There are two major types of Christian coaching:

• Individual Leadership Coaching (sometimes called executive coaching or life coaching) and
• Organizational Coaching (sometimes referred to as church or revitalization coaching).

Let’s look at each major type separately.

I. Leader, Life or Executive Coaching

This approach is typically done with a coach and an individual. It usually focuses on helping the leader identify his or her strengths and abilities. Within this major type of coaching, there are several distinct approaches. (NOTE: Coaches from this major approach would usually not be the best coaches for organizational or church coaching.)

Non-directive life coaching

In this approach, the coach listens to the client and by the use of listening skills and good questions helps the client think through their issues. You would want this type of coach if you would like help processing issues and questions you are facing. A good example of this approach would be coaches certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) (http://www.coachfederation.org).

Directed life coaching

In this approach, the coach leads the client through a process to help them establish key competencies. You would want this type of coach if you want to establish key life and leadership competencies. A good example of this approach would be Ministry Coaching International and their “Core4” system (http://www.ministrycoaching.org). Like most coaching organizations, Ministry Coaching International has a coach’s certification program.

Examples of Life Coaches:

• Bobby Clinton
• Greg Salciccioli
• Terry Walling
• Steven Covey

II. Organizational or Church Coaching

Now let us consider Organizational or Church Coaching. In this approach a coach works with a church or organizational leadership team, and almost never with only a leader or individual. Organizational coaching focuses on helping the organization identify their weaknesses and design a plan to strengthen them. Within this style of coaching there are also several approaches. Most organizational or church coaching providers offer coaching certification in their approach (NOTE: Coaches from this major approach would usually not be the best coaches for life or executive coaching.)

Church Directive Coaching

In this approach, the coach has a specific point of view and helps the church or organization apply their approach. You may want to consider this type of approach if you just need some system to follow. It is critical if you use this approach, that it match your philosophy of ministry, for it does not encourage you to consider other approaches or alternatives. It is a little bit of a cloning approach. An example of this would be Nelson Searcy Coaching (http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/coaching). Another example of this would likely be the Acts 2 model currently being developed by the AG.

Church Process Coaching

In this approach, the coaches lead the church leadership team through a process to help the church discover their own ministry direction. You may want this approach if you want to discover your church or organization’s unique DNA. In this approach, the coach will guide you through a process sharing with you options that you might consider. Then your team will consider your theology, philosophy and context and identify the approaches you feel would be best to accomplish your full kingdom potential. An example of this would be the Leadership Development Resources (LDR) process (http://www.ldrteam.com/ldr.html). Obviously, as a founding partner of LDR, I think this approach has the most potential for church transformation.

Church Consulting

In this approach, which is closely related to coaching, the consultant does an extensive assessment and then recommends action steps. You may want this approach if you feel you need a specific plan of action that is customized for your church, but are unable to develop it. An example of this approach would be the Society for Church Consulting (http://www.churchconsultation.org/).

Examples of Organizational coaches:

• Lyle Schaller
• Bill Easum
• Gary McIntosh
• John Ewart
• George Bullard
• Mel Ming
• Steve Mills

Recommendations and conclusions:

1. Only use a coaching approach for what it was intended to accomplish.

Do not use a “life coach” for a church or organization. A life coach would not be the best for a church revitalization or development process.

In the same way, you probably do not want to use an “organizational coach” to help you develop life skills.

2. Various groups have their own certification, but the certification is for only their approach.

There is not any one certification for all types of coaching. Each approach has it strengths and weaknesses. The real issue is the coach’s impact on those they coach, not the paper on the wall. Look at their references for proven success.

3. For Church or organizational coaching, be sure they are coaching the leadership team, not just the pastor or leader.

I know of no legitimate church or organizational coaching that works only with the pastor or leader.

Coaching can be a great help to a church or leader. Find a coach that matches your needs.

Mel

Check it out and see what you can learn from this parable.

