📝  Worksheet 5.4: Design Your Soul Centre Coaching Ministry

Worksheet Purpose

This worksheet will help you design a Christian coaching ministry that fits your calling, preparation, Soul Centre setting, intended participants, and local community.

Your plan should clearly identify:

• The people you intend to serve

• The type of Christian coaching you will offer

• Your appropriate credential pathway

• The boundaries of your role

• Your referral practices

• Your accountability relationships

• Your safeguarding and privacy procedures

• Your first practical ministry steps

The course framework calls participants to identify their audience, coaching topics, meeting format, boundaries, referral practices, accountability, and credential pathway.

This is a ministry-design worksheet. Completing it does not by itself grant a Christian Leaders Alliance credential, establish a registered Soul Centre, create a legal organisation, or authorise the provision of regulated professional services.

Part One: Your Coaching Ministry Calling

1. Describe Your Calling

Why are you interested in Christian coaching?

What experiences have led you towards this ministry?

What needs do you repeatedly notice in the lives of people around you?

What aspects of Christian coaching most attract you?

☐ Listening to people’s stories
☐ Prayer and spiritual encouragement
☐ Helping people discern their callings
☐ Supporting Christian Growth Courses
☐ Helping people establish faithful habits
☐ Supporting people through life transitions
☐ Helping people clarify goals
☐ Encouraging Christian relationships
☐ Helping people reconnect with a church or fellowship
☐ Supporting ministry leaders
☐ Developing a Christian coaching practice
☐ Leading a Christian Soul Centre
☐ Multiplying other Christian leaders
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

2. Write a Preliminary Calling Statement

Complete this sentence:

I believe God may be calling me to serve ______________________________
through Christian coaching that helps them ____________________________
so that they may ___________________________________________________.

My complete calling statement:

Part Two: The People You Intend to Serve

3. Identify Your Primary Participants

Who will your coaching ministry primarily serve?

☐ Christian Growth Course participants
☐ New or growing Christians
☐ People discerning a ministry calling
☐ Pastors or Christian leaders
☐ Young adults
☐ University students
☐ Married couples
☐ Parents
☐ Single parents
☐ Older adults
☐ Caregivers
☐ People experiencing grief
☐ People navigating divorce recovery
☐ People returning from incarceration
☐ Migrants or refugees
☐ People navigating work or career changes
☐ People seeking healthier habits
☐ People without a current local church
☐ People connected to a local church
☐ Volunteer or bivocational ministers
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Describe the people you believe you are called to serve:

4. Describe Their Setting

Where are these people located?

Country: ___________________________________________________________

City, region, or online community: ____________________________________

Primary language: __________________________________________________

Additional languages: _______________________________________________

Typical age range: __________________________________________________

Church or Christian background, if any:

What cultural considerations should shape your ministry?

What obstacles may prevent these participants from receiving help?

☐ Cost
☐ Transportation
☐ Language differences
☐ Distrust of religious institutions
☐ Lack of available churches
☐ Disability or health limitations
☐ Childcare responsibilities
☐ Work schedules
☐ Privacy concerns
☐ Fear of judgement
☐ Previous church hurt
☐ Digital-access limitations
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

How might your ministry respond to these obstacles?

Part Three: Your Proposed Coaching Focus

5. Select Appropriate Coaching Areas

Which subjects could appropriately fit your intended ministry?

☐ Spiritual growth
☐ Prayer habits
☐ Scripture engagement
☐ Christian gratitude
☐ Forgiveness
☐ Calling and purpose
☐ Ministry discernment
☐ Leadership development
☐ Work and vocation
☐ Time and priority management
☐ Healthy routines
☐ Sleep-support habits
☐ Relationship skills
☐ Conflict navigation
☐ Marriage growth
☐ Parenting support
☐ Life transitions
☐ Grief support
☐ Reentry and restoration
☐ Christian community involvement
☐ Christian Growth Course support
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

List the three primary areas your ministry will address.

6. Identify What You Will Not Offer

Which services fall outside your present role or preparation?

