Opening the door to organic change

Coaching

For groups that want to build in coaching throughout their ministry, the initial thinking usually organizational. Who needs to approve it? How will we structure it? Whose permission do we need? How will we run the trainings? That can work well if you’re able to...

Practical help for church planters

Church Planting, New Church Planting

  I love coaching church planters. I’ve been doing it for many years now, and I’ve never ceased to be amazed at the endless creativity of planters adapting to their ministry contexts and the changing cultural landscapes. I’ve also noticed– even in the midst...

The role of Barnabas in church planting

Coaching

I think Barnabas is one of the most important people in the Bible, yet he gets almost no recognition. Barnabas probably wouldn’t even make most people’s biblical top ten list. But consider the significance of the role he played. Barnabas came alongside Paul, and got...

Developing loyalty in your staff

Church Development, Leadership

  I was coaching a senior organizational leader recently who was working through the challenges of developing quality staff. I asked this question: “To what degree could a more pastoral approach impact your staff development?” Sometimes leaders believe they need...

Coaching networks across the land

Leadership, Networking

  I ran across a great example of an opportunity where a semi-independent sodalic ministry could be established. Recently I was doing a consultation with a group that was focused on small town and rural church planting within a particular region. My encouragement...

When are you a supervisor and when are you a coach?

Coaching

  In many cases where you are the supervisor, you may want to take a coaching posture as much as possible. However, a coaching posture requires that the person you’re coaching is the one who sets the agenda. The agenda they set may or not be most strategic for...

MyCoachLog as a record of growth

Coaching

  I was in Madison, Wisconsin recently doing a training event. While there, pastor Christina Roberts of Madison Vineyard Church told me about new use she found for MyCoachLog: We have an apprenticeship program run out of our church. It’s a nine-month process...

Another great use for active listening

Coaching

Chris Roberts, pastor at Madison Vineyard Church, has been using the coaching process– particularly active listening– as a way to discover what the Holy Spirit is doing in his friends and neighbors who aren’t yet following Jesus. “The Holy Spirit is at...

Help me understand

Coaching

  “Help me understand,” is a great phrase to use in many situations when you want to open the door to meaningful conversations. When you use that phrase, it indicates that you’ve not made a definitive conclusion, but you’re open to learning more. Sometimes this...