by Gary Reinecke | Aug 8, 2016 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Disciplemaking |
The organic vs. linear conversation about making disciples continues.
Organic, or highly relational approaches work. Linear, or programmatic approaches work. Church planters and pastors make disciples in a way that is effective in their context. You make disciples in your way.
One approach does not fit all.
When leaders know the process of disciplemaking they realize that, as long as the goal is clear and behavioral milestones are established; they can personalize their approach. By the process, I mean, the essential behaviors of a maturing disciple e.g. broadly defined as loving God, loving your neighbor and making disciples. In practice, they blend the organic with the linear.
For instance, one leader that experienced the tension between an organic and linear approach discovered a happy medium with a very simple strategy that requires a discipleship coach, to guide emerging disciples through the phases of maturity e.g. connecting, growing, serving and reproducing. He has contextualized a strategy so that it incorporates the essentials of disciplemaking using the Making Disciples storyboard (seen above) as the framework. The storyboard describes the process of a maturing disciple.
Here are some ways disciplemaking coaches use the Making Disciples storyboard in a coaching relationship:
- Assessing: Where are you in your journey?
- Clarifying: What’s next on your journey?
- Evaluating: How are you doing in this area of your journey?
- Brainstorming: What can you do to grow in this area to keep moving forward in your journey?
- Confirming: What will you do to continue your journey?
Connecting leaders with tools to make more and better disciples is a passion. Take a closer look at the Disciplemaking tools to see if this helps you refine your process. Please share what has worked for you below so that we can learn from each other.
by Gary Reinecke | Jul 24, 2016 | Church Multiplication, Disciplemaking, Leader Development |
I am passionate about learning and studying other disciplines in society. Then extract the principles to apply to life and ministry. Here is an example from the arena of health coaching with questions to ask yourself to enhance the way you reproduce disciples and leaders.
My wife Gina is a health coach. She helps people “lose it” every day. She works for a company committed to leadership development that provides training combined with mentoring relationships. In the photo above you see four generations of health coaches beginning with Gina (far left). Each person has experienced the process of gaining optimal health by participating in a simple, reproducible program.
Following is a timeline of their development:
- Generation #1: Gina (in 24 Gina empowered the next generation & reproduced herself)
- Generation #2: Susan (far right – 16 months until Susan reproduced)
- Generation #3: Rebecca (second from left – 4 months until Rebecca reproduced)
- Generation #4: Mike (in process)
This is what I observed from Gina’s experience:
The first generation took more time to acquire the skills and pass those onto the second generation. But once the second generation experienced the way “the program” works, it took less time because they had sifted through the essentials to pass on to the next generation. Through that sifting process, the third generation took far less time to reproduce.
Here are some questions that might help you reflect on your disciplemaking and leadership development process.
- What non-essentials get in the way of making disciples or developing leaders?
- What steps are missing that would enhance what you are doing?
- How can you accelerate the process of reproducing disciples and leaders into the 3rd and 4th generation?
One insight I leave with from this experience is the importance of laying a solid foundation with the right DNA from the very beginning. Another insight is the value of solid training and support. When the 1st. generation reproduces into the 2nd., 3rd. and 4th. generations; they will resemble the 1st. generation. Finally, when the right DNA is in the seed, then the fruit of reproduction is multiplication!
by Gary Reinecke | Jul 15, 2016 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Focused Ministry, Leader Development |
VUCA is gaining traction in the coaching world and certainly has application to the world of coaching church planters, pastors and network leaders. The notion of VUCA was introduced by the U.S. Army War College to describe the more Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambigious multilateral world which resulted from the end of the Cold War.
The best VUCA leaders are characterized by change-agent skills, a clearly defined change process and an intimate understanding of how to manage change.
The dynamics of change individually and corporately can be complex but with care, the process can be managed in a positive manner.
As a family we are preparing for our oldest to leave home and attend university this fall. This will be our first. If you have gone through this, perhaps you can relate – we are riding a steep learning curve. We, Gina and I, are learning to be very intentional to make sure our son is anticipating the benefits and challenges for his new found freedom. At the same time, managing the emotions on the home front.
Healthy small groups experience this dynamic when they release leaders to start-up new groups. We are going through these growing pains right now as our small group is sending off 50% of our group to join our church’s first new church plant. Our response – to celebrate the work of God in our community, have a party for the missionaries that we are sending-off and prepare for the next one.
Churches that plant churches experience similar emotional responses when they release their first daughter church. Churches that get through this first pregnancy and deliver a healthy baby become more adapt at future births. But the same emotional responses occur to varying degrees: denial, anger, bargaining, depression testing and acceptance.
One resource that I use in coaching leaders in managing change is the Change Management Skill Builder. This resource offers a brief yet concise understanding the way change works with a simple 6-step response:
- Involve
- Inform
- Initiate
- Implement
- Review.
See if the Change Management Skill Builder helps you sharpen your Change Management Skills.
by Gary Reinecke | Jul 11, 2016 | Church Growth, Disciplemaking |
VUCA is gaining traction in the coaching world and certainly has application to the world of coaching church planters, pastors and network leaders. The notion of VUCA was introduced by the U.S. Army War College to describe the more Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous multilateral world which resulted from the end of the Cold War.
