord full time grew. After working as an Engineer for a few years, Ben trained for ministry at Moore Theological College in Sydney and has served on church ministry teams in Sydney and Wellington since 2007. Ben completed a PhD on Paul's letter to the Ephesians at the University of Otago and then the Hudsons moved to Dunedin at the beginning of 2020 for Ben to take up the role of Lead Pastor at Grace. Ben loves to teach the Bible and walk with people who are exploring the Christian faith. Ben and Laura have four kids and, when they get a chance, they enjoy finding the wonderful things there are to explore in and around Dunedin.

Two smiling people, a man in a suit and a woman with glasses and a flower corsage, standing closely together at an outdoor event.

Richard Chin

Colossians

  • Richard Chin is married to Jeanette, and the father of 4 married children & 5 grandchildren. His late wife (Bronwyn) went to be with the Lord at Easter in 2013. After 30 years serving University students with the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students, he now serves as a pastor at Fellowship Church, Dubai.

Get equipped to read the Bible

✳︎

Get equipped to teach the Bible

✳︎

Get equipped to read the Bible ✳︎ Get equipped to teach the Bible ✳︎

  • Joshua

    Christchurch

    “This conference is really good for anyone wanting to learn how to read the bible properly for themselves or for someone who is involved in leading bible studies.”

  • Elaine

    Christchurch

    “After Equip I was asked to lead a small Sunday bible study for year 7-9’s. I felt satisfied that I could prepare a study that could challenge the children and would lead to good discussions.”

  • Victor

    Hastings

    “Loved the Bible study method we learned! I’ve used that method several times leading a small men’s group and also in my own study time. I have also had a couple of opportunities to teach God’s Word and have used the same method to prepare for those.”

  • Jay

    Christchurch

    “Our people come back from Equip better equipped to serve, with a greater desire to serve, feeling more confident to serve. It’s a blessing as a minister to have your people go to it and come back ready and raring to go.”

  • Nicole

    Auckland

    “Every time I’ve been, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and my understanding and love of God has been deepened and enriched.”