Mel

To know Him and make Him known,

Mel

LENT 2010 from Life at the Ridge

Easter where we remember Jesus 40 day fast in the wilderness and join him in a time of fasting for spiritual growth and intimacy.  Many people choose to fast or “give something up” during lent.  I did not grow up with the regular tradition of practicing lent but I have found over the past years that lent is not only a very meaningful time for me but it has also proven to be very powerful in realigning my heart with the heart of Jesus.

Over time, lent for many has become a time to give up something bad.  I would argue however, the intent behind lent is less about giving up something and more about having something to gain.  By following Jesus in fasting, we choose to make our fleshly desires second to our spiritual desires.

I encourage you to consider fasting for lent this year.  Here are a few tips on how I choose what to fast during the lent, I hope you find them helpful.

1.  Don’t fast anything that is purely for personal gain. i.e.  “I will give up sugar and also lose a few pounds.”  Jesus is paying attention to your heart, he get’s it when your fast is selfish in nature.
2.  Choose something that you will feel.  Discomfort reminds of the intent behind the fast and our mission to know, love and follow Jesus.
3.  Examine your life for addictions and dependencies.  Is there something your body or mind is addicted too?  This is a great place to start.
4.  Think about what you stand to gain through the fast.  If you give up Starbucks then you will end up with money.  How could you give that money instead of spending it on yourself?  If you give up television, what will you do with the free time you create?  Consider these resources to be invested into spiritual growth and serving others.
5.  Be honest with yourself and sincere with Jesus.  Again, he wants to grow your heart and its capacity to love more than yourself.

Let me know if you are joining me in fasting for lent this year.

On the mission,
Josh

LENT 2010 Kaleo Church Spokane

Lent: A Heavy Wait Edging Toward Hope

Last night Kaleo hosted an informal yet focused gathering designed to help us enter the season of Lent together.  Our observance of this season, while informed and tethered to centuries of practice by faithful Jesus followers, is not rooted in a desire to appear more spiritual, earn righteousness, etc.  Instead, we recognize the value and need of preparation.  Many among us have demonstrated this through a regiment of bodily exercise focused on an upcoming performance such as Bloomsday.  Others have done so by going back to school in order to prepare for a career that vibes with who they’re made to be.  There are countless examples of how we believe in preparation, and therefore orient our energies accordingly (at home, at work, at school, etc.).  And so the season of Lent is quite fitting, seeing as how it is a preparation for fully engaging the most important event, reality and hope in the history of everything, Easter.

So here is a little resource that we put together (from various sources) to help us enter the season of Lent.  Each day has a suggested exercise intended to help us come to grips with our own sin and struggle, as well as God’s good redemption enacted by Jesus and distributed through the Holy Spirit.  The reason for this is because the Lenten season is closely identified to Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where he was tempted and overcame the devil (Matthew 4:1-11).  You’ll also notice that each Sunday suggests reading through the story just mentioned, and then enjoying the day.  The reason for this is because throughout Lent Sunday’s serve as days of feasting, as days made to remind us of what’s coming in just a few more Sundays.

So download the resource, honestly confess, repent and believe the Gospel, and let’s walk through this season, “a heavy wait edging toward hope,” together. (And feel free to share your experiences with the calendar resource, and the season in general in the comments section.)  For in our fasting we learn to feast.  In our confession we learn to celebrate.  In our preparation we learn to become, more fully, the good news in the places we’re planted.LNETLEMN

Justin

http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100204yearbook2010.html

New York, February 12, 2010 — The National Council of Churches’ 2010 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches reports membership gains in the Catholic Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Assemblies of God, among others.

The 78th annual edition of the Yearbook also reports a continuing decline in membership of virtually all mainline denominations. And the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s second largest denomination and long a reliable generator of church growth, reported a decline in membership for the second year in a row, down 0.24 percent to 16,266,920.

The Catholic Church, the nation’s largest at more than 68 million members, also reported a slight membership loss in 2009 but rebounded this year with a robust growth of 1.49 percent.

