Coaching church planters
Church planting is planting the gospel in a community: people come to Christ, are formed into disciples, and a church forms as the result. Plant Alabama coaches walk alongside the planter while he does that work. Everything you need to coach him well is here, so bookmark this page.
"For your progress and joy in the faith."
Philippians 1:25 (ESV)Paul told the believers in Philippi that he would remain with them for their progress and joy in the faith. Plant Alabama coaches come alongside church planters with the same aim.
What coaching a planter looks like
We coach the planter, not the plant. His training teaches him church planting. You come alongside him while he goes through it, not as a teacher or a mentor but as a catalyst for progress: asking questions and giving him space to think, process, and listen to the Holy Spirit.
Length and rhythm
Two years, beginning during his cohort. About 60 minutes, by Zoom, phone, or in person. At least once a month and typically twice, set at your first conversation, with flexibility around ministry demands, summer, and holidays.
He owns the agenda
He chooses the topic for each conversation, and the actions he commits to are his. Coaching addresses the whole planter and makes room for God to work through personal growth and heart change, not only ministry results.
Confidentiality
Coaches follow the International Coaching Federation Code of Ethics. What he shares stays between the two of you, except in limited circumstances: a danger to himself or others, abuse, or illegal activity. You report only whether your conversations are taking place, never what was said.
The coaching covenant
Every planter and coach agrees to a coaching covenant at the start, so the expectations are clear on both sides. Read it together at your first conversation. Then the Coaching Champion sends each of you a personal link: open it on your phone, check the box, type your name, and you are done. Nothing to print, sign, or scan.
What he may bring: his life
- Spiritual health
- Family spiritual health
- Physical health
- Family physical health
- Mental and emotional health
What he may bring: his ministry
- Reaching new believers
- Making disciple makers
- Multiplying your church
- Pursuing sustainability
These are his to raise, not a curriculum for you to teach. Either way, you are coaching him.
The planter's pathway
Every Plant Alabama planter moves through the ALSBOM Church Planting Pathway. Knowing which phase your planter is in helps you understand what is on his plate. You are not there to teach the pathway; he still owns the agenda.
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Pre-Assessment
- Complete the church planter interest form
- A conversation with the church planting office at ALSBOM
- Complete the Discovery Packet
- Solidify a sponsor church
- Talk with the Associational Mission Strategist of the local Baptist association
- Complete the church planter application on the NAMB platform
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Assessment
- Complete online assessments on the NAMB platform
- Complete the Development Packet
- Attend the Assessment Retreat
- Meet with a church planting catalyst for assessment results
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Coaching happens here
Post-Assessment
- Start receiving funding
- Participate in the church planting training cohort
- Meet monthly with his church planting coach
- Report monthly about what God is doing through the plant
- Gather regionally with other church planters
Coaching begins during his cohort and lasts two years. The cohort moves through four stages: Prepare, Engage, Disciple, Gather. Ask him where he is.
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Established Church
- Cooperate with ALSBOM to facilitate more church planting in Alabama
Multiplication. The best coaches are planters, so today's planter may be tomorrow's coach.
Phases as published by Plant Alabama. Full details at plantalabama.org/process.
Questions worth memorizing
Every conversation moves through the Coaching Dive: five stages, from catching up to a next step. Keep a few of its questions in your pocket.
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Connect
What's new?
Build connection through informal conversation.
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Celebrate
What's working?
How have you seen God at work since we met last?
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Explore
What's happening?
What is your biggest challenge?
What are you praying about now?
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Capture
What's important?
The deepest point of the conversation: hearing God and naming the one priority.
What would you like to work on?
What is not true today about your walk with God that you want to be true thirty days from now?
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Act
What's next?
Every conversation closes in prayer.
When will you complete this goal?
How can I pray for you?
From the Coaching Dive in NAMB's Coaching Map.
Switching hats
Sometimes he needs a piece of information or a story from your experience. Name the switch: "Can I take off my coaching hat for a minute?" Then put it back on and turn it to him: "What did you hear in that you can use?"
TransforMissional CoachingThe WIN debrief
When he is looking back on something that just happened:
- Well: What went well?
- Improve: What might be improved?
- Next time: What do you want to do differently next time?
The monthly check-in
Two minutes, three questions. It helps us catch a coaching relationship that is drifting before it breaks down, and it tells us how to help you.
- Did you meet with your planter this month?
- How is it going?
- Is there anything you need?
Nothing from inside your conversations belongs here. Whether you met, and how we can help, is enough.
Coaching more than one planter? Answer for each one.
Open the monthly check-inWhen it isn't working
Coaching relationships hit rough patches. When one does, the first step is the same every time: tell the Coaching Champion. You do not have to sort it out alone.
He goes quiet
If three scheduled conversations are missed without notice, or contact goes unanswered for a month, let the Coaching Champion know. He will follow up with the planter directly, so you are not left chasing him.
It is not a good fit
Some pairings do not work, and that is no one's failure. Say so. A poor match gets rematched.
He resists coaching
If a planter keeps resisting coaching, it goes to his regional catalyst. That conversation is not yours to carry.
You are never a reporter for the State Board
A coach is not a spy for the State Board. You report only whether your conversations are taking place, never what was said. The only exceptions are the limited ones in the confidentiality section above: a danger to himself or others, abuse, or illegal activity.
Every six months, you and your planter look at the relationship together and decide whether to adjust the rhythm or the focus. If something is not working for him, he is free to say so too.
Training and gatherings
Coaches do not coach alone. Dates are posted here as they are set.
- Thu, Oct 15, 10:00 AM Coaches Huddle by Zoom. The Zoom link comes by email.
- Date to come Coaches training. For new coaches and for current coaches.
- April and October Regional gatherings for coaches. Twice a year in each of the four church planting regions.
- Every quarter A one-on-one with the Coaching Champion. Every active coach gets a conversation each quarter: how coaching is going, what is hard, and how we can help.
Coaching the Called
Short episodes for anyone who coaches pastors, church planters, and ministry leaders, one coaching skill at a time. Good listening for the drive between visits.
Books worth reading
- Sending Well, Dino Senesi. The foundation of NAMB's church planter coaching: what great planter coaching is, how coaches are developed, and how it gets delivered to every planter. Start here.
- The Coaching Habit, Michael Bungay Stanier. Seven questions and the habit of asking a little more and telling a little less.
- Leading With Questions, Michael Marquardt and Bob Tiede. Why leaders who ask outlast leaders who tell, and how to ask better questions.
- Gospel Coach, Scott Thomas and Tom Wood. Coaching ministry leaders with the gospel at the center.
- TransforMissional Coaching, Steve Ogne and Tim Roehl. Coaching missional leaders through calling, character, and community.
- You're Not Listening, Kate Murphy. What real listening is, and why most of us are worse at it than we think.
Thinking about coaching a planter?
Plant Alabama is always recruiting capable men to help coach our planters. If that might be you, here is what to know.
What we look for
- A kingdom mindset
- A shepherd's heart
- A desire to serve Christ by serving others
- A willingness to learn and apply new skills
What it asks of you
- Two years with one planter, beginning during his cohort
- A conversation of about 60 minutes at least once a month, typically twice, by Zoom, phone, or in person
- The coaches training
- A quarterly one-on-one with the Coaching Champion
Our coaches are volunteers: active ministry leaders, qualified by training, heart, and experience.
The survey request form is on Plant Alabama's coaching page.
Here to help you coach well
A question about your planter, a hard conversation coming up, or just want to talk it through? Reach out anytime.
Tyler EilandChurch Planting Catalyst and Coaching Champion, Plant Alabama