Missional Challenge

How Forms in Google Docs Enhance My Coaching

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:01:00 +0000

I love coaching! But you probably already know that. If you didn't know that, read why I love coaching.

I want to be an effective coach as I come alongside leaders to help them navigate the challenges in ministry - especially starting new churches.

I have found that Google Docs is a great tool to improve communication with my clients. I used to send out a simple email with a list of questions, but now I use a form in Google Docs.

If email works, why did I switch?

First, using Google Docs allows me easily to find the form I want to send it to a new client. Second, I receive an email when the form is completed. Third, I keep all the responses together in one spreadsheet so I can easily track progress and see the big picture of the coaching relationship in one place.

Three Simple Ways to Utilize Forms

There are three primary ways that I am using FORMS in Google Docs to enhance my coaching relationships.

1. Starting the Relationship

At the start of a coaching relationship, it is always helpful to get to know the background, needs, goals, and dreams of a new client. I have found that a simple questionnaire can provide valuable information that allows me to see deeper into who they really are and who they want to become.

Besides, name, address, phone, email, etc., ask questions that explore the client's Background and Goals.

Sample Background Questions:

What should I know about your personal and professional background or history that you believe will help me understand you and allow me to better support you?
What have been your three most fulfilling accomplishments in your life, thus far?
What do you want to make sure you do or accomplish in your lifetime?
What habits, activities, or thought processes do you believe need to be dropped, simplified or let go of, in order to truly move forward, quickly?
What motivates you? What do you get energy from?
Is there anything else I should know? (e.g. are you currently in therapy, on medication, in a Twelve Step program, etc.?)

Sample Goal Questions:

What are the 1-3 most important things you’d like to accomplish as we work together over the next 90 days? Please be very specific.
What, if anything, is likely to get in the way or prevent you from accomplishing any of these things?
What’s the most important thing you need from me as we work on these objectives?
How will you know your investment in coaching has been worthwhile?

2. Preparing for Coaching Conversations

Before each coaching conversation, it is helpful for the client to begin to prepare to be coached by reflecting on their action steps and the progress they've made.

Sample Reflection Questions:

What action steps have I accomplished since our last session?
What didn't I accomplish, but intended to?
What insights have I had since our last session?
What challenges and/or problems am I facing now?
What opportunities are available to me right now?

Always include a question that helps your client to focus on the upcoming coaching session:

For what do I want to use my coaching session?

3. Completing a Coaching Series

At the end of an agreed upon series of coaching sessions, another form can be helpful to guide the client to review the value of the coaching series. The form is not enough by itself though; the follow-up conversation is necessary to help the client process and capture insights.

I always ask the client to consider the next step for them in regard to coaching. I don't assume they will want to continue, but I always offer them the option to do so. I also request a reference letter that I can share with others. This is a great way to allow them to share how they've benefited from coaching.

These are three simple ways that using forms with Google Docs has enhanced my coaching relationships. I'm sure you can discover ways that this approach will benefit you too.

Just remember, the form is a tool. It's not a substitute for your personal interaction and communication with your client.

What insights does this give you into your coaching relationships?

Related Posts:
Top 10 Christian Coaching Books
The DeVries Coaching Approach
Shopping for a Coach

ICF 2012 Global Coaching Study

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:53:00 +0000

Take a look at the results of the ICF 2012 Global Coaching Study!
(all information provided from the ICF website: www.coachfederation.org)

Background

The International Coaching Federation is the leading global coaching organization, with over 19,000 members, dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high professional standards, providing independent certification, and building a network of credentialed coaches.

The study was commissioned in 2011 by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers.In late 2006, the ICF commissioned its first ever global industry study to provide a baseline picture of the profession; to identify what coaches sawas the major challenges; and to estimate the size of the profession. When the benchmark Final Report was ultimately released, the 2007 ICF Global Coaching Study included responses from 5,415 coaches living in 73 different countries – among them, more than 1,500 non-ICF member coaches.

Following a sharp slowdown in 2008, global output fell in 2009 and subsequent economic recovery has been tentative. Nonetheless, the coaching profession appears to have continued its expansion. To serve as a reference, the ICF membership numbers grew from around 11,000 in 2006 to almost 19,000 by the end of 2011.

Research

Against that backdrop, the 2012 ICF Global Coaching Study was designed to be one of the most ambitious pieces of industry research ever conducted on the field of professional coaching. A primary goal was to engage with as many coaches as possible on a worldwide basis, thus providing an up-to- date picture of the profession to help meet the challenges ahead.

The survey was launched onlinein June 2011, with all ICF membercoaches sent a personalizedinvitation and survey link.Strategies were adopted tofacilitate and encourage thewidest possible participation by ICF and non-ICF coaches. Responses were received from professional coaches in 117 countries, an unprecedented response. .

Results

A total of 117 countries participated. A total of 31 nations each received more than 100 survey returns; representing all the major world regions. With 12,133 valid responses, the survey is extremely large in scale, providing a wealth of detailed information on the coaching profession. More than 7,700 ICF members responded to the survey, with an additional 4,400 from non-ICF members.

Given that no accepted, globally inclusive list of coaches was available to use as a sampling frame for the survey, it was necessary on this study to estimate the number of coaches. This was done using a 'membership ratio method,' or by combining the known ICF membership numbers with the estimated memberships of other organizations as they were reported on the survey. Using this method, it was estimated that there are presently in the region of 47,500 professional coaches worldwide.

Quite simply stated, the total revenue from coaching is derived by multiplying the number of active coaches by the average annual revenues they generate from coaching. Therefore, at this time, coaches are generating close to $2 billion (USD) in annual revenue/income.

That means that the typical coach who participated in this study is earning an average of $47,900 (USD) in revenue per year from coaching. It should be noted that these average revenues reflect all of the diversity that is known to exist within the coaching profession, such as: coaching experience, education, and training. We also know that many coaches supplement their earnings by offering other services within their professional practice – namely consulting (62%) and training (60%). Finally, when assessing what coaches earn, it would be useful to mention that a significant portion of coaches either barter their services (31%) or offer them to others on a pro bono basis (54%).

All active coaches were asked to quote their average fee for a 1 hour coaching session. As expected, several disparities emerged across global regions and varied according to things like coaching experience and client type (e.g. executives as opposed to personal clients). All factors considered, the global average fee for a 1 hour coaching session was $229 (USD).

The study also determined that an active coach maintained an average of 10 clients at any given time. Again, some clear variations were detected across regional patterns and were influenced by the reported level of coaching experience.

The survey respondents reported that they worked as a coach, on average, for a total of 13 hours each week. In addition to the actual time they spend with their clients, we know that coaches also devote a portion of their time to activities such as session preparation, client maintenance, and their own professional development. Finally, this figure clearly needs to be viewed in the context of the various other professional services that coaches offer. In fact, we found that the typical coach offers about three (2.7) additional services within their practices. Among those cited most commonly were, once again, consulting (62%) and training (60%).

Coaches remain highly educated with more than half (59%) having completed a third level degree (i.e. completed Master’s or Ph.D). This represents an increase from the 2007 Global Coaching Study; where 53% indicated that they possessed a third level degree.

As you will observe, coaching remains a female-dominated profession. However compared to the other regions, Asia and Latin America tend to have more male coaches. North America has the lowest percentage of male coaches.