☐ Mental-health diagnosis
☐ Psychotherapy
☐ Trauma treatment
☐ Suicide-risk assessment
☐ Emergency crisis intervention
☐ Medical diagnosis or treatment
☐ Medication recommendations
☐ Addiction treatment
☐ Legal advice
☐ Immigration advice
☐ Financial or investment advice
☐ Tax advice
☐ Regulated social work
☐ Couples therapy
☐ Child-protection investigations
☐ Domestic-abuse investigations
☐ Professional career placement
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Write a clear statement describing what your coaching ministry does not provide:

Part Four: Choosing Your Credential Pathway

7. Review the Three Pathways

Soul Coach Ordination Credential

This pathway may fit you if your ministry will emphasise:

• Prayerful encouragement

• Compassionate listening

• Christian Growth Courses

• Reflection

• Accountability

• Faithful next steps

• Volunteer or part-time service

• Appropriate referral

Ordained Christian Life Coach Credential

This pathway may fit you if your ministry will include:

• Structured Christian coaching relationships

• A planned series of conversations

• Goal clarification

• Christian reflection and action planning

• Coaching-ministry foundations

• Theological preparation

• A defined coaching practice

• Clear ministry systems

Life Coach Minister Ordination Credential

This pathway may fit you if your calling combines coaching with:

• Biblical teaching

• Pastoral presence

• Christian leadership

• Discipleship

• Semi-directive and directive ministry

• Soul Centre leadership

• Ministry development

• Leader multiplication

8. Select Your Present Pathway

Which pathway most honestly fits your current calling and preparation?

☐ Soul Coach Ordination Credential
☐ Ordained Christian Life Coach Credential
☐ Life Coach Minister Ordination Credential
☐ I need further discernment before selecting a pathway

Why does this pathway fit your present ministry?

What additional study or preparation do you need?

Who could help confirm this decision?

Part Five: Christian Growth Course Integration

9. Choose Your Initial Christian Growth Courses

Which course could become the first coaching-connected ministry resource?

First course: _______________________________________________________

Why does this course fit your intended participants?

Second possible course: _____________________________________________

Third possible course: ______________________________________________

10. Describe How Coaching Will Support the Course

Will participants receive:

☐ An introductory coaching conversation
☐ Prayer before beginning the course
☐ Regular individual check-ins
☐ Group reflection meetings
☐ Help identifying growth goals
☐ Accountability for course participation
☐ Support applying course material
☐ A concluding coaching conversation
☐ Referral when concerns exceed the coaching role
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Describe the coaching process connected to the course:

How will you avoid pressuring participants to disclose private information?

Part Six: Your Coaching Conversation Model

11. Design a Typical Coaching Conversation

Welcome

How will you create a warm, respectful, and prayerful setting?

Listening

What opening question might you use?

Clarification

How will you help the participant identify the central concern?

Christian Reflection

How might Scripture, prayer, or Christian wisdom be included with permission?

Faithful Action

How will you help the participant identify one realistic next step?

Accountability

How will progress be reviewed without shaming the participant?

Conclusion

How will you close the conversation?

12. Write Five Coaching Questions

Write five open questions that could help participants reflect responsibly.

13. Write a Permission-Based Prayer Question

Complete the sentence:

Would it be helpful if ______________________________________________?

Part Seven: Meeting Format

14. Choose Your Coaching Format

How will coaching normally occur?

☐ In person
☐ By secure video call
☐ By telephone
☐ Through a Christian Growth Course group
☐ Through a local church
☐ Through a registered Soul Centre
☐ Through an online Soul Centre
☐ Through a community organisation
☐ Through another ministry setting: _________________________________

Will coaching be:

☐ Individual
☐ Group-based
☐ Couples-based, within role boundaries
☐ Course-connected
☐ A combination of formats

15. Establish a Basic Meeting Rhythm

Typical session length: ______________________________________________

Typical number of sessions: __________________________________________

Frequency:

☐ Weekly
☐ Fortnightly
☐ Monthly
☐ As needed
☐ Course-based
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Where will meetings occur?

How will appointments be scheduled?

What will happen if a participant repeatedly misses meetings?

Part Eight: Coaching Boundaries

16. Establish Relational Boundaries

How will you prevent participants from becoming overly dependent upon you?

How will you respond if a participant expects you to make a major life decision for them?

How will you respond if a participant contacts you repeatedly outside agreed hours?

What are your ordinary contact hours?

What communication methods will you use?

☐ Email
☐ Telephone
☐ Text message
☐ Secure messaging platform
☐ Video conferencing
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What communication methods will you avoid?

17. Establish Spiritual Authority Boundaries

Complete these statements:

I will not claim that God has told me exactly what another person must do because:

I will share Scripture in a manner that:

I will avoid using prayer to:

I will respect the participant’s responsibility before God by:

18. Establish Gender and Relationship Boundaries

What practices will protect both coach and participant?

