The SEND U Blog

Reflections and Resources for Lifelong Learning for Missionaries

Author: Ken Guenther Page 37 of 42

Director of SEND U

Coaching is Not Just for Leaders

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On February 18, 2011

In Coaching

Although I continue to hear about SEND missionaries who want to be trained in coaching, I have noticed that there has been a recent downturn in the number of total coaching hours that are being logged by our SEND coaches.   This was a surprise as we had been seeing coaching hours continually increasing each quarter for the past couple of years.   It was also a disappointment, as SEND would like to develop what we call a “coaching culture” within our mission, believing that coaching is one of the most effective ways to empower our missionaries to keep growing and developing their ministry skills.    As our SEND U Leadership Team has talked about this recent downturn, we have wondered whether maybe coaching is being perceived within SEND as something designed primarily for mission leaders.

It is true that SEND U has been emphasizing the benefits of coaching for mission team leaders, but the testimonies of our own missionaries clearly indicate that coaching benefits all missionaries, regardless of whether they are leading other missionaries or not.

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Training Coaches Within Our Mission Organization

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On February 11, 2011

In Training, Coaching

Spain weather permitted us to do some of the training outside

I am on my way home from Barcelona, where I participated in a “Training for Trainers” workshop.   I was not doing the training, but instead receiving training in how to train others in coaching.

Last month, SEND U purchased the license and materials to train others in coaching, using the training materials developed by Keith Webb and Creative Results Management. Creative Results Management is the organization that has trained all of the coaches in the SEND U coaching pool, and a number of other coaches as well in SEND.  Now CRM has made a shorter version of the curriculum available to their graduates so that the training in coaching can multiply.   Furthermore, CRM provided some training to those who would use these training materials, to ensure that we would do so in the same interactive and effective style used by those who developed the training curriculum in the first place.

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Strive to Excel – But for What Purpose?

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On January 19, 2011

In Training

An excerpt from my devotional journey this morning:

Scripture: “So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. ” 1 Corinthians 14:12

Observation: Spiritual gifts are not designed to show off our spirituality but to build up others. But building up others does not come automatically. We must exert initiative in using and developing those gifts. Paul has said that we do not determine which gifts we possess; this is the Spirit’s decision (1 Cor 12:7-11). But we can choose which ones we will abound in, which ones we will seek to develop and exercise on a frequent basis. To the Corinthians, Paul says that they should seek to develop those gifts which result in the church being built up, and he is promoting prophecy over against tongues. Timothy is told “to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ” 2 Timothy 1:6.

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Operation World – A Wealth of Information

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On December 30, 2010

In Training

I received my copy of the new version of Operation World yesterday.  I had ordered the Professional DVD edition with many additional maps, charts, and PowerPoint presentations, as well as the right to reproduce the content for ministry purposes. It even gives me the ability to put OW on my Kindle.   The DVD edition costs $30, including shipping, and is well worth the investment.  I thought that it would be ready for me to take back to Ukraine when I was in the USA in November, but it arrived at our US office address just a couple of days after I left. So I am just starting to investigate the wealth of resources available on the DVD.

Thus far, I have been surprised to find out that I can create my own maps, displaying for example the evangelical annual growth rate for each country of the world.  That particular map (shown below) shows that there is a solid band of countries from Senegal in western Africa, across the northern part of Africa, through the Middle East and all the way east to Kyrgyzstan – all with annual growth rates of the evangelical church ABOVE 4%.  There is no other place on the globe with such a distinctive band of countries where the church is growing as quickly.  In other words, the 10-40 Window is where the church is growing fastest. Amazing!

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Training for Cross-Cultural Church Planters

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On December 28, 2010

In Church Planting, Team Leadership

In SEND U, we are very open to partnering with other organizations in providing training for our missionaries.   As the saying goes, “Why re-invent the wheel?”  One of the more profitable partnerships for SEND has been with ReachGlobal, the international mission arm of the Evangelical Free Church of America.   Through ReachGlobal’s training arm, EQUIP, SEND U has developed and facilitated an online training module for SEND team leaders.   A second edition of this training module is scheduled to begin on February 14, 2011.   Although the primary target of this training is for SEND team leaders, I am willing to enroll a few team leaders from other mission organizations. More information about this training module is available on the SEND U wiki. Contact me if you are interested in enrolling.

Another opportunity for partnership in training comes in the area of training church planters.  Our SEND Directors’ Council recently asked SEND U to develop a plan for church planter training – both basic training for appointees and continuing education for mission members. Fortunately, our Leadership Team had already been thinking along those lines and was ready with part of the solution to the DC request. We are recommending the ReachGlobal/ EQUIP church planting school for all SEND missionaries who have completed their language study and are headed into a church planting ministry.   Two members of our Leadership Team attended the training last summer, and based on their very positive evaluation, we are making this recommendation.

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