The Christian Coaching Center » Featured Content

Support Structures in the Coaching Relationship by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:00:34 +0000

The process of habit change is not well understood by Christians, and neither are the relational resources God has given us to do it. The key factor in change is motivation, not information. It isn’t knowing what to do that produces change—it’s having the incentive to tackle the hard work it entails. We have to get motivated, to get energized to change, and then stay motivated and energized long enough to form a new habit.

Accountability for Coaches by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:43:51 +0000

Accountability is an effective tool to help a coaching client change habits. And the principles behind accountability will work with any kind of action step. Whenever a client needs to get something done, accountability improves the chances of success. Here’s an overview of how accountability is normally applied in a coaching relationship.

The Power of Accountability by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:33:56 +0000

It’s 11:00 p.m., you just got back from another long day of ministry two time zones away from home, and you’re sitting alone on your hotel bed, exhausted. Tomorrow you fly back home through O’Hare, but right now all you want is to relax for a half an hour or so before bed. As you’re flipping through the channels trying to find ESPN Sports Center, there right in front of your eyes is a graphic, X-rated sex scene...

Challenging Your Client with Ownership Questions by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:54:01 +0000

Dave was a youth pastor from a local church whom I’d been coaching for several months. One day he began to share his frustrations with Mike, one of the adults on his leadership team. Mike had been a member of the team before Dave was hired, and his ideas of what youth ministry ought to be were aligned more with the previous youth pastor’s approach than they were to Dave’s. As Dave settled into his role and began to carry out the mandate he’d been hired to accomplish, Mike got more and more upset.

Letting the Client Lead by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:45:27 +0000

Coaching is based on internal motivation. The biggest obstacle to growth and change is motivation, not information. You can come up with a great idea for how to make a client’s life better, but if that person isn’t looking to change in that area, proposing it was a complete waste of time. People are the most motivated to act on their own plans and ideas. Therefore, if you want to maximize growth, you’ll allow people to set their own agenda, because that’s where the motivation is highest.

Making Life Messages by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:22:19 +0000

Making Life Messages is one of the more unilateral things God does. He decides where he is going to meet us, he creates or leverages the circumstances that get our attention and motivates us to engage him at the heart level. When we do engage him, it is Jesus that invades and transforms our hearts, too. Our job consists of two things: recognizing where he is already at work and choosing to go there with him.

What Are Life Messages? by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:43:33 +0000

A Life Message is a place in your heart where you have deeply meet Jesus, his life has replaced your natural life, and that incarnation flows out as a Message of Christ to others. Together, these Messages combine to form your being call—the essence of the Christ-in-you that is channeled through your calling role to impact others. Life Messages are individual facets of Christ’s character you specially model, while your being call is all those messages rolled together.

When Destiny is an Unattainable Goal by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 02:02:18 +0000

Ever coach someone who just can’t seem to get unstuck on the road to their destiny? Our first instinct as coaches is to help the person identify circumstances that block them or internal obstacles that hold them back, and then find a way around those obstacles. We operate this way because of a core belief most coaches share: that every person has a God-given destiny, and that anyone can find and follow that destiny today.

But what if our fundamental beliefs about destiny are wrong? Does everyone really have a destiny? And...

Creating a Coaching Culture by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:30:36 +0000

How an Entire District of One Denomination Embraced Coaching

Why has Western Ontario District [WOD] of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada been able to create an environment in their organization where people value coaching and desire to implement it in their ministry settings?

Nine years ago, two key leaders in WOD felt compelled to look for a tangible leadership development program that they could offer credentialed leaders (pastors) in their organization. In searching out what were identified as growth areas by a collaborative committee representing members in the organization, WOD was introduced to...

Doing Nothing by Michael J. Pfau

admin — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:28:28 +0000

Last time I wrote how being driven by distraction causes us to respond to impulse and urgency to the detriment of self care and relationships. This has a domino effect in that, when self care and relationships are not adequately met, we find ourselves driven by needs. We often do this unconsciously – how many times do we just need to take a break, go for a walk or rest but instead we decide to eat something? Even though needs may go unnoticed they do have a strong influence on our

Are Action Steps Essential? by Dr. Keith E. Webb

admin — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 22:21:47 +0000

If the practice of coaching were to be boiled down to it's two core functions you are left with reflection for insights and action steps for application. Yet, some people struggle with coaching action steps. They view stimulating reflection as virtuous and the main job of a coach, while generating action steps as too pragmatic and therefore optional.

Five Things About Christian Coach Training by Linda Hedberg

Linda Hedberg — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 07:32:13 +0000

Seven years ago, when I decided to pursue a career in coaching and started looking for coach training programs, I didn’t realize it would be such a challenging project! After becoming a coach, I found – like many established Christian coaches – that prospective coaches contacted me with questions about the field, and coach training in particular. Since then, I’ve authored an ebook, The Complete Guide to Christian Coach Training, to help Christians who are considering entering the field to make informed decisions that are uniquely best suited to them. For those starting this journey, here are five things to know about Christian coach training...

Making Contracts Biblical by Tony Stoltzfus

Tony Stoltzfus — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:06:51 +0000

Over the years I've personally been deeply grieved to watch a number of important relationships in the Christian coaching world implode over contract issues. Those experiences started me thinking: what does scripture have to say about a Christian coach’s relationship to contracts and the legal system? We all use coaching agreements, and we have contracts with the schools that train us with those who do work for us. Is the way we craft these agreements biblical, or are we just copying common business practices without really thinking about how the fit with a Kingdom perspective?

So let's dive in and explore what a biblical approach to coaching contracts might look like...

Remembering Judy Santos by Linda Hedberg

Linda Hedberg — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:32:43 +0000

Judy Santos, MCC, founder and director of the Christian Coaches Network, passed away on Tuesday, March 2, in Bellingham, WA. She was a beloved coach, mentor, colleague, friend, mother and grandmother. As a community of Christian coaches, we grieve with her family and all those who knew and loved her.

It may be her cheerfully raspy voice or delightfully distinctive laugh that we first remember when we think of Judy Santos. After all, as coaches living in a virtual community, many of our most significant relationships...

Coaching Church Planters: What Does it Take? by Bob Logan

Tony Stoltzfus — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 20:43:54 +0000

I’ve been coaching church planters for over twenty years now. Church planters are a unique breed, often presenting distinctive challenges to their coaches. I know this because I’ve also been—and currently am—a church planter. I know firsthand how challenging we can be, and I also know what we need from our coaches.

Our international qualitative research project shows the outcomes of what good coaching accomplishes. We have isolated the competencies and microskills a coach needs to accomplish those outcomes. But one question I’m often asked is this: To coach a church planter effectively, what else is needed besides the basics of being a good coach?