by Dr. Rich Weigel
Early in October, we had our annual CCNI E-summit. It was highly successful, and the feedback from the participants indicated that there was great learning and a strong investment for both the speakers and the hearers. During the summit, I kept thinking that this was only the beginning of something more, something bigger, and something that would help each person move closer to their individual calling. I pictured the summit as a seed being sowed that will soon bear fruit.(1) What type of fruit? That, at this time, is still unknown.
There is always a blessing as we give to others with our time and talents.(2) During our summit, our speakers gave of their time and unique talents. Our volunteers gave their insights, time, and support. And all the wonderful participants gave their time, attention, and hearts. There was a collective effort for each person to become more of what God has called them to do.(3)
My picture kept growing as I envisioned the participants from this year becoming presenters in the years to come. As author Mark Batterson says in his book, The Circle Maker, “Don’t just dream big. Think long. We tend to overestimate what we can accomplish in two years, but we underestimate what we can accomplish in 10 years. Zoom out. Your mantra shouldn’t be “as soon as possible.” It should be “as long as it takes.” Your vision isn’t just too small. It’s too short.”
Now I am beginning to picture our yearly summit growing and perhaps in another year we might have two summits instead of one. Perhaps as we grow together and strengthen each other, we will double the number of Christian coaches involved. Perhaps we will have a summit in Europe, South America, or wherever Christian coaches are gathering to meet the needs of people. After all, Christian Coaching should become a movement that breaks the bonds of hurt across the world while improving the future for people – wherever they may live. As Christian coaches, we are a force for good because we are backed up by the power of Christ in us.(4)
The Bible tells us that we reap what we sow.(5) Each of us has something to sow when we give of ourselves to help our brother and sister coaches. We give of ourselves, improve what we do, we learn from each other, and then we sow again and again. Giving of your time and talent is an expression of your faith and God will bless that in ways that you may not see right away, but God’s timing is always perfect, and it will happen.
Another dimension of that ever-improving picture happened in the past few months as we had some of our members from the Writer’s Learning Community, write articles for the CCNI newsletter. We had a few members putting together a program called Point of Need coaching. We had new people presenting webinars that had never presented before. We also had a couple of members decide they wanted to serve on the CCNI board. Are those things a big deal? Yes…they are! So, let’s take a moment to put them in context.
With most things in life – if you’re going to wait until you’re ready to do something, it is highly likely you’re not going to do it. There will always be multiple roadblocks or pressures that will push against you to prevent you from taking the next step. It happens with your coaching and it can easily happen in other areas too. Only you and God know what your next step should be for your coaching and outreach. It could be certification, training, presenting, serving, writing, developing a product, or doing something that helps others. The good news is, if you need some help to figure it out, you’re surrounded with other Christian coaches who are ready and willing to help you.
In my coaching, I repeatedly tell my clients, “If something is important to you – you’ll pray about it. If you’re not willing to pray about it – then it’s really not that important to you.”(6) When you’re ready to take that next step in whatever God has put on your heart, then you need to pray for it in a big way. You also need to plan for it and if you’re struggling with either one of those two things, then you should be reaching out to someone at CCNI to help you find some answers or get some encouragement. We at CCNI are here to help you as a Christian coach.
Participating and sharing within the E-summit, writing for the newsletter, volunteering time to help others, inventing new programs, presenting a webinar, serving as a support for your brother or sister coaches – are all steps along a journey that builds faith within our Christian coaching community. They are all steps toward a more colorful and grander picture that helps all of us to be our best for the people we serve and coach. This is an exciting time as we trust God for the improvements in our personal ministries that will inevitably come as a result of our combined caring for each other.
Footnotes:
(1) Colossians 1:10 (NLT) – Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
(2) Proverbs 11:25 (ISV) – A generous person will prosper, and anyone who gives water will receive a flood in return.
(3) 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV) – But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love, we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
(4) Colossians 1:27 (NIV) – To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(5) 2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV) – Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
(6) 1 John 5:14-15 (TLB) – And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us.
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://christiancoaches.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Rich-Weigel.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]About the Author: Rich has an extensive background in leadership with over twenty years leading school districts. In addition to establishing his new business as an Executive and Leadership coach, he is an adjunct professor for Olivet Nazarene University providing instruction for Strategic Leadership at the doctorate level. Rich is currently serving as CCNI’s President.