☐ Meeting in an observable but private setting
☐ Informing another leader when meetings occur
☐ Avoiding secret or emotionally dependent relationships
☐ Maintaining appropriate physical boundaries
☐ Avoiding sexually suggestive communication
☐ Using two-adult practices where appropriate
☐ Referring situations that create a conflict of interest
☐ Receiving supervision when relational concerns arise
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Additional boundary commitments:

Part Nine: Confidentiality and Privacy

19. Explain Confidentiality

Write a brief explanation that you could give to a participant:

I will treat our conversations as private, but there are limits to confidentiality. I may need to involve appropriate people when ______________________

---

__________________________________________________________________.

Situations that may require action include:

☐ Serious risk of self-harm
☐ Serious risk of harm to another person
☐ Suspected abuse or neglect
☐ Safeguarding concerns involving children
☐ Safeguarding concerns involving vulnerable adults
☐ A legal reporting requirement
☐ A court order or other lawful requirement
☐ Consultation permitted under an agreed supervision process
☐ Other country-specific requirement: ________________________________

20. Protect Participant Information

What information will you collect?

Why is each type of information necessary?

Where will information be stored?

Who will have access?

How long will records be retained?

How will records be securely destroyed?

Will public forums ever require personal disclosures?

☐ No
☐ Other explanation: _______________________________________________

How will participants be warned not to post sensitive information publicly?

Part Ten: Referral Practices

21. Recognise When Referral May Be Needed

Which concerns should lead you to consider immediate professional or specialist support?

☐ Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
☐ Threats towards another person
☐ Severe changes in functioning
☐ Hallucinations or significant loss of contact with reality
☐ Serious addiction concerns
☐ Suspected abuse
☐ Domestic violence
☐ Child-safeguarding concerns
☐ Medical emergencies
☐ Severe eating difficulties
☐ Complex trauma symptoms
☐ Legal disputes requiring a solicitor or lawyer
☐ Financial matters requiring regulated advice
☐ Needs outside your competence
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

22. Develop Your Referral Network

Complete as much of this section as possible.

Emergency Services

Local emergency number: ____________________________________________

Local crisis service: ________________________________________________

Healthcare

General practitioner or medical service: _______________________________

Mental-health service: _______________________________________________

Qualified psychotherapist or counsellor: _______________________________

Addiction-treatment resource: ________________________________________

Safeguarding

Child-safeguarding service: __________________________________________

Vulnerable-adult safeguarding service: _________________________________

Domestic-abuse service: _____________________________________________

Professional Advice

Legal referral: ______________________________________________________

Financial or debt-advice referral: _____________________________________

Immigration-support referral: _________________________________________

Christian Support

Local church or pastor: ______________________________________________

Chaplaincy contact: __________________________________________________

Christian recovery ministry: __________________________________________

Other trusted Christian ministry: _____________________________________

23. Write a Compassionate Referral Statement

Complete the following:

Thank you for trusting me with this. What you are describing deserves support from someone who _____________________________________________.
My role is ________________________________________________________.
I would like to help you connect with _________________________________
while continuing to support you through _______________________________.

Part Eleven: Safeguarding and Crisis Preparation

24. Identify Your Safeguarding Leadership

Safeguarding lead: __________________________________________________

Backup safeguarding contact: _________________________________________

Ministry supervisor or accountability leader: ____________________________

Emergency consultation contact: ______________________________________

25. Describe Your Immediate Response Process

What will you do when someone describes an immediate risk of harm?

How will the incident be documented?

Who must be informed?

What country-specific procedures must be followed?

Part Twelve: Christian and Ministry Accountability

26. Identify Your Christian Relationships

Current church, parish, congregation, fellowship, or Christian community:

Pastor, priest, elder, ministry leader, or trusted recommender:

Relationship to Christian Leaders Alliance:

Relationship to a Christian Soul Centre:

Will Christian Leaders Alliance be your primary religious body?

☐ Yes
☐ No
☐ Not yet determined

Explain your present Christian affiliations:

27. Create an Accountability Rhythm

How often will you meet with a supervisor, mentor, or ministry leader?

☐ Monthly
☐ Every two months
☐ Quarterly
☐ As needed
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What subjects should be discussed?

☐ Ministry challenges
☐ Ethical concerns
☐ Boundary questions
☐ Referral decisions
☐ Participant complaints
☐ Spiritual health
☐ Personal limitations
☐ Continuing education
☐ Safeguarding
☐ Ministry finances
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Who may challenge or correct you when needed?