The Latter-day Saints grew 1.71 percent to 5,873,408 members and the Assemblies of God grew 1.27 percent to 2,863,265 members, according to figures reported in the 2010 Yearbook.

Other churches that continued to post membership gains in 2010 are Jehovah’s Witnesses, up 2 percent to 1,092,169 members, and Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.), up 1.76 percent to 1,053,642 members.

Churches reporting the highest membership losses are the Presbyterian Church (USA), down 3.28 percent to 2,941,412; American Baptist Churches in the USA, down 2 percent to 1,358,351; and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, down 1.92 percent to 4,709,956 members.

Membership figures reported in the 2010 Yearbook were collected by the churches in 2008 and reported to the Yearbook in 2009.

However, eleven of the 25 largest churches did not report updated figures: the Church of God in Christ; the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.; the African Methodist Episcopal Church; the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc.; Churches of Christ; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.; Baptist Bible Fellowship International; and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ.

The Rev. Dr. Eileen W. Lindner, editor of the annual Yearbook since 1998, noted that many observers have attributed accelerated membership decline of some churches to “an increasing secularization of American postmodern society, and its disproportionate impact on liberal religious groups.”

But Lindner advised caution in assessing the causes of decline. “American society as a whole has not experienced the kind and rate of secularization so clearly demonstrated during the last quarter century in Western Europe. Indeed, American church membership trends have defied gravity particularly where the Pentecostal experience is included.”

In addition, the largest plurality of immigrants to the U.S. in the last 50 years have been Christian in their religious affiliation, Lindner notes.
“In an era in which we have come to expect the inevitable advance of secularism in the U.S., the influx of robust Christian communities among new immigrants once again amends the topographical map.”

More study is needed to determine the potential changes in the American landscape “occasioned by the in-migration of new immigrant churches over the last forty years,” Lindner writes. But the impacts of the new immigration on the faith community have been profound.

Church financial trends are also reported in the Yearbook. The financial reporting in the 2010 Yearbook is based on the financial income reports of the 64 churches reporting. The almost 45 million members of these churches contributed almost $36 billion, showing a decrease in the total income to the churches of $26 million.

The 2010 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reports on 227 national church bodies. Statistics in the yearbook reflect “continued high overall church participation, and account for the religious affiliation of over 163 million Americans,” the editor reports.

The Yearbook also includes a directory of 234 U.S. local and regional ecumenical bodies with program and contact information and provides listings of theological seminaries and bible schools, religious periodicals and guides to religious research including church archive listings.
Information in the Yearbook is kept up to date in two regular electronic updates each year. Access to this Internet data is provided through a unique passcode printed inside the back cover.

Total church membership reported in the 2010 Yearbook is 147,384,631 members, up 0.49 percent over 2009.

The top 25 churches reported in the 2010 Yearbook are in order of size:

1. The Catholic Church, 68,115,001 members, up 1.49 percent.

2. Southern Baptist Convention,16,228,438 members, down 0.24percent.

3. The United Methodist Church, 7,853,987 members, down 0.98 percent.

4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5,974,041 members, up 1.71 percent.

5. The Church of God in Christ, 5,499,875 members, no membership updates reported.

6. National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc, 5,000,000 members, no membership updates reported.

7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 4,633,887 members, down1.62 percent.

8. National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., 3,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

9. Assemblies of God (ranked 10 last year), 2,899,702 members, up 1.27 percent.

10. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 1(ranked 9 last year), 2,844,952 members, down 3.28 percent.

11. African Methodist Episcopal Church, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

11. National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

11. Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. 2,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

14. The Lutheran Church– Missouri Synod (LCMS), 2,337,349 members, down 1.92 percent.

15. The Episcopal Church, 2,057,292 members, down 2.81 percent.

16. Churches of Christ, 1,639,495 members, no membership updates reported.

17. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

17. Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., 1,500,000 members, no membership updates reported.

