A thriving disciple of Jesus Christ has a healthy discontentment with the status quo and is always growing spiritually, which results in strategies that train, equip, and mobilize other followers of Christ. A mobilizer will take initiative to influence others to also grow and serve those within their immediate sphere of influence. A mobilizer is an advocate for the voiceless, unreached people groups of the world.

Training and equipping go hand-in-hand. While training focuses on influencing a person's actions, attitudes, and behaviors, equipping provides the resources and equipment that a person needs to perform the duties associated with their roles and responsibilities. A teacher may need a classroom and supplies; a delivery person may need a vehicle and GPS; and a cross-cultural missionary may need specific tools to do their job.

Training plays an essential part of "growing up" and maturing into thriving disciples. Our training needs to be holistic, encompassing both life and livelihood. "Life" refers to the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ, and "livelihood" refers to the outworking of our life in the marketplace and community. We find holistic training and education through three primary ways: formal, informal, and non-formal.