Greetings,
You may have seen the colourful COACHING4GROWTH flyers around the church recently.
I’d like to invite you personally to invest in those six evenings and come and join for what hopefully will be a life-changing time of training.
So, what is coaching?
Author Dr. Gary Collins describe Christian life coaching as the “art and practice of enabling individuals and groups to move from where they are to where they want to be.”
For followers of Jesus, it means understanding that the Holy Spirit is calling each of us to keep growing fully into our new life in Christ. It means understanding clearly what is happening in our life at present, and then discerning how God wants to lead us onwards; and then how to step forward in obedience.
A coach sits with us, listens carefully and asks good questions to help us clarify what we are hearing, and what we need to do, and how to faithfully stay the course.
Coaching is not counselling. Counselling focuses on the past and how to recover from its effects so we can function well in the present. Coaching looks forward and helps us find a path for overcoming obstacles and achieving dreams.
Coaching is not mentoring. A Christian mentor encourages growth by sharing the lessons and stories that God has given him or her. A Christian coach helps us learn from our own stories and experiences.
(Of course, in a close discipling relationship, there will be overlap in these areas, and experts differ amongst themselves in how they use these terms).
The coach encourages us and holds us accountable, helps us plan and cheers us on to become who God created us to be. The coach holds us up in prayer and is the keeper of our dreams.
Why a ‘coaching’ course?
We want to help grow disciples of Jesus who live out God’s purposes for them and are effective as ‘salt and light’ in their world. Adding good coaching skills to your tool-box is important, whether you are a small-group leader, a parent, a youth leader, or choose to coach to another individual.
Also, If you would like to BE coached, it’s helpful to understand these skills. Ideally, as you yourself are being coached, so you could be coaching someone else, maybe younger in the faith than yourself.
How do I register?
We do want to know if you are coming so we can prepare enough materials. Note: We will be capping course numbers to the first 25 who sign up.
Check out the Facebook event or the colourful flyer and RSVP to the Diamond Valley Baptist Church office:
Email | office@dvbc.net or Phone | 9435 9377