19. The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, 1,400,000 members, members, no membership updates reported.

20. American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A., 1,331,127 members, down 2.00 percent.

21. Baptist Bible Fellowship International (ranked 22 last year), 1,200,000 members, no membership updates reported.

22. Jehovah’s Witnesses (ranked 23 last year) 1,114,009members, up 2.00 percent.

23. United Church of Christ (ranked 22 last year), 1,111,691 members, down 2.93 percent.

24. Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), (ranked 25 last year), 1,072,169 members, up 1.76 percent.

25. Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (ranked 24 last year), 1,071,616 members, no membership updates reported.
________________________________________
NCC News contact: Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell) , pjenks@ncccusa.org

He saw a list of some of the best Church Web sites via Collide magazine.

•       www.2pc.org

•       www.fbcoviedo.org

•       www.lifepointchurch.org

•       www.oasisla.org

Check them out when you get a chance.



Northwest Ministry Network podcasts

The Northwest Ministry Network, which I am a part of, podcasts all our training events. Our vision is to “Strengthening and developing empowered leaders and churches.” The most recent event was Calibrate, a training for church planters and multi-site churches. There are also some excellent messages from our Ministers Retreat. About May 1st we will add 16 more sessions from our Annual Conference workshops, plus all the plenary sessions.

Cornerstone Simi Video podcasts

These are the services from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley California with Francis Chan. If your want to see a great model of simple Bible teaching, check them out. This is one of my favorite to listen to on the road. They are also available as audio only. BY the way,  if you have not read Francis’ books (“Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” and “Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”) I highly recommend both.

“Think Missional: Becoming the People God Intended” Book

The Northwest Ministry Leadership Team as part of an AGTS class produced a wonderful book to help churches become more missional. It could be used as a Bible study with boards, ministry leaders or small groups. If you were interested, you can buy a copy for $10.00 from Greg Stern (Director of Operations) Northwest Ministry Network) gregs@northwestministry.com — 35131 SE Douglas Street, Ste. 200, Snoqualmie, WA 98065, Tel 425.888.4800. If your liked it and wanted to use it with groups there are also discount pricing for larger quantities. The book includes ten chapter or studies.

In the New Testament, I think this happened to the Pharisees. They begin to see themselves as better than the other people. It is a danger anyone who achieves some level of success faces.

Of course I think we should all seek to develop ourselves and reach for becoming our full Kingdom potential. This includes being a lifelong learner. But we must be careful we don’t start focusing on our achievements (positions, titles, degrees, status, successes), for this can lead to arrogance, elitism and self centeredness.

Instead be must value others, seek interdependency, and possess real humility. We must see the strengths and abilities in others without devaluing how God has wired us.

Jesus called twelve common normal men to be His disciples and they changed their world. I think great leadership is helping common ordinary people accomplish extraordinary results. That is one reason Jesus is the greatest leader of all time.

This year’s list includes:

• “shovel-ready”
• “transparent/transparency”
• “czar”
• “friend” as a verb
• “teachable moment”
• “in these economic times”
• “stimulus”
• “toxic assets”
• “to big to fail”
• “app”
• Combination of words like “sexting”, “bromance”, and “chiaxin”
• All versions of “tweets”, “tweetaholic”, “retweet” “twitterature” & “twittersphere”

2009’s list included:

• Green
• Bailout
• Icon or iconic
• Game changer
• Not so much
• It’s that time of year

2008’’s list included:

• Perfect storm
• Organic
• Webinar
• Wordsmith
• Surge
• Decimated
• Under the bus

While we may not agree with their lists, we must all be aware that words change and lose their meaning over time. This is one of the reasons why we must occasionally review things we publish to see if they still have clarity or have lost impact or meaning.

It is also why we need to record and listen to ourselves periodically, to see if we are using words that no longer have meaning or clarity. Just because something is technically correct, does not mean it has clarity or impact on the listener.

