Video Transcript: The Call to Ministry Coaching

The Call to Ministry Coaching

👋 Introduction to Ministry Coaching

Hello. I'm Henry Reyenga, and with me is Steve Elzinga.
Steve, you’ve already finished two other coaching classes, and now there's a need that's been expressed by volunteers—those who want to really get into it, maybe part time, maybe even start a Soul Center. They’d like to get into coaching and really get going, but maybe not get into all the advanced classes just yet.

So just the basics—yeah. In this class, we want to give you just the basics so you can get started. And if you want more, you can always get more.
This class is going to give you the foundations of ministry coaching.
So let’s get going!

💭 Rethinking Impact: Listening Over Preaching

“What if your greatest ministry impact isn’t what you preach, but how you listen?
Isn’t how many follow you, but how well you walk with one?”

Ministry coaching changes lives—one sacred conversation at a time.
How do you think about that?

Steve:
Well, I think it’s—you know, we tend to think it’s the preaching, it’s the teaching, it’s the counseling that does everything.
And this sounds like I have to do more listening—that there might be another way to actually impact people for the Gospel and help people. So I’m curious as to what that is.

✝️ Jesus: The Master Coach

Let’s dive right in.
Of course, Jesus—the Master Coach!

Yes! And if you’ve ever seen a coach in action—Jesus is that coach.

Like Jesus on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:15–27.
His ability to ask questions, to walk alongside—I mean, that whole Emmaus moment:

Here was the greatest event in the history of the world—Jesus’ death and resurrection—and He’s walking next to these people.
And He doesn’t just jump out and say:

“Let me share the Gospel with you right now—I know you're sad!”

Instead, He walks with them.
Powerful.
He listens to where they’re at, and then, at just the right time… He reveals Himself.

What Is Ministry Coaching?

Steve:
Okay, well—ministry coaching is about conversations that draw others toward growth. It’s rooted in Scripture, prayer, and presence—not about fixing others. It’s about listening, asking, and encouraging.

It’s ministry, not performance coaching. It’s also not the same as pastoral care, or preaching sermons, or always being the answer person.

We came up in a denomination where the minister was called the dominie—Latin for “the Lord.” We went through four years of college, four years of seminary. We were knowledge dispensers. But coaching says:

People actually know things—they just need help focusing.

They’re overwhelmed by choices. They don’t know what to prioritize. Coaching is coming alongside someone to help them sort out what God might already be doing in their life.

🧭 Helping Others Discover, Not Dictate

This is a respectful process. We’re not telling them what to do—we’re helping them discover what the Lord may already be showing them.

And when they come up with the next step, they’re far more likely to follow through. It’s like parenting—if you help a child see the value in something themselves, they’ll be self-motivated.

This is such a good fit for our time. People want ownership of their own direction. But what if the Lord is part of that process?

⚖️ Life Coaching vs. Ministry Coaching

Life Coaching (Secular):

• Focuses on goals and performance

• Asks: What do you want to achieve?

• Uses strategies, tools, and motivation techniques

• Measures success by accomplishments

Ministry Coaching (Faith-Based):

• Focuses on transformation and surrender

• Is relational and spirit-led

• Uses Scripture, prayer, and discernment

• Measures growth in Christlikeness

In the secular model, it’s all about becoming “a better you.” But in the Christian model, the pressure is off. You’re discovering what God wants—not reinventing yourself.

🙋 Who Is Called to Ministry Coaching?

Anyone gifted in care, listening, and discipleship.
This includes:

• Pastors

• Small group leaders

• Mentors

• Elders and deacons

• Even everyday believers that others already turn to for help and prayer

You don’t need a formal title. Even if you never call yourself a “coach,” these tools can greatly enhance your ministry.

We’ve seen elders and deacons who coach like this—very effective. We’ve also seen those who always have the answers... and are less effective. Coaching isn’t about control—it’s about curious humility.

💬 Coaching Starts with One Conversation

If you have a heart for people, you might have a call to coaching.

One conversation can bring clarity, courage, and healing.
It doesn’t have to be official. You don’t need a title.

It could be:

• A coworker struggling with their teen

• A church member feeling lost

• A friend needing space to reflect

Coaches walk beside—not ahead or behind.

Ahead says: “Just follow me.”
Behind says: “I’ll support you no matter what you do.”
But beside says:

“Let’s walk together. Let’s explore what God might be saying.”

👣 Real Coaching Stories: Maria & Jared

Maria – A retired nurse
She began coaching young moms through her church. She didn’t preach or teach—she just asked questions.

“How’s the baby sleeping?”
“What do you think is best?”
“Have you talked to other moms?”
She helped them feel seen, less isolated, and more empowered.

Jared – Never saw himself as a coach
Now he mentors men weekly using these tools.

Men don’t want to be told what to do—but they also don’t know what to do.

He started walking alongside men, asking good questions and checking in week to week.

Coaching Changes the Coach Too

Both Maria and Jared shared that the first life changed was their own.
They began applying the coaching approach to their own struggles.
They experienced firsthand the power of ownership, clarity, and the Spirit-led journey of transformation.

🎯 Coaching Is a Calling

Coaching isn’t a hobby—it’s a calling.
It’s Kingdom work, not about being the expert, but about being available.
It’s not about always having the answers—it’s about asking the right questions.

People often feel stuck:

“I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know who to talk to.”

They're locked in no man's land. But a coach comes along and simply says:

“Tell me about your no man’s land.”

Just that opens a door.

As the person starts to talk it through, they might realize:

“You know, it sounds to me like I want to do something about this.”
“Well, what do you think you want to do?”
“I think I want to try this.”

Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t—but you come back next week and say:

“Did it work?”
“Well… it didn’t. But I learned something.”
“Okay. What would you like to try next?”

And that’s movement. That’s coaching.

🕊️ Let Them Own the Journey

We’ve seen this over decades of ministry—if you own the project, you disqualify them from taking ownership themselves.

Let them sit in the discomfort of not knowing.
Let them wrestle with the choice.
That’s where ownership happens.

📖 Spirit-Led Conversations

You’re invited to listen deeply and lead gently.
As you begin this class, you’ll discover tools that help others grow spiritually—
you’ll become a ministry coach with biblical integrity and Spirit-led wisdom.

Coaching is not about jumping to solutions. Instead, it’s about:

“Lord, we don’t know what to do. Please put something on our minds.”

And maybe one of you will say:

“This thought just came to me—could that be from the Lord?”

Talk it through. Pray about it. Discern together.

🧱 Foundations for More

This class gives you the foundation.
You’ll be trained to lead, care, and coach. And when you’re ready, you can go deeper into the more advanced courses.

But this first step is not small—it’s meaningful.

🌍 Presence Over Preaching

“You may not change the world with your preaching,
but you might change the world with your presence.”

What do we mean by that?

It’s not the words—it’s the presence of God’s Spirit that moves people.
Even in preaching, the goal is not to download information,
but to open up a space for connection with God.

You are the catalyst.
The Holy Spirit is the power.

🚀 Let’s Begin

You are about to dive deep into ministry coaching.
You will be equipped and mobilized to walk alongside others—
one sacred conversation at a time.

Let’s get started. 🙌