By Randy Helms

 A Scriptural Argument for Coaching as a Transformational Process
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​Is coaching in the Bible? Was Jesus a coach? We need to consider these questions because coaching has become an important part of the corporate and church landscape. None of the biblical leaders envisioned themselves filling the role of a coach. Not only does the Bible never use the title coach, there is not title, role, or ministry gift that parallels the task of a coach. We can, however, find coaching in biblical principles and practices.

Coming alongside people to help them discover a better way, sustain vision, and move forward in their life or career is a direct reflection of the heart of God displayed in Scripture. Proverbs 20:5 states, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” This is the essence of coaching. Coaching is transformational at its core. Thomas Crane points this out by stating: “Transformational Coaching is the art of empowering people to improve their effectiveness … this process engages the huge untapped potential within people. "Tony Stoltzfus asserts: “At its heart, leadership coaching is about helping people … a coach draws out the abilities God has put in someone else.”

We have an example of coaching in Mark 8:27–29. “Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, ‘Who do people say I am?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah.’ ”
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Why do we consider this coaching on the part of Christ? According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), coaching uses powerful questioning. The coach uses inquiry versus telling.3 Jesus could have told His disciples who He was. He chose instead to draw the answer from within His followers.

Coaching includes exploring what issues exist for the person being coached versus telling him or her what the issues are or suggesting solutions. Questions must address the agenda of the person being coached and seek information about that agenda and orient to solving issues in the life of that person. Jesus’ first question does this because these men had left family and home to follow Him. Jesus caused them to scan the environment and come to grips with others’ perceptions, plus their perception of themselves. Then He probed deeper with a powerful question that forced the disciples (Peter in particular) to take ownership of the issue. Jesus then used this revelation He excavated from within them as a foundation on which to build....

By Rhonda Amer

I’ll never forget as a young woman in my 20’s and 30’s, trying to make decisions, having a bout with depression, going to a counselor and him saying to me “Rhonda, you don’t need a counselor, you just need someone to talk things through with so you don’t always feel you are making big decisions alone.”
 
Fast forward to my becoming a SMD Coach in 2015, and I realized coaching would have made all the difference in the world for me. Most people are capable of coming to their own resolve, but just need some effective “coaching, tools, and confidence” to help them! We ALL need a PLAN!
 
The right coach will ask proper questions designed to help YOU define top issues, set priorities, and create an action plan that can literally be life-changing. There is nothing quite as gratifying as “coaching” someone through a situation, yet they are the one that actually came up with the solution.    Coaching is all about “them” and their desired goals and results.
 
Coaching is a wonderful ministry tool and aligns perfectly with our District mission of Resource – Relationship - Renewal.   God has great purpose for everyone and equipped each with exactly what is needed for us to fulfill that purpose.

Rhonda Amer is the Business Administrator in the Southern Missouri District Council. She has been a part of the SMD Coaching Network since 2015. With the skills she has learned through the SMD Coaching Network, she has been able to minister to several individuals in the District, and is loving her coaching experience. We are happy to have her on our team! If you are interested in getting connecting with her, visit our Find a Coach page. 

Did you know that coaching has become the second fastest growing industry in the United States? It has become an integral part of our society. Through coaching, people across our country, have been given the opportunity to build relationships, gain self-confidence, and achieve success without doing it on their own.

According to CoachNet Global, a collaboration, and multiplication coach training organization, since 2015, there have been 500 individuals that have started their coaching journey. These students view coaching as a way to maximize potential, optimize work performance, and define strengths and weaknesses. It is a movement that has not only affected the business world, but it has also affected individuals that are in ministry. Approximately 50% of those 500 students were pastors in 52 different denominations. These individuals have pursued a coaching journey because of the impact it has made on their ability to minister to others. The leadership skills that they have gained have helped them balance their ministry and daily life at home, be an accountability to others, and better reach their communities for Christ.

Imagine if all of our ministers in the District began a coaching journey. Imagine the impact they could make on their ministry, their home, and in their personal walk with the Lord. In the July Issue of Developing a Coaching Culture, we will be featuring one of our coaches, Rhonda Amer, and she will be sharing her testimony on how coaching has transformed her ability to minister to others. We hope to see that just as men and women have shined in the coaching world across our country, we will start to witness more coaches be a part of the SMD Coaching Network.

SMD Coaching Network is dedicated to creating a coaching culture in our District. With the partnership of CoachNet Global, SMD Coaching Network can provide the proper coach training for ministers in our District. Please continue praying for this ministry, pray that many individuals from our district will begin joining the Network so that they may be equipped with the proper coaching skills to be a blessing to their communities.

If you are interested in learning more about your coaching journey, visit our Contact Us page and we will help you get started on your coaching journey.