Previously, I discussed how to Coach VUCA. To take VUCA from diagnosing to action requires a different framework. Today I will flip the framework to coach on leadership “agilitly” so that leaders can take action to navigate change effectively (see diagram above).
While coaching a newly established pastor in a new congregation to enhance their small group ministry I asked the question: “What is the state of your current small groups?” This question led to a number of insights about the health of the groups, fruitfulness, purpose, model, support and training, etc. This assessment gave him a realistic view of what he had to work with.
As he explored the future of their current small groups, it was apparent what he could expect. People would be cared for, lives would be impacted and about 20% of the congregation would assimilate into a group over the course of a 12-month cycle. Dissatisfied with those outcomes, he was led to prayerfully consider the “best case scenario” for small group environments where “life” was the primary goal. From that place he envisioned disciplemaking communities where personal and community transformation took place. The values shifted from assimilation to disciplemaking, meeting for the purpose of meeting to service in the community and maintaining group participation to growth through evangelism.
The point of the VUCA model is that the more a leader knows about a situation and, the better able the leader is to predict the potential impact of the actions proposed; the more capable the leader becomes at navigating change.
Regarding the pastor and his small group vision. With a clearer sense of WHAT IS and the necessary RIGHT ACTIONS – the better able the church has become at incorporating the vision for small group ministry.
Once a vision is clarified then the following key questions are helpful when coaching a leader to Lead Through VUCA.
Vulnerability: Be Reliable
- What promises do you need to keep in this situation?
Uncertainty: Be Trustworthy
- How can you engage people?
Complexity: Be Direct
- What information do people need to have?
Ambiguity: Be Understandable
- What is the most compelling manner to articulate your vision?
As you coach leaders, this simple framework will be very familiar. See if these questions help you raise your effectiveness as you coach leaders who initiate bold new visions to make more and better disciples. Please submit questions below that you have used to help leaders, Lead Through VUCA.
by Gary Reinecke | May 15, 2016 | Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Focused Ministry |
Last week I was in Delhi, India to train leaders in coaching. Today, I’m reflecting on the view outside my hotel room in Ankara, Turkey, located northwest of Antioch (roughly a 7.5 hour drive), as I prepare for a second round of training with another group. Antioch was a ministry base for the Apostle Barnabas. One of the things I’ve been pondering lately is the biblical basis for coaching – especially reflecting on Barnabas and his role in apostolic ministry. It is easy to get caught-up in the techniques, process and skills of coaching; but lose sight of the “why”.
Here are a few ponderings on biblical passages relating to coaching:
- “…don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry;” James 1:19 – Listening
- “Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.” Proverbs 25:11 – Speaking
- “When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love.” John 15:10 – Obeying (all references from the TLB translation)
I like to refer to these as a three-legged stool for coaching: Abiding (obeying) – Listening (for self discovery) – Speaking (when necessary). This simplifies the correlation between the foundational competencies of coaching. Obedience leads to listening, listening leads to powerful questions, and powerful questions can lead to speaking.
You probably have your favorite passages. What verses do you practice as a basis for coaching? Please share your thoughts and together, let’s create a firm biblical foundation for those we train to practice the “ministry of Barnabas”.
Until next week – Coach on!
by Gary Reinecke | Apr 17, 2016 | Church Growth, Church Multiplication, Coach Training, Disciplemaking, Focused Ministry, Leader Development, Personal Development |
I’m as happy as a pig in mud! I mentioned that I was working on the new InFocus website. Today you get a preview – click on www.infocusnet.org.
I was thinking back the other day. When I was 18 years old, I traveled to London, England to explore the possibility of playing soccer (“football”) and going to college. What I discovered about the player developmental system with the top flight Arsenal Football Club, influenced me for the rest of my life. The club was organized around player development so there were players ready in the wings when injuries occurred, a footballer retired or was disciplined.
One afternoon, I was given the opportunity to train with the Arsenal youth team. Every player was outstanding, had been assessed and placed with a group of boys of similar talent with the intent of taking their game to the next level. The fortunate few were given opportunities to serve an apprenticeship where they learned the game of football from seasoned professionals. They started out cleaning boots for the established players and for a select talent, allowed to progress to train with the reserves until they proved they had the skills to advance.
That model has served me well in ministry. As the product of a Christian home, a vibrant church and multiple people who have invested in me; I have experienced the power of coaching, the necessity of training and the catalytic influence of exceptional leaders in my life. Out of this crucible the vision for InFocus was birthed.
The passion to help people far from God discover who they are and what they are called to do, burns at the core of InFocus. The purpose why I coach, train and consult is so that more and better disciples, leaders and churches are multiplied. I hope you enjoy the new look and feel to the site.
I am entering the FB community and the 21st. Century. In May I will be traveling to India & Turkey to conduct coach training workshops. Please “Friend me” on Facebook to receive updates along the way.
Have a wonderful week!
