Our story
Equip: How to Read/Study the Bible on your own.
Equip Bible Study began with a simple 3-fold purpose: to encourage women to read their Bibles on their own to know what it says, optionally to study it to know what it means, and then to join or form a group of 2 or more women to share what they learned from reading God's word.
How it started
I grew up attending a church that told me what the bible said. As an adult, I found what I had been told was a lie. This put a burning desire in me to read and understand the bible on my own, to never again be ignorant, but how would I go about that? After many tried and failed attempts, in 2018, I read Jen Wilkin's book Women of the Word. FINALLY! I had the clear direction I needed to successfully read/study the bible on my own.
Having the Spiritual gift for teaching, I felt compelled to bring independent study to a group setting. (I find that playful paradox hilarious!) Equip Bible Study is now a thriving class at my local church, and what makes it successful is that each woman reads/studies the assigned text at home, then participates in a fun, lively, interactive group discussion. What women read and bring to class IS the class! There are no workbooks, no videos, no lectures. Its format reflects the 1st-century church, and it truly is Iron sharpening Iron in action.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness."
— 2 Timothy 3:16
Dee DeFrates
Established August 2026
Meet the teacher
Dee DeFrates
Dee has been teaching women's Bible study for over 30 years — at retreats, women's events, church classrooms, and now she is bringing her accumulated experience and resources to the internet. She has a passion for encouraging women to read their Bible independently to know what it says, use tools to interpret what it means, and grow in confidence to share with others what God's Word says.
She lives in Arizona with her husband and has two adult sons, a found 23andMe daughter, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and 2 awesome grandsons. She loves to study books of the bible and "bible talk" with others.
Her greatest joy is when a woman says, "I've never read my bible on my own, and now I can't get enough of it!"
"I want every woman to feel equipped to read her Bible on her own to know what it says, to study what it means, and to grow in confidence in sharing God's Word with others."
Statement of faith
What I Believe
My faith is the foundation of everything Equip Bible Study is built on. Below is a full statement of what I believe — the core convictions that shape how I teach, how I study, and present materials.
Read the full statementCome study with us.
Whether you're new to Bible study or have been in the Word for decades, there's a place for you here. Start with any series — they're all free.