It’s that time of year again. Can you believe it? I’m now accepting new coaching clients. Many churches are working on their 2018 plans right now, so I wanted to get the word out.
Have you considered working with a coach? Read on …
Beginning a coaching relationship includes creating a set of Coaching Objectives that outline what the relationship will accomplish over the term of the contract. To get anything meaningful accomplished together, most contract terms are one year in duration. Often times, at the request of the church leader, I will schedule a site visit at or near the beginning of the contract period. This allows me to experience a weekend service, meet other staff members, and gain a better understanding of the overall ministry, including its successes and challenges.
- Meeting Frequency – Coaching happens via bi-weekly 1-hour conference calls or Zoom video sessions. By the end of the year, the new executive pastor is ready to go, no longer in need my services.
- Objective – My objective is to help the new executive pastor to begin their new ministry successfully, having accomplished a number of first-year objectives.
- Access to Materials – Coaching relationships include access to materials and methods that can be easily edited and adjusted for the new executive pastor’s specific situation, preventing the need to start from scratch.
- Strategic Planning – Very often the first few months of the coaching relationship includes a strategic planning session facilitation and overall guidance in the completion of a documented 1 to 3-year strategic plan.
- Customization – The nature and duration of a coaching relationship can be customized and tailored to specific need. Almost anything (duration, meeting frequency, areas of focus, etc.) related to my typical coaching services can be discussed to ensure the relationship benefits the client.
- Fee – Not that I need another job, but I do charge a monthly fee for my time. The fee does two things. It formalizes the relationship and ensures that both the individual being coached and I take the relationship seriously. It holds us both accountable to do what is necessary between calls to accomplish the objectives identified. The fee is somewhat negotiable based on the size of the church’s budget and a few other factors. Contact me to discuss the fee.
Feel free to contact any of my previous clients to ask questions about me or my coaching services. Contact me for a formal list of client references.
Here are excerpts from a couple of letters of reference I’ve received over the years:
I want to thank you for coaching me this past year. As I reflect on this year I’m blown away by how much you’ve helped me accomplish! You’ve helped me build a foundation in my church that’s anchored in strategic planning and consistent data measurement. I’ve gained from your wisdom in finances, policy making, communication and team building.I valued our weekly discussions. Each week, the knowledge that I gained in these discussions had positive impact on a situation or a decision in which I was involved. In jus tone year’s time my leadership and my church has drastically improved.I just wanted to send you a note to let you know that you’ve made a difference in my life.I’m indebted to you and I’m so grateful for your wisdom, patience and friendship. I’m excited about the future of my church!! – Thank you, Jeremy Miller, Executive Pastor, Winchester Church of God“
It is with a grateful heart that I am writing to you as I reflect over this last years’s coaching. Your coaching has provided timely resources, much needed perspective and wise counsel regarding a wide range of issues, concerns and most importantly decisions.
The help you have provided has been in military parlance, a much needed “forcemultiplier.” In short your coaching of my work added up to a sum much greater than two guys talking over a video conference call! Whether it is an urgently needed resource, perspective on a complex issue, a listening ear in the midst of a difficult challenge or the experienced hand to help navigate a difficult decision you’re coaching has made a tremendous difference. To anyone considering coaching for the executive pastor I could not more highly recommend Kevin Stone. His life yielded to Jesus Christ, wisdom forged in the crucible of experience and no nonsense approach learned from helping hundreds of leaders combine to empower leaders to become the people God want’s them to be as they serve in the church in the strategic role of executive pastor. With much appreciation, Tom Clegg. Executive Pastor, First Federated Church“
I reached out to Kevin in the summer of 2012 as I was asked to support a major restructuring at our church. I didn’t even realize the position until I was doing some web searching on the topic and came across ExecutivePastorOnline.com. I sent a simple request for info and Kevin and I have a great relationship from that point forward. Kevin and I have a similar IT background in the corporate world so we really had a lot in common with more than just our current pastoral responsibilities. We began on a simple coaching agreement that initially lasted a year. He assisted me in the identification of key infrastructure priorities and helped me navigate through the challenges of establishing processes where there were none. Through his resources and experiences, we were able to develop a document management system and continue to use that framework to this day. Another major task during that first year was to develop our first strategic plan in many years. Kevin facilitated that two day conference that led to our four top priorities “plus 1.” Little did I know that then that the innocent “plus 1” led to a major property acquisition and the development of a capital campaign strategy. Kevin led the capital campaign strategic development with weekly leadership calls through the successful launch of the campaign in November 2013. Even though our “coaching” agreement is completed, I consider Kevin a trusted friend and one who was instrumental in my transition into full-time ministry at Restoration Park Church. Sincerely, Mark J. Debreceni”
If you are interested in talking more about a coaching relationship, contact me and we’ll set up a meeting time.