COACHING
With 1:1 coaching, you don’t have to carry the weight of leadership alone.
“Coaching is the hands-on process of helping people succeed.”
“Coaching is the process of coming alongside a person or team to help them discover God’s agenda for their life and ministry, and then cooperating with the Holy Spirit to see that agenda become a reality.”
“Coaching is an on-going intentional conversation that empowers a person or group to fully live out God’s calling.”
Formal Coaching Expectations
-Coach has completed formal training and is certified according to recognized standards (e.g., International Coach Federation or equivalent). Within the Missionary Church, we are creating a team of certified coaches.
-Coach primarily practices non-directive, client-focused coaching with clear distinction from mentoring, counseling, or consulting. -Coach maintains ethical standards and strict confidentiality - this is non-negotiable.
-Pastor and coach meet at least once each month for formal coaching sessions - with increased frequency based on season or need.
-Pastor and coach have signed a coaching agreement outlining frequency, duration, and expectations of coaching sessions.
-Pastor demonstrates readiness for coaching by staying humble, open, honest, and willing to be challenged.
-Pastor is committed to preparing for sessions, implementing action steps, and reporting progress.
How Fruitful Coaching Works with Vinia
-Coach has completed formal training and is certified according to recognized standards (e.g., International Coach Federation or equivalent). Within the Missionary Church, we are creating a team of certified coaches.
-Coach primarily practices non-directive, client-focused coaching with clear distinction from mentoring, counseling, or consulting. -Coach maintains ethical standards and strict confidentiality - this is non-negotiable.
-Pastor and coach meet at least once each month for formal coaching sessions - with increased frequency based on season or need.
-Pastor and coach have signed a coaching agreement outlining frequency, duration, and expectations of coaching sessions.
-Pastor demonstrates readiness for coaching by staying humble, open, honest, and willing to be challenged.
-Pastor is committed to preparing for sessions, implementing action steps, and reporting progress.
How Fruitful Coaching Works with Vinia
CONNECT
schedule a 30-minute Clarity Call to discover how coaching brings clarity and get started.
GROW
Engage with your personal coach to navigate challenges, raise awareness, and design action steps to move forward.
GO
See clearly what God is leading you to do, take actions week after week, experience greater fruitfulness.
Our Coaching Approach - How We Coach
Client-Focused - In every coaching relationship, our primary aim is to serve the leader being coached. The leader, who is also the client, sets the agenda. It’s not about what the coach thinks or believes the client should do. Instead, the coach focuses on helping the leader discover how to move forward to attain identified goals. The leader always sets the agenda. Coaches serve by assisting to discover next steps.
Non-Directive - There is no set curriculum. Coaches listen actively and ask powerful questions. They do not tell the leader what to do.
Transformational - Leaders commit to pursue transformation, not just minor change. Leaders who enter a coaching relationship are willing to do whatever is necessary to reach their Godgiven goals. They aren’t content to change a few things – they want transformation. Our coaching approach is built on a commitment to help clients experience transformational leadership!
Spirit-Sensitive - Coaches
What is Christian Coaching?
Christian coaching is an ongoing conversation that empowers a person or team to fully live out God’s calling – in their life and profession. The goal of coaching is to develop a person or team who is able to more effectively reflect, correct, and generate new learning. It’s learning new ways to learn, listening to your heart and Holy Spirit, and taking action to reshape your life around that learning.
The coaching relationship is expected to produce insights, greater personal awareness, new or modified behaviors, actions, and ultimately results that satisfy the client. Much is expected of you: to evaluate, reason, imagine, decide, and implement.
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Coaching is about you – your goals, your learning, and your growth. Together you and your coach will listen to the Holy Spirit to hear His voice about you.
Coaching is about learning – rather than teaching. You are the expert on your life. Your coach uses coaching techniques such as active listening, open questions, encouragement, challenging a bit, and always remaining supportive. All to assist you in discovering insights and taking next steps.
Coaching is about action – your action. Each session you will determine 1-3 actions steps you will take before the next session. You may be surprised how quickly you progress toward your goals.
Coaching is about all of you – not just your work or ministry. We all know that changing old habits and thought patterns are difficult. Your coach recognizes these patterns and will support you as you change and grow.
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“It is not difficult to know a thing; what is difficult is to know how to use what you know.”
– Han Fei Tzu
It’s not therapy. Although many of the communication techniques are the same, like active listening, reflecting, use of questions, limited advice giving, etc., therapy focuses on the past to bring healing and unblock a person to move ahead. Coaching is future and action-oriented, for people who are basically clear of psychological and emotional issues.
It’s not mentoring. Mentors are experts in a particular field who seek to pass on their expertise to a person. Mentors provide knowledge, advice, guidance, correction, and encouragement to people who are newer and junior—by experience if not by position or age. They may use some coaching techniques, vinia.org/coaching
but mentors usually play the roles of advisor and teacher to guide and impart knowledge and wisdom.
It’s not training. In training, the trainer sets the agenda. Change comes from outside the participant, i.e. the trainer. In coaching, you set the agenda. Coaches use adult learning principles of self-discovery to motivate change from within you.
It’s not authoritarian. Did you have a tough sports coach that used to yell at you and make you do a million push-ups if you made a mistake? That’s not coaching. Your coach will push you beyond what you might think you can do, but will always be
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Coaching works because it brings out your best – what God put in! Coaches believe you can create your own best answers and are trained to support you in that process.
Specifically, this is what your coach will do during coaching sessions:
Listen. Coaches listen fully. You are the focus. Coaches listen to what you say, what you are trying to say, and what you are not saying. They also listen to the Holy Spirit and encourage you to do the same.
Share. After you have fully communicated, coaches may share with you their ideas, comments, and views on your situation, dilemma, or opportunity.
Encourage. Anyone who’s trying to accomplish something needs, yes, needs, an outside voice full of encouragement, compassion, and acknowledgement. Not a yes-type person, but someone who knows what it takes to achieve.
Suggest. Coaches want a lot for you. They want you to have a life that fully expresses your God-given uniqueness and calling. Part of a coach’s job is to be at least three steps ahead of you, yet be with you.
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The reasons people want coaching are endless, and as unique as the person. Here are a few examples that motivate people to use a coach.
To make significant changes
To better deal with uncertainty
To make better decisions
To set better goals
To reach goals faster
To grow spiritually
To become financially more stable
To get ahead personally
To have a collaborative partner
To improve their relationships
To make a bigger impact on the world
To be a better leader
To simplify their lives
To reduce stress
To keep up with the speed of life
To address transitions in location and employment
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Coaches, Christian or not, will use many of the same communication tools. The big difference is that Christian coaches bring Christian beliefs and practices to the coaching relationship. If you are a Believer, you have the Holy Spirit. It’s paramount that you listen to what He says regarding your goals, actions and next steps. Christian coaches will encourage you to listen more to the Holy Spirit and then act. Together you will look at how God has called and equipped you in life and achievement. You can feel comfortable sharing your spiritual needs, doubts, and desires. Christian coaches will support you where you are and encourage you in the direction you want to grow.