Equipping the saints? For what?

I have heard this language for 34 years now. 'The church is to equip the body of Christ for

service'.
 My question is , service for what? I spent 26 years at a company witnessing and praying. The

other 5 christians in the plant did nothing but melt into the crowd...unnoticed....for 26 years.
  At Western Electric, years ago, I was forced to take a stand against a mob of mockers. I was

cornered. Where did the other 2 brothers go when the chips were down? I looked around and

they 'were outta there Jack'. These 'equipped' christians skidaddled like a couple of scalded cats

leaving me to face the crowd. And face them I did...by myself.
  They were all from mega churches. In their churches, evangelism was pushed and paraded

weekly. Siminars, books, teachings, bible studies ad nauseum, special guest speakers ad

nauseum, tons and tons of materials for decades these brothers did consume. But for 26 years,

nary a peep out of them when it come to witnessing or reaching out. When I spoke to the lost

about Christ, these 'equipped brethren' ran for cover.  You could not tell them from the crowd.

The crowd couldn't tell them from the crowd. Oh but they had my number alright. Hated,

scorned, avoided, by saint and sinner alike.
  One time at Western, an older, more statured saintly, 'equipped', sister pulled me over into the

corner and began to chew me up and spit me out for daring to share Christ with the lost on the

job. Boy was she hot. I had no idea she was a born againer until this happenned. She was just

one of the crowd.
  So I learned within the first few months of salvation and witnessing that the 'equipped

brethren' were not where I wanted to go. God was winning souls to Himself by my dumb mouth

right and left, imperfect as I was. Alone I started out and alone I am today, except for Kathy, my

wife.
  Then my wife and I went out on the street to feed the destitute. The leadership of the church

didn't want to 'equip us' with the resources needed, so we were forced to stop. Pastor needed a

new cad. Afterall, the one he had was going on 2 years old.
  So I'm saying that because of the whole 'church structure' this so called 'equipping' thing is a

farce.
  God led me to do out door concerts to win the lost. I bought 5 thousand dollars worth of

equipment, [out of my own pocket . No one 'equipped' me], to do this. I worked a lot of

weekends to pay this off. Seen great results.....by myself. I would run sound, cook the hot dogs

and witness at the same time....by myself. I pleaded with folks to at least come out and lean up

against a tree and pray...nothing else. Everyone was to busy. One brother told me 'I would like

to Devon, but I have to mow the lawn.' [puke].
   After a while I was forced to quit because of age. The equipment was to much to carry/set up,

by myself.
   'Equipping the Saints'? For what?
  I have had more 'equipped' christians try to stop me than ever help me. Is that what we are

talking about here? I have had pastor after pastor say 'NO' to God's minstry in me. Is it to equip

saints to stop what God wants to do? And NO, ten thousand times NO..I did not try to bulldoze

my way into anyone's little world. Maybe that was what I should have done. Seems to work with

other men. Call me crazy. But this is the Laodecian church.
  As long as the control monguls are leading the chorus, the saints will never in a million years

ever learn to hear His leading...in all things.
  Leaders have traded the power of love for the love of power. We have abdicated the true

callings of God, for this is what that structure endorses...apathy. Out of their mouths they teach

one thing but experientially an opposite is realized within the framework of the modern

'gathering'. The results are in. A lazy, self absorbed, bless me club 'body' that the world laughs ,

in derision at, and rightly so.
I do thank God for those few who have overcome the 'church' and have found their calling in

Christ. You just about have to get outta that realm to do so however.
 
There are a few, right now, shouting 'AMEN!!' But most are scratching their heads and growing

angry. I see the veins on their necks throbbing. Intense hostility, not with the system but with

me. They are preparing to soundly rebuke me even as that 'equipped' sister did at Western

Electric. Hey guys! Anybody wanna go to church with me friday night? There is an awesome

evangelist coming in. He'll be teaching on 'equipping the saints for the ministry.' Can't wait!!

devon and kathy