Part Thirteen: Public Ministry Description

28. Write an Honest Description of Your Role

Complete the following:

I serve as a ___________________________________________ recognised by
_________________________________________________________________.
I offer Christian coaching focused upon _______________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
My ministry may include ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
I do not provide ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.

29. Avoid Misleading Claims

Review each statement and mark your commitment.

☐ I will not claim that ordination is a clinical licence.
☐ I will not claim automatic authority from another denomination.
☐ I will not guarantee personal, financial, marital, medical, or spiritual outcomes.
☐ I will not imply that coaching replaces professional care.
☐ I will accurately describe my preparation and credential.
☐ I will follow local laws governing titles and services.
☐ I will distinguish coaching fees from charitable donations.
☐ I will explain complaints and refund procedures where applicable.

Part Fourteen: Financial and Practical Structure

30. Choose a Ministry-Support Model

How will the ministry be supported?

☐ Volunteer service
☐ Church support
☐ Soul Centre support
☐ Voluntary offerings
☐ Donations
☐ Grants
☐ Agreed coaching fees
☐ MinistryBiz activity
☐ Bivocational employment
☐ A combination of sources
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

If fees will be charged, describe them:

Will reduced-fee or no-fee places be offered?

How will financial transactions be recorded?

Who will provide financial oversight?

What insurance may be needed?

Part Fifteen: Your First Ninety Days

31. First Thirty Days

During the first thirty days, I will:

☐ Clarify my credential pathway
☐ Speak with a trusted Christian recommender
☐ Identify my intended participants
☐ Select an initial Christian Growth Course
☐ Research local legal requirements
☐ Establish a safeguarding contact
☐ Begin developing a referral network
☐ Draft a coaching-role description
☐ Draft a confidentiality statement
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My first thirty-day priorities:

32. Days Thirty-One Through Sixty

During this period, I will:

☐ Complete additional training
☐ Develop a participant agreement
☐ Confirm a meeting location or online platform
☐ Establish record-protection practices
☐ Review referral procedures
☐ Invite a small number of participants
☐ Practise coaching conversations under supervision
☐ Develop an accountability rhythm
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My priorities:

33. Days Sixty-One Through Ninety

During this period, I will:

☐ Begin a small pilot ministry
☐ Facilitate a Christian Growth Course
☐ Offer initial coaching conversations
☐ Request participant feedback
☐ Review boundaries and referrals
☐ Meet with my supervisor or mentor
☐ Revise the ministry plan
☐ Discern whether to continue, pause, or expand
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

My priorities:

Part Sixteen: Ministry Readiness Review

34. Rate Your Current Readiness

Use the following scale:

1 — Not begun
2 — Early development
3 — Partly prepared
4 — Mostly prepared
5 — Ready to begin responsibly

Which three areas need the most attention?

What must be completed before inviting participants?

Part Seventeen: Preliminary Soul Centre Coaching Ministry Plan

35. Complete Your Summary Plan

Proposed Ministry Name

Proposed Soul Centre Name, if applicable

Country and Community

Primary Participants

Central Ministry Purpose

Credential Pathway

Primary Coaching Areas

First Christian Growth Course

Coaching Format

Meeting Rhythm

Central Boundaries

Referral Process

Safeguarding Leadership

Accountability Relationships

Financial Model

First Launch Date or Target Season

First Faithful Step

Part Eighteen: Christian Coaching Ministry Covenant

Read each commitment carefully.

By signing this worksheet, I affirm my intention to:

• Serve Jesus Christ through honest and compassionate Christian coaching

• Respect each participant as a person created in the image of God

• Listen before assuming that I understand

• Use prayer and Scripture appropriately rather than manipulatively

• Respect the participant’s responsibility before God

• Avoid taking control of another person’s life

• Represent my credential, affiliations, and preparation truthfully

• Maintain appropriate relational and spiritual boundaries

• Protect private information

• Explain the limits of confidentiality

• Follow safeguarding and reporting requirements

• Refer needs that exceed my role or competence

• Respect qualified healthcare, mental-health, legal, and financial professionals

• Remain accountable to trusted Christian leaders

• Seek correction when necessary

• Pursue continuing growth and preparation

• Help souls grow, leaders emerge, and ministry multiply

Name: _____________________________________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________________________________________________

Trusted recommender or supervisor: ___________________________________

Review date: ________________________________________________________

Final Reflection

Complete the following statement:

The Christian coaching ministry I am presently prepared to offer is ______

---

__________________________________________________________________.
The preparation I still need is _______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.
My first faithful step will be _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________.