More than three-quarters (78%) of coaches have received coach-specific training that was accredited/approved by a professional coaching organization. When examining membership affiliations, this accomplishment appears to be driven somewhat by ICF members (82%) compared to non-ICF members (70%).

Not only are coaches highly educated, but they are becoming even more experienced. Nearly half (49%) of the coaches who responded to the survey have at least five years of coaching experience.

Every coach who responded to the survey was asked to glimpse towards the future and identify the biggest obstacle for coaching. More than two in five (43%) respondents viewed untrained individuals who called themselves coaches as the main obstacle for coaching.

The vast majority of coaches (76%) feel that the marketplace expects them to have a certification/credential. In fact, more than one-third (35%) of all coaches indicated that they 'Strongly Agreed' with this sentiment. This is perhaps unsurprising when one examines the strong correlation to a piece of 2010 ICF industry research; where an overwhelming portion (84%) of general adult consumers who had been coached also agreed strongly with this statement.

Here's a link to the ICF Global Coaching Study Executive Summary!

Related Posts:
International Coaching Week 2012
The Value of ICF Credentialing
8 Ways to Become a Better Coach

What I Love About Coaching!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:22:00 +0000

I love coaching!

In the past five years I've coached over 800 hours. I've worked with over 50 clients.

I've coached face to face in coffee shops, churches, and offices. I've coached over Skype, FaceTime, and phone. I've coached men and women, leaders and followers, young and old. I've coached at 5:30am at the start of my day. I've started a call at midnight with a group of leaders in Europe. I've coached leaders while in Turkey, India, France, Spain, and Brazil. I've coached leaders while in New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Washington. I've coached leaders via Skype/Phone who were in Bulgaria, Malaysia, and South Africa. (Please don't perceive this as boasting - I just want to communicate how much I love coaching.)

I love training coaches. I want others to experience the thrill I have when I coach. In 2011 I trained nearly 200 people to incorporate coaching skills in their various roles.

I absolutely love seeing the impact that coaching has on others. I love coming alongside leaders to help them navigate the challenges of life and ministry.

15 Aspects I Love About Coaching

1. Discovery - asking questions that lead to new insights and awareness.

2. Progress - seeing clients attain more than they imagined.

3. Alignment - the reality that I am using my skills and abilities effectively.

4. Transformation - amazing changes in my clients in both being and doing.

5. Freedom - coaching conversations happen when I'm available.

6. Trust - my clients know that I believe in them.

7. Reflection - giving space for self-generated thoughts and ideas.

8. Presence - being "with" my clients in process.

9. Results - the achievement of pre-determined outcomes.

10. Flexibility - simply "dancing in the moment" throughout the conversation.

11. Encouragement - finding ways to focus on the positive and giving hope.

12. Collaboration - working together to co-create a way forward.

13. Challenge - causing my clients to stretch to go further than ever before.

14. Focus - aiding in the ability to tune out the unimportant and see what really matters.

15. Reinforcement - acknowledging forward movement and learning.

I wanted to share what I love about coaching since it's International Coaching Week.

I also love teaching, training, leading, mentoring, consulting, and sharing my opinions. But that's not what I'm doing when I coach - when I coach I focus on serving the needs of my client and helping them reach their goals and objectives. I try to partner with what God is doing in their lives. And this gives me joy!

Today's Missional Challenge: Discover what you love to do and identify why you love to do it.

How to Prepare for a Coaching Appointment

Stages of a Coaching Relationship

Speaking Truth Directly

Top 10 Books on Christian Coaching

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:49:00 +0000

What books would help Christian coaches?

Over the years I've read a lot of books on Church Planting, Evangelism, Leadership, Disciplemaking, Missions, Outreach, Coaching, Church Administration, Church Growth, Spiritual Disciplines, and so much more. I want to recommend these books on Christian Coaching:

The Missional Challenge

Top 10

Christian Coaching Books

1. Empowering Leaders Through Coaching (1995)
by Steve Ogne and Tom Nebel
This book truly introduced me to coaching for Christian leaders. The combination of audio recordings, worksheets, prayer journal, and action planning guides sets this resource apart from the rest. It's practical and timeless. The section on the "art of listening and asking good questions" is brilliant and includes 99 excellent coaching questions and ways to turn statements into questions. You'll also benefit from ways to build a coaching movement. (currently out of print)

2. Leadership Coaching (2005)
by Tony Stoltzfus
Great introduction into coaching - "coaches are change experts who help leaders take responsibility for their lives and act to maximize their own potential." Discusses the coaching paradigm and coaching process with emphasis on listening and asking powerful questions.

3. Coaching for Christian Leaders (2007)
by Linda Miller and Chad Hall
Solid orientation to Christian coaching - with emphasis on core skills and the coaching relationship. Great insights like this one - "Sometimes, the coaching relationship is the only situation in with a person knows he or she has no need to worry if mistakes are made and feels safe enough to try new behaviors."

4. Coaching 101 and Coaching 101 Handbook (2003)
by Robert Logan/Sherilyn Carlton and Robert Logan/Gary Reinecke
I highly recommend the book and workbook for new coaches. The 5 Rs (Relate, Reflect, Refocus, Resource, and Review) form a simple model for asking questions that determine priorities and action steps. These were extremely helpful in my early development as a coach.

5. The Making of a Leader (1988)
by Robert J. Clinton
Coaches will benefit from Clinton's masterful understanding of the development stages of a leader. These leadership insights will help you to focus on the coachee's being, not just doing.

6. TransforMissional Coaching (2008)
by Steve Ogne and Tim Roehl
If you are working with post-modern leaders, you need this book. It includes a great section on coaching based on someone's leadership style, provides a holistic approach to coaching, and dives into the character and credibility of a coach.

7. Life Journal (2007)
by www.lifejournal.cc
This is not a book on coaching but a journal for recording your personal discovery from reading and meditating on God's Word. The S.O.A.P. model is a helpful process for asking questions of Scripture that lead to deeper understanding and application of God's truth. Using the journal will establish a deeper faith and relationship with God which is critical for all coaching relationships.

8. Developing Coaching Excellence (2003)
by Robert Logan and Gary Reineck
This resource includes audio recordings, worksheets and assessment tools that will help you develop nine coaching competencies.

9. Asking Profound Questions (2011) - order from 800.443.1976
by Bobb Biehl
This small little reference booklet contains over 100 great questions! It also provides a framework for asking questions for greater impact.

10. Christ-Centered Coaching (2006)
by Jane Criswell
This book will introduce you to seven coaching approaches, which also serve as seven mental models or attitudes of a coach.

There are other great books on Christian coaching, but these are the books that have impacted me personally. I hope this list gives you a solid place to start. Enjoy!

Finally - I recommend Keith Webb's soon to be released book on The Coach Model for Christian Leaders.

Today's Missional Challenge: Discover the power of coaching by reading and learning from others.

Be sure to check out our Top 20 Books on Church Planting!

Related Posts:
Good Coaching Questions
The Power of Coaching
Managing vs. Coaching
7 Benefits of Coaching
Coaching: Helping Leaders Go Further Faster

Note: Links above are amazon affiliate links.

International Coaching Week 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:08:00 +0000

This is International Coaching Week! (CoachingWeek.org)

During this week, I will be highlighting the value of coaching, coaching resources, the International Coach Federation, and practical insights for coaches and clients.

