By Susan Kane
Church Multiplication

It has been documented that those who have a coach to walk alongside them report significantly better results than those who have to go it alone.

It was out of this dynamic that a group of individuals came together in December 2005 to provide this proactive approach to deal with escalating church health issues across the Movement. With 80 percent of all Church of God congregations across the United States and Canada either struggling or in decline, it was evident that if ever an initiative of this kind was needed, now is the time. To date, more than fifty coaches across the country have completed the training process, and twenty more will be certified by early 2009. These coaches are excited to have the opportunity to coach pastors, churches, church leaders, church planters, and others who are involved in Christian ministry.

The coaching initiative has been so well received that it is now being launched at the regional level. Recently, Carolina Ministries of the Church of God, led by coordinator Rev. Mike Claypool, held the first regional coaches training conference. Twelve pastors attended this two-day conference at First Church of God in Charlotte, North Carolina. “As an area administrator I have been excited about how coaching has been useful to me in ministry to pastors, churches, and church planters,” shares Claypool. “Walking alongside people and helping them discover what God has for them has been tremendous.”

“The first regional conference was a great success! We currently have twelve ministers going through the certification process. In addition to mentoring coaches-in-training in other regions, they will be developing coaching triads throughout the Carolinas in which they and two other ministers meet monthly to coach one another,” he continues. “This will help them sharpen their ministry skills. But more importantly, it will help them all develop a personal support system and be better connected so they aren’t doing ministry alone.”

Regional conferences will be patterned after the national model, ensuring that the high quality of the coaches and the coaching process remains intact. Training will consist of classroom instruction, personal coaching, and field work. This approach will continue to allow trainees to receive book knowledge and then enable them to put into practice what they have learned while also receiving coaching themselves. The CTI Leadership Team recognize the crucial need for coaching in the lives of pastors. “We believe developing highly qualified coaches will have a life-changing impact on our Movement,” says John Newton. “We are going to look back on coaching opportunities as a turning point in the mission and ministry of today’s church.”

Velma Champlain, senior pastor at First Church of God in Raleigh, North Carolina, was one of the pastors who attended the conference. “I was very excited after leaving the sessions. I learned so much about integrating skills and techniques from a professional level with the person-to-person dynamic and intimacy that the coaching sessions require,” she said. “I learned so much about my colleagues in ministry and felt that I was heard and valued as I shared my own thoughts and aspirations. I am looking forward to completing this training journey.” Rev. Charles Houston, pastor at Zet Court Church of God in Greenville, South Carolina, added, “Even though I have only completed the beginning of the coaching training process, the impact has nonetheless been significant. With regards to my ministry, I can see the possibilities for increased ministry effectiveness in the church and in reaching the lost. In general, my ability to relate to people has been enhanced, and I am more purposeful in my interactions with people.”

Anyone interested in additional information about the Coaches Training Initiative may contact a member of the steering committee, which includes Mike Claypool (Carolinas administrator), Kermit Wilson (coaching consultant), David Winn (Southern California and Southern Nevada administrator), Ken Wiedrick (minister of church growth and church planting for Michigan Ministries), John Boedeker (coaching consultant) and John Newton (Church Multiplication coordinator for Church of God Ministries).