In Part 3 of the book (Who we are as Individuals) the author states that “The only safe generalization about Americans today is that ‘how they look’ is no longer an indication of ‘how they act’.”

The has used ‘psychographic analysis’ to segment Americans into five statistically distinctive categories.

Here are the five segments of Americans from Luntz:

1. Thirty percent of Americans are “Relationship People”. This is the largest segment of the American population, it’s also the youngest. To them, relationships can mean friends, family, or spouse. Their whole idea of the good life is to be with someone all the time. They get their satisfaction out of interacting with other people. They don’t care as much about jobs or careers. They are generally satisfied with their life today, but very nervous about tomorrow. They don’t save; they spend, and they enjoy spending on other people as much, if not more than, on themselves.

2. Twenty-five percent of Americans are “Spiritual People”. This is the oldest and most female-oriented of the five segments. What unites them, in addition to the importance of religion and prayer, are the principles of simplicity and efficiency. They don’t need or want to spend money to be happy. They have older cars and TV sets; they don’t have TiVo or satellite radio. They’re not just late adopters, they’re non-adopters because stuff doesn’t matter to them. If Relationship People are the loudest group, Spiritual People are the quietest. They tend to do things in their spare time that don’t require other people, such as reading and listening to music. They appreciate the outdoors (they are environmentalists) and they have a respect for natural beauty.

3. Eighteen percent of Americans are “Health People”. They’re younger than average, more male than female, and they’re the segment most likely to participate than to observe. You won’t just meet this segment at the gym or on the basketball or tennis court – you’ll find them shopping at Whole Foods and having a snack at Jamba Juice. They’re similar to the Spiritual segment in their desire to be outdoors, but they’re parallel to the Relationship segment in their desire to be with others. They are the most physically active of all the groups and put a lesser emphasis on career and financial success.

4. Twelve percent of Americans are “Control People”. These people can be very unpleasant to be around. For them, it’s not about money; it’s about more time and less hassle. They have everything planned out. Their intensity is similar to the Health segment, but while the Healthy are engaged in physical activity, Control People are engaged in mental or intellectual activity. Control People want to be doing something other than what they’re doing; they think today is awful, but tomorrow is going to be great. This is the flip side, demographically, of the Spiritual segment in that these people are almost exclusively under 50 and more male than female. They’re the mirror image in another way: Stuff matters. Their stereo is high-end, and their TV screen is huge. In fact, everything is bigger; they want the newest and the best of everything. They’re willing to spend money, and they work longer hours than the other segments to be able to afford it.

5. Eleven percent of Americans are “Financial Security People”. The fastest-growing segment, these people are always unhappy and dissatisfied, and in the current economic mess, they’re downright miserable. They judge themselves by how other people judge them. Their reputations mean more to them than they do for any other segment. They’re the opposite of self-satisfied; they’re almost self-loathing. They have a ton of material goods, but they buy things to make a status statement rather than to enjoy them. They tend to be older and wealthier than average, although you’ll find plenty of people in their 30s in this segment. They own; they don’t rent or lease because they want whatever it is to belong to them – and they’re dissatisfied when they can’t have everything they want when they want it.

An additional four percent of Americans don’t fall neatly into any of these five categories.

Now let’s think about our churches and communities.

• How do the people in our church fit into these categories?
• What about our communities? How do our church activities address their orientation?
• How do our messages help each category become more Christ like?
• Do we provide ways for them to process their faith with similar people?

One thing that becomes clear is that each category looks at life, faith, and the world through different lenses or frames. Do we help them see Christ without distortion?

I look review and refine my personal:

• Mission
• Core Values
• Roles
• My Life Timeline and Major Events journal

I also decide on my spiritual growth plan for the year:

• What version of the Bible will I read?
• What my reading plan is?
• My prayer plan?

I have found this practice to be very helpful to me. It help me keep my focus clear. If you have not done this, why not give it a try this year.

Mel