7 Questions about Gospel Coaching
Dear Friends,
I have not been doing formal gospel coaching for a season, but the Lord has been leading me for some time to return. Given the recent upheaval in our world, this seems like a good time to offer this service, and I will be taking on a limited number of clients. If you have questions beyond what this article covers, please contact me. I’d love to hear from you.
Ellie found herself with more time on her hands as her last child went to college. She knew she wanted to invest her time wisely, but she wasn’t sure which direction to pursue. Simone wanted to finish school but couldn’t make herself start gathering the paperwork to apply. And Marie, a young mom whose mother had died when she was a teen, wanted to spend intentional time thinking through what it meant to be a “good” mother. Each of these women found that a gospel coach could help them over the hurdles and usher them through the places they tended to get stuck.
Over the last thirty-something years, I’ve done a lot of gospel coaching, although I haven’t always called it that. Some of my coaching has been formal (scheduled sessions, paid); much of it has been informal (over lunch or coffee, unpaid). As I’ve been praying about returning to formal coaching, I’ve decided the simplest and clearest title for my work is “Gospel Coach.” What is a gospel coach? Hopefully, answering these seven questions will help you understand what I do as a gospel coach.
Most life coaching assumes that the primary factor in change lies within us; in other words, it has a humanistic approach.
Gospel coaching assumes that because of our fallen nature, true and lasting change comes through Christ’s redemptive work in us. Gospel coaches believe that united with Christ, by the work of the Holy Spirit, in faith and repentance, we can and will change and grow to become more like Christ. Gospel coaches come alongside to help you seek God’s calling in your life and to help you move forward in living out God’s love in very specific arenas.
1
What’s the difference between a gospel coach and a life coach?
2
What’s the difference between a gospel coach and a counselor?
While gospel coaches may offer “little-c” counsel at times and will always offer Scriptural wisdom, they are not qualified to treat mental health issues in the way a trained counselor is. Counseling tends to focus more on healing from past struggles which are causing distress; coaching focuses on helping you move forward in a healthy way (in personal growth, relationships, career, parenting, etc.). For a more in-depth look at the differences, see this PDF on Christian coaching.
Yes. The client sets and states the goal. I’ve had clients who were empty nesters wanting to return to school or write a book but weren’t getting very far on their own. I’ve had clients who wanted to grow as young moms, and clients who simply wanted someone to walk alongside them in the hard calling of ministry. All of these are good options for gospel coaching.
I provide exercises that help clients consider the stories God has written in and through you, to discover the obstacles you might face in reaching that goal, and to take the actions you will need to take to accomplish the goal.
Each time we get together, we celebrate what God has done, consider struggles and obstacles, and pray about and discuss next steps.
3
Can a gospel coach help me accomplish goals?
4
What if I don’t want to accomplish any goals but just need someone to walk alongside me?
As a gospel coach, I provide a safe place for clients to share frustrations, disappointments, as well as excitement about what God is doing in their lives. Sometimes, especially in ministry, you can’t share significant stories or struggles with others, but you need to verbally process decisions and thoughts. I listen carefully and ask good questions. I pray and offer gospel cheerleading.
Well, I was never any good at gymnastics, but I’ve been told throughout my life that I am a great encourager. Scripture offers us the strongest encouragement for learning, living, and loving in the gospel, but our problem is that we often have gospel amnesia. My role is to remind my clients of the good news and how it applies to the specific stories you are living.
5
What is gospel cheerleading?
6
Will you yell at me the way my high school volleyball coach did?
No yelling. I may ask some hard or uncomfortable questions, questions a friend might think are too awkward to ask. Questions like, “Why do you suppose you sabotage your movement toward your goal?” or “What are you afraid of?” or “Why do you refuse to celebrate what God has done?” But be assured, even the toughest questions are always asked kindly, with the goal of encouraging movement toward living out faith, hope, and love.
That’s a really good question! Larry Crabb once said that if people had better friendships, there would be no need for counselors, and to a degree, he’s right – about counselors and coaches. But. The reality in a fallen world is that you are not likely to feel comfortable making every get-together with a friend all about you and your struggles or your desires to reach a goal. Your friend is not likely to feel comfortable asking you some of the hard questions that would get you un-stuck. And data shows that when we pay for something, we invest a lot more time, energy, and effort in it.
7
Why should I pay a gospel coach to do what it sounds like a good friend could do for me?
So that’s what I do as a gospel coach. If you have more questions or think you might benefit from gospel coaching, please contact me for a free discovery session.
Photo by Danielle MacInnes on Unsplash
Gospel Coaching
I work with women who believe their story has meaning and purpose because God wrote it! Want to try gospel coaching? Contact me for a free twenty-minute discovery session to learn more.
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