"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Philippians 3:12
Having considered the Coaching System, and Good Coaching Practices, this final equipping module looks at how you can develop and grow and become a better coach. None of us have yet been made perfect; our challenge at the present time is to pursue perfection, to grow in our ability to serve the Lord, and to become the best we can be for him.
The church exists for God and for his purposes. So to be a great Cell Group Coach you need a good understanding of God's purposes. It is not our role as Christians to invent our own purposes for God's church. Rather, he expects us to obey the plain teachings he has given us in his word. While any particular church will describe its reason for existence and its goals in its own way, every church ultimately exists for God, and for his purposes. With a clear grasp of God's purposes, a Cell Coach can direct his or her team to play an effective role within the local church.
How can you develop your understanding? Here are some suggestions:
Vision is a powerful thing! Great people movements, and great men and women, have been inspired by a great vision. Well known pastor, Bill Hybels, defines vision as, "A picture of the future that produces passion." People will go to great lengths to follow a leader with a fiery passion and a compelling vision. Cell Church provides such a vision – a set of principles that, rightly used, empower a local church to live out God's eternal purposes in a practical and powerful way.
In essence, the vision of Cell Church is this: Church is a balance between large and small gatherings, and both are equally church. Worship and preaching mark the large gathering; close relationships and practical Christian living mark the small. Evangelism, prayer and worship form a vital part of both. And the real beauty of Cell Church is the mobilisation of all believers. No longer is 80% of the work done by 20% of the members; no longer do the few burn-out while the rest sit back and watch. Instead, everyone has the opportunity to be involved in spiritual ministry; everyone is encouraged and empowered to play their part; and instead of being side-tracked by trivial issues, the church is focused on fulfilling the mission and purposes of Almighty God!
Some resources to strengthen your understanding of Cell Church vision:
Improve your coaching ability by submitting to the guidance of a more senior or more experienced leader. If your church has a formal process connecting Cell Coaches and Senior Leaders, make the best use of that. If not, find a suitable senior leader and ask if they'd be willing to support you in your role as a Cell Coach by becoming your mentor. Then on a regular basis, share with your mentor what you're doing, how your coaching is going, and how you're feeling. Be open to receive suggestions, advice, and constructive criticism. Your goal is to improve! And pray together. This kind of support will make a real difference.
What if you are a senior leader yourself? Who will support you? It is always better to have someone in an advisory role who can help you bear the burden of a Coach. You will need to be creative in your approach to finding a suitable mentor or partner. Could a local leader from another church help? Or an external leader from your church's denomination? Perhaps a national or even international training organisation could help? Or maybe a personal Christian friend? Wherever you find them, get yourself a mentor if you possibly can.
Anyone fulfilling the role of Cell Coach will face similar challenges to yourself. Whether formally or informally, try to spend a little time with other Cell Coaches, swapping stories, sharing challenges, victories, and lessons learned. Learn from each other. Gain strength and encouragement from each other. And pray for one another. If possible, have a Coaching Team Meeting (run by senior leaders) say, 4 times a year.
In the English language we are privileged to have an abundance of good resources. Develop yourself as a coach by reading good books, Christian and secular, relevant to your coaching role. Joel Comiskey has written a number of books specifically for Cell Church Coaches. See the Resources section at the end of this module for suggestions and sources.
As well as books on coaching, read books on general leadership, and personal spiritual development. Aim to be the best you can for God! If you don't have much time for reading, try out other modern formats – listen to audio books and recorded preaching while you go about your daily business. Try ebooks (electronic books); read them on a smart phone whenever you have a few minutes to spare. And there are some great video resources too – on DVD or online. For example, try searching for well known Christian preachers on YouTube etc.
It's always good to learn what you can from the experiences of others; it saves you having to learn everything by your own hard experience! Read about other Cell Churches in books, Christian magazines, and on the internet. Better still, if there's another Cell Church within travelling distance, visit in person and see for yourself what's going on. Talk to people and ask questions, and write down any tips you learn. Try to find out what has been successful and what hasn't worked.
Training seminars or conferences can be a useful way to broaden your knowledge and to connect you with other Cell Church practitioners. Such events can be useful for sharing experiences, ideas and best practices, and for encouraging one another. It is good to know you are part of something bigger. And it's great to join with others to praise God for all he's doing through a whole variety of cell ministries.
E9.3 Developing As A Coach - Version 2 – May 25