In our goal to coach missionaries, raising support is perhaps the biggest obstacle. We could name all kinds of fears that scare us away. What we really need is a paradigm shift and the essence of it is: Coaching Missionaries begins before you get to the missionary and it is not about you, it is a team effort.

When we raise support there are at least 5 players involved. Four of them are the Encourager, the Prayer, the Giver and the Doer. The Missions coach is the Doer or “Goer,” in this case, but all the players are partners on the team that makes coaching missionaries possible.

The Giver is the partner to whom God has already given the resources specifically to fund various ministries. By sharing your heart, God (the 5^th player) connects the dots between your heart and the resources. We tend to see connecting the dots as our job. But it’s not; it’s God’s job.

As Missions coaches, we have a unique opportunity to use coaching techniques to guide people through understanding this team concept as Paul did in Philippians 4:17, “Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.” Now that’s team effort! Can you look for people to be a part of your “team” rather than just those who give you money? Now that’s a paradigm shift!

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Located in New Hope, Minnesota, Tim Olson has his own business as a personal life coach after years as a pastor, teacher, school principal, business owner and missionary. In addition, for 1/5th of his time, he serves as a leadership coach for the National Fathering Ministry staff both in the US and in Ukraine. Tim received his training in the Christian track of Institute for Life Coach Training, is a member of Christian Coaches Network and co-founded Mission Coaches Network. For more, see www.TimOlsonLifeCoach.com