Many people that I talk to about coaching have had some confusion about the differences between coaching, mentoring, counseling and other helping roles. They are often surprised when I explain that I am very appreciative of each of these roles. Just like I wouldn't try to use a hammer for every home improvement project, I wouldn't recommend working with a coach for all your developmental and life issues.

It's important to know the distinctive contributions and approaches that each helping role offers. My friend Steve Ogne emphasizes how mentors "pour into a leader" from their own knowledge and experiences, while coaches "pull out of a leader" from the leader's knowledge and experiences.

Coaching Basics
(from the ICF website)

What is coaching?

The ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.

Coaching honors the client as the expert in his/her life and work and believes that every client is creative, resourceful, and whole.

What is a coach's responsibility in the client-coach partnership?

A coach should:
Discover, clarify, and align with what the client wants to achieve
Encourage client self-discovery
Elicit client-generated solutions and strategies
Hold the client responsible and accountable
Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Ultimately, coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives.

Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has.

What are the benefits of coaching?

Individuals who engage in a coaching partnership can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision making skills, enhanced interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles.

Consistent with a commitment to enhancing their personal effectiveness, they can also expect to see appreciable results in the areas of productivity, personal satisfaction with life and work, and the achievement of personally relevant goals.

In the past year, I've been blessed to train coaches in Bellevue, Istanbul, Denver, Little Rock, Brazil, and Malaga. In the next two months I will be training coaches in Colorado Springs and New York City. For more information on these training events, go to creativeresultsmanagement.net/core.

Related Posts:
The Value of ICF Credentialing
8 Ways to Become a Better Coach
Shopping for a Coach
The DeVries Coaching Approach
Every Church Planter Needs a Coach

A Conversation with Hugh Halter | March 29, 2012 | Seattle!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 04:31:00 +0000

I think it's great that my friend Hugh Halter is coming to the Puget Sound area next month to engage in a conversation on the Missional Life! I'm thrilled that my team with OC US Ministries is one of the sponsors for this event!

If you are not familiar with Hugh - he has a heart and passion for seeing Christians aligning their lives with Jesus and His Mission! He's written several books with Matt Smay: The Tangible Kingdom, And, and the TK Primer. His latest book, Sacrilege, was released last fall (2011).

Sacrilege helps readers rethink what it really means to become like Jesus. It exposes the patterns of thinking that have held the church hostage for years and inspires readers to rethink the way they understand Scripture, family, spiritual formation, conversion, church, sin, and more.

EVENT OVERVIEW
In this informal one-day experience you'll be invited to step forward and deeper into the Mission of Jesus. Hugh will guide the time by framing a discussion about missional living, spiritual formation, and meaningful community. We'll also walk through systemic patterns of church that are relevant regardless of your church's form or your role in leadership. This event is designed for leaders at all levels in your church community!

DETAILS
March 29, 2012
9am-3pm
Woodinville Alliance Church
13940 NE 166th StreetWoodinville, WA 98072
$39/person (includes lunch)
Learn more & Register at LeadershipEvents.org

Today's Missional Challenge: Read a book by Hugh Halter - then join the conversation on March 29th (if you live in the Puget Sound region).

Related Posts:
Missio Intensive Quotes (2006)
Organic Church Movements Conference (2008)
The Tangible Kingdom & Tangible Kingdom Primer
Creating Incarnational Community
Simple Bible Study: 5 Questions
Top 20 Books on Church Planting

Abandon Ineffective Leadership Behaviors!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:50:00 +0000

What behaviors make a leader effective or ineffective in empowering others?

At a recent coaching training event, we brainstormed a list with participants based on their own personal experiences with leaders, mentors, and coaches.

This list isn't definitive, but it is helpful to consider...

My simple advice is this: Do MORE of the effective behaviors - and Do LESS of the ineffective behaviors! (or NEVER do them!)

Consider Your Next Steps

1. Which effective behaviors do you need to embrace? Which ones do you need to start with?

2. Which ineffective behaviors do you need to eliminate? Which ones will you start with?

3. Who can help you embrace more effective leadership behaviors?

4. How can you help the leaders you coach or mentor to grow as effective leaders?

5. How might this brainstorming activity be useful to you?

Today's Missional Challenge: Evaluate your attempts to help others around you. Which behaviors do you need to do more of? Which behaviors do you need to abandon?

ABC Time

Raising Leaders in a Church Plant

How to Improve Your Leadership Skills

Encountering Jesus

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:16:00 +0000

On the second day of our Prayer Retreat, we continued our prayerful reflections on Luke 10, concluding with 10:38-42: Mary and Martha's encounter with Jesus.

We spent time with each passage following this pattern:

1. Read it - listening to the words.

2. Read it - focusing on the scene (the sounds, smells, environment, people, etc.)

3. Read it - picturing who you are in the scene.

4. Read it - asking what the Lord is saying to you through the passage.

As I've reflected on this passage in the past, there are times I've felt I identified more with the busyness of Martha. Today I identified more with the learning posture of Mary (maybe because I was on a prayer retreat and spending time alone with Jesus).

As I reflected on this passage, I formed a series of questions that stemmed from Martha's frustration and Mary's focus.

1. Read through the passage:

Luke 10:38-42 (Kingdom New Testament)

On their journey, Jesus came into a village. There was a woman there named Martha, who welcomed him. She has a sister named Mary, who sat at the master's feet and listened to his teaching.

Martha was frantic with all the work in the kitchen.

"Master," she said, coming in to where they were, "don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself? Tell her to give me a hand!"

"Martha, Martha," he replied, "you are fretting and fussing about so many things. Only one thing matters. Mary has chosen the best part, and it's not going to be taken away from her."

2. Consider who in the text you most identify with today and then consider the following questions:

Identifying with Martha

In what ways are you frantic with all your work?
How might the Lord perceive that you are fretting and fussing about so many things?
How have your choices contributed to your state of frustration?
In ways do you perceive God cares for you and your work?
What keeps you busy rather than being drawn to sit and listen to Jesus?

Identifying with Mary

In what ways have you sensed pressure from others to be busy with more work?
What are you saying "No" to in order to say "Yes" to be with Jesus?
What does sitting and listening to Jesus do for you?
What is it that really matters to you?
How will you choose to be present with Jesus this week?

3. Discuss your reflections with someone else.

4. Determine what the Lord is saying to you through this passage.

Today's Missional Challenge: Consider whether you are identifying with Martha or Mary in this passage. Ask God what He wants you to do in response.

Evening Prayer

Impelled by the Holy Spirit

Bible Storying

Evening Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:14:00 +0000

I am on a 30-hour Prayer Retreat with my OC colleagues in Seattle. Today has been a truly wonderful day with the Lord including an afternoon of silence and solitude. What a blessing!

With limited Internet access today, I am choosing to post a prayer that we read tonight to close the day...

Evening Prayer

Renew me this night in the image of your love
Renew me in the likeness of your mercy, O God.
May any refusal to forgive that lingers with me from the day
Any bitterness of soul
That hardens my heart
Be softened by your graces of the night
Renew me in the image of your love, O God,
Renew me in the likeness of your mercy

(Celtic Benediction: Morning and Night Prayer)

Today's Missional Challenge: Spend time alone with God in silence and solitude.

The Best Posts of January 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:12:00 +0000

Today marks the completion of my first month of blogging in 2012. In order to help readers identify those posts that are most noteworthy this month, I am listing the posts that have received the most page views so far. (Of course those written earlier in the month have had more opportunity to be viewed, but that's not always the case!)

