Coaching Church Planters
From Jonathan Dodson at Church Planting Novice
My first exposure to coaching definitely forced me to rethink my presuppositions. I learned that:
- Good coaches don’t actually give advice; they ask good questions.
- Good coaches can coach any kind of church planter or church planting model.
- Good coaching requires good listening and insightful questioning.
- Good coaches move the coachee along in their thinking, understanding, and approach to ministry.
- Good coaching guides, not informs, the coachee to concrete action.
All these principles are good; however, as Nate recently pointed out, the best coach actually prays for his coachee, loves his coachee, approaches him or her as a fellow disciple under Christ. Good coaching changes the coach and coachee, moving them beyond skills and methods into deeper dependence upon the Holy Spirit.