Culture
We affirm the historic Christian faith as summarized in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.
Our values: Kingdom, Ownership, Curiosity, Elevation, and Exhortation.
About Engage the Church
Every person.
A place to engage.
We help ministry leaders create life-giving environments in which every person can engage—for God’s glory, the building up of the church, and the joy of using their gifts.
How ETC began
A familiar challenge.
A practical response.
Through his work as an entrepreneur, church planter, lead pastor, and executive pastor, founder Jim Applegate saw a similar challenge repeated across ministries: as churches grow, complexity grows with them.
Leaders can become exhausted. Resources become harder to steward. People who want to contribute struggle to see where they fit.
Engage the Church grew out of a practical response: help leaders clarify culture, vision, rhythms, and systems, creating an environment where people can flourish in their God-given calling.
Our aim is shared mission, growing leaders, multiplying leadership, and teams equipped to start churches.
What guides us
Equipping people for the work of ministry.
Rooted in Ephesians 4:11–12, our work helps leaders equip the people of the church to participate in its mission.
Vision
Healthy churches where every believer is engaged in ministry. Practical biblical frameworks that help leaders equip people for discipleship and gospel advancement.
Rhythms
Consistent relationships, prayer, thoughtful preparation, curious conversations, and practical next steps—with follow-up and accountability.
Systems
Clear structures and models that leaders can understand, implement, and sustain, supporting connection, discipleship, leadership development, evangelism, and generosity.
Our people
Pastoral experience.
Practical perspective.
Jim Applegate
Jim is an entrepreneur, pastor, coach, and organizational leader with more than 25 years of experience helping churches and leaders grow in health and effectiveness. He has served as a church planter, lead pastor, and executive pastor in multi-campus settings, supporting leaders in more than 35 countries through growth and transition.
A certified Paterson LifePlan Guide, Jim helps leaders clarify culture, vision, rhythms, and systems. He lives in the Bay Area with his wife, Heather, and they have five adult children.
Ed Applegate
Ed serves as Executive Pastor at Crossroads Grace Community Church. His experience in church leadership, spiritual formation, and organizational strategy brings pastoral depth and operational insight.
He holds a BA in Mathematics from Oxford University and an MDiv from Western Seminary. Ed is passionate about healthy teams, sustainable systems, and clear pathways for spiritual growth. He and his wife, Kiah, are raising five children.
Next step
Let’s connect.
A conversation about your church, your leaders, and what comes next.
Next step: let’s connect