The Best of January

(as of Jan 31, 2012)

Most Viewed

1. My 500th Missional Challenge Post! (Jan 9, 2012)
After posting for the past five years - here are 8 Lessons for Bloggers!

2. Disciplemaking Strategies: Training for Trainers (T4T) (Jan 12, 2012)
Lessons from a huge disciplemaking movement in SE Asia!

3. 3 Spheres of Personal Development (Jan 23, 2012)
You can choose to grow or stay the way you are. What will you do?

4. My Top 11 Posts in 2011 (Jan 2, 2012)
I think the title makes it clear what this is about!

5. 5 Lessons for Disciplemakers (Jan 18, 2012)
Here are five of the 100 lessons from my book (Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living) which focus on Disciplemaking!

My Favorites

1. Disciplemaking Strategies: Training for Trainers (T4T) (Jan 12, 2012)
I am totally amazed by all that God is doing to multiply disciples who make disciples who make disciples. I long to see this kind of movement in the US. Read the post and glean insights that will help you get started.

2. Disciplemaking Strategies: Bible Storying (Jan 6, 2012)
Aligning with Jesus' mission requires us to make disciples who make disciples - what's your disciplemaking approach. Bible Storying is a great method to consider adopting.

3. Church Planting Lesson from Frog and Toad (Jan 26, 2012)
I have always enjoyed the Frog and Toad stories. This short video on YouTube has some great lessons for church planting teams.

4. The DeVries Coaching Approach (Jan 29, 2012)
What's your approach to coaching? If you don't have one - con side adopting some of the key components of my approach. Or if you are looking for a coach, read the list and see if we'd be a good fit to work together.

5. The Multiplication Cycle (Jan 3, 2012)
I developed this cycle as I worked on my doctoral dissertation at Bakke Graduate University in 2007. Now I'm training church planting teams to follow this cycle in order to start disciple-making churches.

Today's Missional Challenge: Review the posts above and consider what action steps to take to align with the mission of Jesus!

10 More Great January Posts:
Leadership Development (Jan 2011)
Discipleship Diagram (Jan 2011)
Training Leaders Through Distributed Leadership (Jan 2011)
Let the Whole Earth Be Filled With His Glory (Jan 2010)
Blessing + Belonging + Believing (Jan 2010)
The Value of Coaching (Jan 2009)
Seize Christ's Mission as Your Own (Jan 2008)
The Relationship Between Church and Mission (Jan 2007)
Understanding Missional (Jan 2007)
The God of Mission (Jan 2007)

The Value of ICF Credentialing for Coaches

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:51:00 +0000

Like Barnabus with Paul, coaches come alongside and help leaders to fully live out God's calling. Using excellent coaching skills (establishing trust, active listening, powerful questioning, direct communication, creating awareness, designing actions, planning and goal setting), coaches empower leaders to go further faster.

If you are coach, I want to encourage you to join the International Coach Federation. The ICF offers the only globally recognized, independent credentialing program for coaches. Now in its second decade of existence, more than 7,000 coaches hold one of three ICF Credentials. The ICF Credential establishes a standard in the industry and assures the public that participating coaches meet or exceed the set standards.

Belonging to the ICF offers great benefits for coaches. I became a member in 2009 and was credentialed as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) in 2010. I now serve as a board member of the Puget Sound Coaches Association (ICF chapter) and am actively engaged in guiding coaches to experience the benefits of ICF membership and credentialing.

I am often asked,

"Why should I be credentialed by the International Coach Federation?"

This is a great question. There are many benefits to acquiring a credential...

Consider the Benefits (as noted by the ICF)

Credibility
Reassures clients that you are an experienced and professional coach
Demonstrates high professional standards
Demonstrates that you stand by a strong Code of Ethics
Demonstrates high knowledge and skill level
Demonstrates that you take on-going professional development seriously
Develops you as a professional coach (furthers your skills)
Brings personal satisfaction
Reinforces the integrity of the coaching profession internationally

My Perspective

I joined the ICF and attained my credential because I value belonging to the international coaching community. The process of pursuing my credential was an excellent learning opportunity for me. As I worked with a mentor-coach, I became more familiar with the Core Coaching Competencies and grew in my ability to demonstrate a higher skill level with my clients. The entire credentialing process raised my coaching skills to a new level.

In addition, I have benefited in so many ways from belonging to the local Puget Sound chapter of the ICF. The chapter meetings and satellite groups have introduced me to so many wonderful people who are part of the Seattle coaching community. I have also gained valuable insights which have expanded my coaching perspective. Yet more than that, I have been able to contribute locally with others who share my passion and commitment to coaching with excellence.

My ICF ACC credential tells those looking for a coach that I am not just calling myself a coach, but that my coaching skills have been demonstrated and recognized by the international coaching community. My ACC credential also tells them that I have completed at least 60-hours of coach specific training, I have coached multiple clients totaling 100 hours or more, and I have been mentored in my skill development by a credentialed coach. All of this adds to my credibility as a coaching professional.

I realize that every coach won't choose to join the ICF - but for me, it is great to be part of a community of coaches who are serious about demonstrating high professional standards and are growing in their professional development.

For more information on requirements and detailed information for credentialing - coachfederation.org.

Here's my ICF Profile. Find out if your coach is credentialed with the ICF here.

The DeVries Coaching Approach

Shopping for a Coach

Keep Growing as a Coach

How to Become a Better Coach

The DeVries Coaching Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Coaches, what is your approach to coaching?

A church planter interviewed me to determine if I'd be a good match to work with him as his coach. One of his questions grabbed my attention - "What is your approach to coaching?"

I loved this question because it gave me the opportunity to explain the unique benefits of a coaching relationship, as well as to help him understand my commitment to him and his agenda for our coaching conversations.

If you are looking for a coach, pay attention to the coach's approach to the coaching relationship!

The DeVries Coaching Approach

My approach to coaching and a coaching relationship shows up in every conversation. If you were interested in working with me as your coach, here are some of the distinctives you would experience:

1. Client-Focused - When I start a coaching relationship, I see it as my primary aim to serve the client. The client sets the agenda. It's not about what I think or believe the client should do. Rather, I'm focused on helping you to discover how to move forward to attain your goals.

2. Non-Directive - I don't have a set curriculum that the client needs to accomplish. I'm not the expert who is hired to tell someone what to do next. My approach is non-directive. I come alongside, actively listen, and ask powerful questions which give you greater clarity.

3. Transformational - Leaders who enter into a coaching relationship are committed to do whatever is necessary to reach their goals. They aren't content to just change a few things - they want transformation. My coaching approach is built on a commitment to helping my clients experience transformational leadership!

4. Spirit-Sensitive - In every coaching conversation, together we will listen to the Holy Spirit to discern what He is saying, where He is leading, and how He is working. My responsibility as a Christian coach is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work in the life of my clients. I cannot (and will not) assume the Spirit's role in your life.

5. Raising Awareness - In my first attempts at coaching leaders, I focused exclusively on getting clients to take appropriate action steps to reach their goals. While this is still an important part of coaching conversations, I have realized that raising awareness about oneself and the circumstances around the issues faced is necessary before one can identify the right actions. My approach includes working with clients to help them 1) increase their awareness of what's happening within them, 2) focus on their being and not just doing, and 3) see them become healthy and effective leaders.

