"Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:42
Imagine the first Christians – living in Jerusalem, meeting together in the temple courts and in each others homes (see Acts 2:46). By Acts chapter 5 there were at least 5000 believers in Jerusalem (Acts 4:4). If we assume an average of 10 believers meeting together in each home, that's about 500 home fellowships! And the Apostles systematically visited these believers, proclaiming Christ, teaching, encouraging, and ministering to the people.
In the Cell Church, the Cell Coach plays a similar role, taking responsibility for a number of cell groups, supporting the leaders, visiting the groups, and encouraging the believers. This equipping module aims to provide a little more detail to help you understand how best to support your Cell Leaders and their groups.
Good communication is key to being a good Cell Coach. It is strongly recommended that you keep a Coach's Notebook, (or use some other written method, e.g. word processor) to keep track of your communications with your Cell Leaders. Speak to your Cell Leaders at least once a week, either in person or by telephone. Note down who you contacted and when, and record anything valuable you may need to remember, e.g. prayer needs, details of current circumstances in the cell group or in the leader's personal life, current progress against cell goals, any issues to deal with, development plans etc. Your record does not have to be long-winded, just briefly jot down the essential points. Use your record to help you pray specifically for your leaders and their groups, and to enable you to provide a suitable level of support.
Sometimes called a 'Coaching Huddle', the team meeting is when you physically get together with your Cell Leaders (and their co-leaders if appropriate); it's held about once a month. This is the most important meeting in the Coach's calendar. As you gather your key leaders together, you have opportunity to encourage, train and motivate them, and to learn the present condition of your leaders and their groups. You have opportunity to discover exactly what support each group actually needs.
The structure and content of the meeting are for you to decide; adjust the time and location etc. to best suit those attending.
Here's a suggested outline you could use:
After each team meeting, a Cell Coach's Report should be sent to the church office. A paper form could be used, but a simple email containing the essential details is probably the easiest and most efficient option. Appendix E9.x1 Email Report Guide – Cell Coach outlines the essential information that should be included.
Another essential element in supporting your Cell Leaders is to visit their groups. On one occasion per month, leave your own cell group with a co-leader or an apprentice in charge, and visit one of your leaders groups. Even if your own group meets on a different day to the one you're visiting, don't attend both meetings. Avoid burnout – just one meeting will do!
Let the Cell Leader know in advance that you'll be coming, and participate as an ordinary member of the cell. Observe how everything is going, and give any feedback to the Cell Leader immediately after the meeting (or to the whole group if that seems appropriate). Complete a Cell Group Evaluation Report and keep it for your own records. Do be prepared to answer any questions the group may have, or to help out in any other way, but let the Cell Leader and the group members plan and run the meeting as normal. You want to see how effective they are, not prove your own ability to lead! If a particular group turns out to need some kind of special support, arrange another visit to address the specific issue raised. If necessary, send appropriate feedback to the senior church leaders. (This would be necessary if, say, there's a problem you know you can't handle alone). Otherwise, just include your impressions of the group in your regular Coach's Report.
Regular contact with your Cell Leaders via weekly phone calls, brief chats at the main church, monthly team meetings, and periodic cell visits is great, but there is no substitute for spending some quality one-to-one time together. Aim to spend some time with one of your Cell Leaders on a one-to-one basis each month. Be creative about the time and venue, but don't pick a cell group night. You could visit the leader in his or her own home, invite them to your home, or go to a cafe together. Take time to get to know each other, try to understand your leader's life, their family, and the regular challenges they face. Talk about the cell group too, and explore the way forward for both the leader and the group. Consider the leader's own development as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Explore ways in which you could offer support. And take a little time to pray together. Above all, encourage them to continue in the work of the Lord, despite the challenges, and not to give up!
We have discussed various structures that help you provide support to your Cell Leaders. But what kind of support should you give?
Here are some suggestions:
Growth is an important part of the Christian life. If one of your Cell Leaders is struggling with a particular aspect of leading a cell, part of your mission as Cell Coach is to help them develop and become better at leading in that area. Even if all your leaders are doing a great job, it is desirable to stretch and challenge them to develop further. Help them to become great at developing others as disciples; help them to become great at developing new cell leaders; help them to become great at reaching the lost. And help them to develop as a potential Cell Coach!
Some suggested strategies:
Jesus said, "...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Problems are inevitable! In fact, God allows them purposely to test us and try us, to refine our faith, and to build godly character (see 1 Peter 1:6-7; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5). While this topic could easily fill a whole book, the purpose of this section is to provide a few simple strategies you could use when attempting to help resolve problems and issues among your leaders and their groups. Please note, each person is responsible for their own life and actions before God; as Cell Coach you're in a good position to help resolve problems and disputes, but you are not expected to be responsible for the actions of another person. Galatians 6:1-2,5 is helpful here.
Some problem solving strategies:
A quote from Joel Comiskey:
"The fact is, many cell members have needs beyond the ministry abilities of cell leaders. Cell members may need counselling, special prayer ministry from an experienced prayer team, or a recovery programme. Cell leaders don't have to do everything for their members. Coaches must help cell leaders process the needs of their members and then find God's solutions to meet those needs." (How to be a great Cell Group Coach, Joel Comiskey, page 108).
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ."
(Galatians 6:2)
E9.2 Good Coaching Practices - Version 1 – Dec 15