Tim Olson, a coach friend of mine from here in Minneapolis, attended the conference in Charlotte on June 4 and 5.  I asked him to share about his opportunity to connect there with other coaches interested a topic near and dear to his heart.

Linda Hedberg:  Tim, I know you facilitated a roundtable discussion at the Christian Coaches Network conference a couple of weeks ago - the topic was coaching missionaries.  Tell me about that.

Tim Olson:  This was a great group of coaches who really want to have an impact on the world of missions to bring Jesus to the nations. Unfortunately, we all feel isolated and/or unsure how to go about it. In the round table, we were able to tell each other our experiences and vision for coaching this slice of society and to glean ideas and encouragement.

The fact is there are many coaching efforts happening “out there” but very little communication between them. The vision we shared at the round table was that some day, coaching will be an automatic part of a missionary’s schedule and support raising. We have seen the impact in terms of reducing burnout, increasing effectiveness and bringing life balance.

Linda:  Tell me about the Mission Coaches Network.
Tim:  Yes, I was asked to host the round table because of the Mission Coaches Network, which I co-started with Tina Stoltzfus-Horst. We have the same purpose: to learn from one another and to help lay tracks to take coaching to the world of missions. In effect, we hold a round table every month as a teleconference around various specific topics related to issues that both the missionaries and the coaches face.
Linda:  Who attends the Mission Coaches Network teleconferences?
Tim:  It is an open group and new coaches join us regularly. Interested coaches can contact me at mitolson@comcast.net for details on joining us.

Linda:  Thanks, Tim!

Tim Olson has his own business as a personal life coach after years as a pastor, teacher, school principal, business owner and missionary.  In addition, he works as a leadership coach for Dads First, a ministry for fathers in the US and in Ukraine. Also a speaker and writer, Tim received his coach training in the Christian track of the Institute for Life Coach Training.  He is a member of the Christian Coaches Network.   Tim can be reached at mitolson@comcast.net.   <
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Here are some key concepts from the workshop Jerome Daley and I presented last week at the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries conference last week:

• When Life balance is out-of-whack, a door is opened for the thief to steal and kill and destroy true life in Christ.  This is as true for you as it is for those you serve in ministry.  (reference John 10:10)
• Balance is not about “self-actualization.”  It is not, at the core, about improving the quality of your life (although of course it will).  Balance is about something bigger and more vital to eternity than our comfort.
• Balance occurs when we assign kingdom value accurately upon the earth.  Imbalance, then, is when we get confused about what is really important.
• We will never achieve complete balance here on this earth.  We are either moving toward greater balance, or away from it.  The role of the coach is to facilitate movement toward balance as much as possible.
• As always, look to Jesus as the example.

The workshop was packed with examples of Jesus and other scriptural references.  We provided practical tools - lots of handouts - for participants to use either for their own journey toward balance or for use with those they minister to.

If you have interest in scheduling this workshop for your church, community or conference, please contact me at linda@lifestoriescoaching.com.

Coaching for Life Balance in Ministry was the workshop Jerome Daley and I presented as part of the life coaching track at the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries conference in Charlotte, NC, USA, last week.  Christopher McCluskey did a workshop called A Crash Course in Christian Coaching.  Judy Santos and Susan Whitcomb presented on Coaching through Life’s Transitions.  Other Christian Coaching Network members presented on topics including Basic Coaching Skills, Coaching skills Applied to Christian Leadership, and Coaching for Health and Wellness.

The AMFM included the life coaching track in the conference training schedule to introduce members to classic professional coaching and to further inform and equip members for effective ministry.  The AMFM members are primarily counselors, pastors and ministry leaders, from across the country, all with a passion for marriage and family ministries.  This was a rich opportunity to spread further throughout the Christian community the value of coaching and to offer coaching tools and support.

The AMFM experience reminds me of Judy Santos’ discussion of emerging trends in Christian coaching, posted at this blog on February 2.  Professionally trained Christian coaches are increasingly seeing more opportunities within the community of Christian leaders and churches to contribute coaching education , resources and support.

Pioneers of Christian coaching have for years been blazing trails and creating paths for other Christian coaches to follow.  I, for one, thank them for their work and commitment.

All for the glory and purposes of God!