6. Results Oriented - Coaching enables leaders to go further faster. When a leader knows where they are going, working with a coach will empower them to attain their goals. In situations where greater clarity is needed, coaches will ask questions that generate focused direction. I approach every coaching conversation with intention to help you to both identify and pursue the outcomes you desire.

7. Passionate - Coaching is about empowerment. I bring my passion and drive fully into every coaching conversation. My approach is not passive. I engage with you as a client, seeking to energize you in the areas of your passion.

Today's Missional Challenge: Consider how working with a coach may empower you to fully live out God's calling on your life!

How to Shop for a Coach

Coaching and Self-Awareness

Helping Leaders Go Further Faster

The Value of Coaching

7 Benefits of Coaching

Shopping for a Coach

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 20:55:00 +0000

Church Planters often recognize they need a coach, but how do they find the right coach? (see 5 Reasons Why Church Planters Need a Coach)

An important step in the process of shopping for a coach is to discern their coaching approach. This requires doing a little research. You cannot assume a person is a good coach for you just because someone calls themselves a "coach."

Interviewing a prospective coach is a great place to start! Here are some topics and questions that you may want to explore...

1. Coaching Training - excellent coaches have invested time and energy to gain the skills to coach well. There are a lot of training programs available. Explore the breadth of their training: How many hours of coach-specific training have they received? What ongoing courses or teleclasses have they taken? How are they improving their skills as a coach?

2. Coaching Experience - in addition to training, discuss the coach's experience. Are you comfortable with the amount of experience they have had coaching others? Can you talk to others they have coached to learn more about them?

3. Availability - as you think about how frequently you'd like to meet with a coach, determine if they have the time available to meet with you. Are they accessible between appointments? Will they respond to email or texts?

4. Competencies/Credentials - the International Coach Federation is the leading global coaching organization, with over 19,000 members, dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high professional standards, providing independent certification, and building a network of credentialed coaches. What credentials does the coach have? Who has granted those credentials? What was the process they completed to receive credentialing?

5. Coaching Approach - there are many different approaches to coaching. Some coaches focus primarily on generating awareness, others focus on skill development, others are more holistic in their approach. Discover who sets the agenda for the coaching conversations (the coach or the client). Who generates action steps? How is progress evaluated?

6. Cost - unfortunately when it come to coaching, you often get what you pay for. Many church planters are looking for free coaching or "cheap" coaching. Beware of settling on an inexperienced coach simply because that's all you can afford. Be creative as you explore ways to pay for coaching. Bottom line: can you afford coaching?

7. Ministry Experience - while it's not necessary for your coach to be an expert in the area where you need coaching, it is valuable to understand if your coach is familiar with the challenges of being in ministry. What is the coach's ministry background? How are they currently engaged in ministry?

8. Spiritual Dynamics - explore how faith and cooperating with the Spirit's work in your life fit into the coach's mindset. What is the coach's spiritual background? Do you sense the coach has spiritual depth and awareness?

9. Trust - coaching cannot be successful if you don't trust your coach. How does the coach build trust? Do you sense that confidentiality would be honored?

Today's Missional Challenge: Explore the value of coaching for your ministry and personal life!

If you are shopping for a coach, check out davedevries.org.

If you are considering how to become a coach, check out Creative Results Management.

Related Posts:
Coaches Speak Truth Directly
How to Become a Better Coach
Coaches Create a Learning Environment

Who Are You Called to Reach?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 07:58:00 +0000

Understanding the people that God has called you to reach is a necessary part of the process of engaging in the mission of Jesus!

The people who live in the culture around you are most likely different than those who live around me. They have different values, behaviors, attitudes, and motivations. Their world view and beliefs are unique. Before you can reach them with the hope of the gospel, it is helpful to understand what makes the gospel good news to them.

Today I completed a week of teaching at Adelphia Bible School on the mission of the Church. We spent part of our time focused on discovering the importance of Exegeting the Culture and Incarnating the Gospel.

I gave each of the students a large Post-It® poster paper and had them draw a map of the geographic area that God has called them to reach.

Then they took another poster and drew pictures of a man, woman and child - and listed the interests, activities, values and motivations of the people who live within their mission field.

Each of the students did an excellent job of keying in on how they might reach those in the culture around them with the gospel.

6 Steps to Know Your Mission Field

1. Draw a Map of Your Community
Include major highways, streets, businesses, schools, parks, natural boundaries, landmarks and where people connect. Add details – residential areas, other churches, where you and your launch team members live, etc.

2. Pray!
Thank God for this area where He has called you and ask God to reveal His love through you to your neighborhood.

3. Evaluate Your Neighborhood
- What different kinds of people live in your area? - What attracts people to your area as opposed to other nearby options? - What is different about your area compared to those surrounding/nearby?

4. Draw Your Focus Group
Outline the body of a Man, Woman and Child on your poster paper. Using your creativity, include the unique sociological and anthropological characteristics of those within your Circle. You may choose to include: Interests and Free Time Activities, Values & Beliefs, Hopes and Dreams, Careers & Jobs, Personal & Community Interests

5. Circle three indicators that show that they are “not far from God.” (Acts 17:27)

6. Write a one paragraph description of those you are called to serve.

Today's Missional Challenge: Take some time to really get to know your mission field!

Related Posts:
Exegete Your Culture
Take a Missional Tour of Your City
Understanding the Culture
Know Your Mission Field
Invading Secular Space

Church Planting Lessons from Frog and Toad

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:16:00 +0000

Planting churches is hard work! Most church planters know this.

The Frog and Toad video "Garden Story" is a great illustration of focusing on working hard to get your church to grow. Watch the video here.

What great lessons can be learned from this short video!

This is a great video to watch with your friends and discuss the implications for trying to get your church to grow!

Frog tells Toad to plant the seeds and "quite soon" he will have a garden. When the seeds don't grow as fast as he would like - Toad gets impatient and yells at the seeds, "Now seeds, start growing!"

Frog tells Toad that the seeds are afraid to grow. He tells him to leave them alone and to let the sun shine on them, and the rain to fall on them, and then they will grow.

In an effort to get the seeds to grow, Toad tries reading to them, singing to them (in the rain), and reciting poetry to the seeds -- thinking that will help them to grow.

In an act of desperation, he performs a violin concerto, hoping that the seeds will want to grow.

Finally when the seeds grow, Toad concludes by acknowledging, "It was very hard work."

As I watch this video, I keep thinking of all the ways that church planters and pastors try to grow the church. It is important to remember that God causes the growth.

I Corinthians 3:6-7, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

The church planter's responsibility is not to grow the church. That's God's responsibility.

Church planters are responsible to make disciples who make disciples - sowing the seed of the gospel! We can't take credit for the growth and then claim what we did was "very hard work."

Today's Missional Challenge: Be patient. Remember that God is the One who causes the growth.

Related Posts:
Good Coaching Questions
Thoughts on Church Planting
Lessons I Learned Planting Lake Hills Church
Be a Lifelong Learner
Start Churches by Making Disciples

Thanks to my friend Kevin Stebbings for sharing this video with me!

Leadership is #1 Limitation in Reaching the Harvest!

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 06:45:00 +0000

“The number one limiting factor in reaching the harvest is leadership. The future of the church is in its leaders. Any church multiplication movement that wants to multiply churches must also find a way to multiply leaders, for it will quickly run out of existing, ready-to-go leaders. Creating solid, reproducible methods for raising up indigenous leaders from the harvest will feed and sustain a church multiplication movement.”
--Bob Logan, Be Fruitful and Multiply

I have never heard a pastor say to me, "We have enough leaders. We don't need any more leaders. All we need is more followers."

Where do pastors and churches find spiritual leaders?

How are emerging leaders developed?

What is the process for raising up spiritual leaders in your church or ministry?

Who is responsible for the ongoing training and development of leaders?

10 Practical Helps for Developing Leaders:

1. Embrace a Leadership Development Process (read more)

2. Identify Necessary Qualities for Leadership (read more)

3. Consider 10 Factors in Developing Leaders (read more)

4. Determine the Kind of Leaders You Need (read more)

5. Assess Leadership Potential (read more)

6. Improve Your Own Leadership Skills (read more)

7. Train in Ministry, Not For Ministry (read more)

8. Two Things Every Leader Must Do Well (read more)

9. Stop Trading Leaders for Lessons (read more)

10. Develop a Culture of Leadership Development (read more)

Today's Missional Challenge: Don't let leadership be your limiting factor in reaching the harvest. Start developing leaders around you!

Related Posts:
Facing the Leadership Challenge
Developing Your Leadership Greenhouse
Developing Leaders

Listen More, Talk Less

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

The Seattle Times included an article today entitled "Shhh: Pope urges silence to communicate better." What a great reminder for coaches.

As Susan Scott says in Fierce Conversations, "Let the silence do the heavy lifting." New coaches often feel the need to talk. Others like to hear their own voice and assume others will too.

However, one of our best tools as coaches is using silence to communicate.

Shhh: Pope urges silence to communicate better

Pope Benedict XVI is asking everyone to quiet down.

By NICOLE WINFIELD
Associated Press

VATICAN CITY —
Pope Benedict XVI is asking everyone to quiet down.

In his annual communications message released Tuesday, Benedict extolled the sounds of silence. He said a little bit of quiet makes people better listeners and better communicators by giving them more time to think about what they are hearing and saying.

And in a world inundated by Tweets and 24-hour news coverage, that precious time to think and reflect gives words greater value, he said.

"Joy, anxiety and suffering can all be communicated in silence - indeed it provides them with a particularly powerful mode of expression," he said in his written message.

Benedict has in recent years used his annual communications message to comment on social media. He has urged priests to blog and Catholics who spread the faith on Facebook and other social networks to be respectful of others.

This year, his attention turned to the need to occasionally tune out the social media information overload to allow time for greater reflection. He called for striking a balance between silence, words, images and sounds.

"By remaining silent, we allow the other person to speak, to express him or herself, and we avoid being tied simply to our own words and ideas without them being adequately tested," he said.

(Read the full article).

I can't help but reflect on James 1:19 - "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger."

I often tell coaches that listening is a gift that we give to someone. Don't you appreciate being listened to? And aren't you frustrated when someone isn't listening?

In a coaching conversations, we must be intentional and truly focused on listening. We also have to turn off our own voice to actually hear what is begin said. We pay attention to the words, tone, and body language, as well as noting the situation, emotions, and behaviors.

Excellent coaches are excellent at listening!

If you want to grow in your coaching skills - consider the Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program.

Today's Missional Challenge: Listen to someone. Truly listen to them. Be slow to speak and quick to listen!

Related Posts:
How to Prepare for a Coaching Appointment
Coaching for Christian Leaders
Coaching and Self-Awareness

3 Spheres of Personal Development

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:35:00 +0000

You are responsible for your own personal development!

There may be others in your life who will mentor, coach, guide, influence, counsel, supervise, manage, direct, correct, or confront - but ultimately, you are responsible for your own growth and development. That's the way it should be!

You have the power to choose! You can choose to grow or to stay the way you are. You can choose to ignore your flaws or shortcomings, or you can choose to take action to change.

3 Spheres of Personal Development

1. HEART: Character Formation

Ø Being = who a leader is…

2. HEAD: Biblical Formation

Ø Knowing = what a leader understands…

3. HANDS: Ministry Formation

Ø Doing = what a leader does…

This morning, I met with a young man who wants to grow as a spiritual leader. I drew this diagram on a napkin while we drank coffee and challenged him to consider specific things that he needed to KNOW, to BE, and to DO as a spiritual leader.

If you want to focus on your own Personal Development, ask the following questions:

1. What Kind of Development is Necessary? - prayerfully identify 7-10 qualities (Being), skills (Doing), and truths (Knowing).

2. Where Do You Need to Grow? - evaluate your strengths and limitations.

3. What's Your Plan to Grow? - identify specific actions to take in your personal development.

4. Who Can Help You? - find a coach to come alongside you to assist in your growth plan.

5. When Will You Start? - do it now!

Today's Missional Challenge: Make a list of the qualities, skills and truths that you'd need to possess to align with Jesus' mission. Take an inventory and get started on your personal development plan.

Related Posts:
Building Spiritual Leaders
20 Questions to Assess Leadership Potential
16 Categories for Spiritual Leadership Development

Challenge: Comment on 10 Posts This Week

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 07:25:00 +0000

On Monday, January 23, I begin a week of teaching at Adelphia Bible School. I have really been looking forward to this opportunity to teach on the mission of the church!

As part of this week's teaching sessions, I am asking the students to comment on 10 MissionalChallenge.com posts and to interact with one another as they consider the application to their lives.

So I thought I'd extend the same challenge to my readers: Consider commenting on 10 MissionalChallenge.com posts this week! Here are 10 of the 512 posts that I'd recommend...

1. Cookie Jars and Church Planters (July 14, 2010)

As I work with church planters, I've seen that many of them are more interested in designing cookie jars than they are in making cookies. They spend a lot of time and effort and money on having great cookie jars. They look at other cookie jars and try to copy the best designs that they can find. They dream of having large, over-flowing cookie jars - Mega Cookie Jars. Church planting isn't about the cookie jars - it's about the cookies! (read more)

2. How Do Non-Christians View Your Community Service? (April 26, 2009)
As believers take steps to focus on meeting needs beyond the walls of the church, it's important to consider how those being served (as well as those who may observe your acts of service) will interpret your actions. It's possible that your best intentions and efforts to serve may be misunderstood. (read more)

3. Training Disciplemaking Trainers (June 13, 2011)
If you want to see a multiplication movement, switch from simply training disciples, to training disciplemaking trainers. Don’t just train leaders, train leaders who are training leaders. (read more)

4. 7 Elements of Starting Churches (February 9, 2010)
In an effort to equip church planters as missionaries, I've developed a new training model that focuses on embodying the gospel in your community and making disciples, rather than moving into a community and starting public worship. (read more)

5. 3 Simple Skills Every Christ Follower Needs (August 8, 2010)
Jesus was a disciplemaker. He started a disciplemaking movement. He not only made disciples, but He sent His disciples to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).In the 21st Century, the practices of being a disciple and making disciples aren't intuitive to Christians. Yet it should be the most basic missional activity for all believers. (read more)

6. Pastors Don't Know HOW to Make Disciples (July 20, 2010)
One of the reasons that many pastors don't personally disciple anyone is that they don't know HOW to make disciples. That's what one of my friends suggested to me in a recent email. He writes, "One of my concerns is that pastors are not personally and intentionally involved in making disciples."(read more)

7. Pre-Conversion Discipleship (March 26, 2008)
When Jesus sent His disciples to "make disciples" - He wasn't telling them to find "baby Christians" and help establish them in their faith. He intended that they would engage with those in the culture around them who did not yet believe and proclaim the Good News of the cross!(read more)

8. Developing Leaders: What Kind of Leaders Do You Want? (May 15, 2008)
"How many training events have you been to that missed the mark because they were irrelevant?" The key question we need to ask when it comes to training leaders is: "What do leaders need?" One of the best ways to get an answer is to ask them. Then provide training that actually provides what they need. (read more)

9. 4 Ways to Show Outsiders You Care (February 4, 2011)
Those outside the faith typically aren't interested in knowing what you believe. They are probably more interested in knowing how you live out what you believe. "What difference does you faith make in the way you treat me, or in the way you care for others?"(read more)

10. Remove the Queen (February 10, 2010)
Many churches overuse the Queen. What is the Queen? Too often the “Queen” is the Sunday morning worship service. Churches tend to use the Sunday service to try to accomplish everything – worship, teaching, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship. What if we could change that?(read more)

I hope you enjoy reading these posts and adding your comments.

You may also consider: Take the Missional Challenge: 31 Days to Align with Jesus' Mission!

Also - like Missional Challenge on Facebook or join Missional Challenge on LinkedIn.

Invading Secular Space

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 07:58:00 +0000

Martin Robinson and Dwight Smith's book Invading Secular Space challenges the Church to live out the mission of Jesus!

If you haven't read the book yet, I'd strongly encourage you to pick it up on amazon.com.

Here are some ideas from the book that have challenged my thinking about Missional Strategies:

"The church is called to share in the mission of God." p. 15

"Christianity is gradually becoming confined to the cultural margins of society." p. 26

"It can never be sufficient to constantly construct programmes designed to pull people into secular space, we have to also consider how we might invade secular space." p. 29

"The populations of the West are open to spirituality, they yearn for an experience of community that the church would like to offer but has forgotten how to model. What we see before us is not a hopeless cause but an open door for mission. We might very reasonably conclude that the Holy Spirit has been busy preparing the way for the church. In such a situation the church is called to reconsider its core life and purpose." p. 36

"The challenge for the church now is to stop thinking merely about methods to reverse decline but to reconsider the basic purpose and call of the church. To return to mission as the core raison d'être of the church will inevitably mean that the shape of the church will change. Our very failure may well assist us to return to that innovation stage of the life of the church when the church ceases to do church but do do mission." p. 56

"What is at stake here is much more than beefing up the programmes of the church so that congregations can attract more members. The challenge is not just to make the church effective in its own life and witness but to do so in such a way that the core interaction with the culture is changed." p. 59

"It doesn't take much imagination to realise that a missionally driven church requires a missional leadership to allow it to function in a healthy manner." p. 83

"...gathering people to sit and listen to somebody talk about the Bible was not the primary reason for the existence of the church, that more people, happy people, bigger budgets, more programs might not be the main reason for the existence of the church. Success by numbers was seductive." p 92-93

"...mission is not evaluated first and foremost by the growth of the church either in numbers or in power and influence but primarily by the difference the church engaged in mission makes to the world. ...The success of the institution must never be our focus but only the mission impact of what the institution of the church accomplishes." p. 94

"Once church buildings became the norm, the term 'church' and the idea of a church building became interchangeable to the point that for most people in the Western world a church is a building. Indeed to speak about the church as people seems to strike most of the population as a rather strange idea." p. 97

"The renewal of the church is not for the sake of the church but for the sake of the mission of the church." p. 102

"Christianity grew in the first few centuries, not through the effectiveness of a professional leadership, but by the patient, consistent witness of ordinary traders, soldiers, civil servants and slaves, who carried the faith with them wherever they travelled in the world. The equipping of ht saints to be active participants in the mission of God is a primary principles of mission." p. 104

"We are bound to ask the question: what would the church look like if it really did live out the grace story of its members? ...what would it look like for a church to function in such a way that the goal of church life was not merely to attract more people intro membership and attendance but to produce people that had a profound sense of their personal relationship to God, resource in Christ, and could take that reality into the world with them?" p. 107, 111

"To use the gifts of every member requires a church to structure its life around mission. Once that has happened there is no limit to the number of gifts that can be used." p. 116

"When God's people are growing in intimacy with him, we are approaching success. When God's people are fulfilling his designs for them, especially as it relates to the expansion of his kingdom, then we are approaching success." p. 156

"Good leaders are not afraid to begin something. While many can be frozen by the fear of failure, good leaders are risk takers." p. 158

"Our lives are the primary conduit that God uses to tell his story of grace to the world!" p. 168

"Our objective cannot be to 'grow' the church, but to live and give the grace found in the gospel in such a way that the environment is created for God to do what only he can do." p. 172

"Of all things that believers do, this is the most powerful, to bear daily witness through both word and deed to the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus." p. 174

"The average Western church is organized to survive." p. 178

"The collapse of a missionary hart int eh church sees a corresponding diminution in intentional strategies for reaching all people in a given area. In other words, chutes hope they will grow but fail to take responsibility for taking the gospel to those beyond the church. There is almost the feeling that it is the responsibility of the church to preach the gospel but it is the responsibility of those outside the church to come and hear it." p. 182

"In truth, the church is not the object of ministry, but is instead the instrument of ministry into the world, which is the true object of ministry of the church." p. 184

"At its best, Christianity is a lay movement. Wherever Christianity is growing around the world, whether in South America, Asia, Africa or Eastern Europe, this single characteristic is the most significant element in that growth." p. 195

"The recruitment and training of more leaders than you yourself can ever use is the key to the growth of movements." p. 201

"The purpose of the church is not to grow itself but to invade secular space with grace lived out int he lives of believers." p. 207

"Increased members do not necessarily mean increased effectiveness." p. 208

Today's Missional Challenge: Consider what God is saying to you as you ponder these quotes above.

Related Posts:
What is the Church For?
The US Church is Marginalized
The Danger of Attractionalism

Self-Evaluation: W-I-N

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 07:57:00 +0000

Today I completed five days training coaches in Bellevue, Washington as part of CRM's CORE Coaching Skills Certificate Program. It was a great week!

One of my co-trainers, Kevin Stebbings, introduced me to a simple approach for coaching clients to generate self-feedback using the acronym W-I-N.

What did you do W-ell?

What could you I-mprove?

What will you do N-ext time?

Three simple words:

Well - Improve - Next

Many times when coaching church planters I realize that I'm not able to offer feedback because I have not directly observed them with their teams. However, I can help the to generate self-feedback.

These three questions are a powerful tool for coaches. They allow you to increase the learning of your clients even when you are not present to observe their behaviors directly.

I'd encourage you to try it at the beginning of a coaching conversations. Even if you aren't in the role of a coach - these W-I-N questions can be useful as you lead your team, work with individuals on your staff, or even seek to self-evaluate your own performance.

As you have heard - "The unexamined life is not worth living."

Today's Missional Challenge: Take some time to ask yourself these W-I-N questions as you reflect on this past week.

How's Your Church Making Disciples?

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 07:15:00 +0000

How are you and those in your church involved in making disciples who make disciples!?

Recently I surveyed a number of church planters and asked them to describe their church's primary disciplemaking method. Here's what they reported...

Taylor, Alex and Joey - serving together
at Summer Safari!

1. We are discipling our missional community leaders and training them to walk through life with the people in our missional communities.

2. Small groups.

3. One on one mentoring using the Purple Book Discipleship guide and Life groups.

4. Organic personal times with folks in small groups, one on ones, preaching the word, shepherding care, living mission in community, serving those less fortunate.

5. We meet weekly for 3-6 months in Discipleship Groups. Each DG has one discipler and 1-3 disciples. They cover our 5 core values: the gospel, communion with Christ, community with one another, commission to the world, and multiplication. Under each core value we cover several subtopics. Each disciple is required to do daily devotions, reach out to their oikos, and complete weekly assignemnts such as readings, memory verses, and real-life assignments. At the conclusion of the DG, which is determined by the discipler, each disciple is evaluated and if he/she is ready, they are helped to recruit and lead their own DG, preferably with the people they have been reaching out to.

6. Teaching youth about Christ and his Church and having them teach others...

How is your church or missional community

actually making disciples who make disciples?

Tell us in the comments below...

Today's Missional Challenge: Consider how you will join Christ in His mission of making disciples who make disciples!

Related Posts:
5 Lessons for Disciplemakers
Disciplemaking Strategies: T4T
Disciplemaking Strategies: Bible Storying
Make Disciples to Plant Churches
Video: This is Discipling

5 Lessons for Disciplemakers

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:36:00 +0000

I feel compelled to keep on emphasizing this truth:

"We don't start churches to make disciples.

We start churches by making disciples."

I planted a church in 1990 in Southern California and now I train and coach church planters. As I've worked with new churches, I'm more convinced that churches need to be started by disciplemakers.

I wrote the book Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living to encourage every believer to align with Jesus' mission. If you are called to start a church or be part of a church planting team, I want to encourage you to keep the main thing the main thing: the mission and message of Jesus!

Here are five of the 100 lessons from the book which focus on Disciplemaking:

Lesson 5: Discipleship starts with non-disciples, not Christians.

Too often people think "discipleship" is for new Christians. When Jesus said, "Go and make disciples," He didn't mean to find those who are already followers and help them follow better. He sends us to make disciples of non-disciples.

Lesson 8: Key to multiplying disciples: obedient Christians.

Jesus told His disciples to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples who... (Matt 28:19-20). You're a disciple of Jesus today because of Christians who obeyed Jesus. There'll be more Christians and more churches when more Christians obey Jesus.

Lesson 9: Making disciples is not an option.

Obeying the Great Commission is not optional. Jesus expected His disciples to "make disciples." And that's what they did. So how is it that so many Christians treat Christ's commands as optional? Why is disobedience tolerated in so many churches?

Lesson 11: Jesus' method was to multiply disciplemakers.

Jesus was a disciplemaker. He launched a movement of disciplemakers. Are you part of the movement? Are you a disciplemaker? How are you multiplying disciplemakers?

Lesson 15: Reproduce disciples to the 4th generation.

Neil Cole notes, "Don't call it multiplication until it reaches the fourth generation." Anything prior to that is addition. Unless those whom you are discipling are actually discipling others who are making disciples, you are not multiplying.

Today's Missional Challenge: Consider how to apply these disciplemaking lessons to your life. How are you making disciples who make disciples?

Learn more about Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living - click here.

Order on amazon.com.

Related Posts on Six-Word Lessons to Discover Missional Living.

3 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0000

Instead of calling tech support recently to address issues with my new wireless router, I decided to try interacting with chat support first. It was a difficult experience.

After quickly describing my problem, I hoped to be told what I needed to do to fix it. Unfortunately, my first attempt was unsuccessful. So, I logged in to the support site once again and described my problem. The chat support person proceeded to instruct me what I needed to do to fix the problem.

Every thing I was instructed to do I had already done. The chat experience was a huge waste of time!

I was irritated that the person on the other end of chat support hadn't asked more questions to discern my issue before trying to solve my problem.

When they sent me an online survey to provide feedback on my interaction they asked: What can we do to improve your experience with Chat Support?

I was only too eager to offer feedback.

This got me to thinking about the process of improvement. Most leaders want to become more effective. But how do you actively pursue improving your leadership skills?

3 Ways to Improve Your Leadership Skills

1. Be Intentional - Identify specific areas where you know you need to improve and devote yourself to practicing those skills.

2. Ask for Feedback - Find ways to get feedback from others that will help you improve. Don't be afraid to ask - "What can I do to improve your experience with my leadership?"

3. Engage with a Coach - Leadership Coaches come along leaders to help them discover ways to improve and specific actions to take to move forward. (For more on coaching - click here).

What steps will you take this week to improve your leadership skills?

Today's Missional Challenge: Evaluate your leadership effectiveness. Ask for feedback from others. Determine steps to improve.

Related Posts:
Take an Inventory
Evaluate Your Missional Orientation
The Power of Coaching
Building Spiritual Leadership
Be a Lifelong Learner

Embrace a Leadership Development Process

noreply@blogger.com (Dr. Dave DeVries) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:36:00 +0000

J. Oswald Sanders describes the process of qualifying as spiritual leaders:

Spiritual leaders are not made by election or appointment, by men or any combination of men, nor by conferences or synods. Only God can make them. Simply holding a position of importance does not constitute one a leader, nor do taking courses in leadership or resolving to become a leader. The only method is that of qualifying to be a leader. Religious position can be conferred by bishops and boards, but not spiritual authority, which is the prime essential of Christian leadership. That comes often unsought to those who in earlier life have proved themselves worthy of it by spirituality, discipline, ability, and diligence, men who have heeded the command: “Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them.” and instead have sought first the kingdom of God {and His righteousness}. Spiritual leadership is a thing of the Spirit and is conferred by God alone. When His searching eye alights on a man who has qualified, He anoints him with His Spirit and separates him to his distinctive ministry… (Sanders, Spiritual Leadership, pp 18-19)

In every generation God’s people are given the opportunity to respond to His invitation to be a distinct people used to demonstrate and proclaim hope in the midst of their generations’ present crisis. In each generation, God calls out individuals who will take up the reins of leadership.

On my sabbatical in 2000, I sensed the need to intentionally develop spiritually qualified board members. It seemed that every year as we sought nominations for board members, I was pulling teeth to get anyone to serve. In the fall of 2000, I invited six men to join me in a monthly four hour training session. We shared a meal together and prayed for one another. We also discussed an assigned book and I taught a lesson on spiritual leadership. This process bonded us together and was invaluable in preparing two of these men to serve as deacons and one to serve as an elder the following year. I realized that I had to be involved first hand in the leadership formation process at our church.

And yet, I can’t be the only one concerned about leadership development. As we continue to grow as a church, all leaders must embrace the responsibility for leadership multiplication. Just as all disciples of Jesus ought to be disciple-makers, so all leaders ought to be mentoring leaders.

Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” This process of leadership multiplication won’t just happen in your church. Spiritual leaders are developed over a lifetime and they need the input of godly leaders on the one hand, while continuing to invest in the mentoring of the next generation of church leadership.

An intentional process of leadership development that strengthens the local church’s leadership base must be initiated with non-leaders who are faithful followers of Jesus. And this process must continue through identifiable phases that equip emerging leaders with ongoing ministry assignments and responsibilities.

Learning to lead won’t happen in the classroom, but in the context of ministry.

Today's Missional Challenge: Commit yourself to the process of both developing as a leader, and developing others to lead!

Related Posts:
Spiritual Leadership
Understanding Leadership
20 Questions to Assess Leadership Potential