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Request a Coach or Learn More
- Request a Coach
- Coach Training (becoming a coach)
- Contact Naomi García, MI Conference Lead Coach
Undecided on taking Professional Coach Training?
Thank you for requesting a free one-time coach training session. Typically, these free sessions are offered at the beginning of each coach training quarter.
Please fill out this form to be considered for the opportunity.
UPCOMING COACHING COURSES AND EVENTS
Basic Course Schedule: Start Coaching Tomorrow
2025: Four 3-hour sessions on Thursdays, August 21 & 28 and September 4 & 11, 2025, from 8:00 to 11:00 AM ET / 7:00 to 10:00 AM CT.
2026: Four 3-hour sessions on Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026, from 4:30 to 8:00 PM ET / 3:30 to 7:00 PM CT.
Asynchronous Professional Coach Foundational Courses
Register and take at any time. May be completed alone or at the same time as the initial enrollment.
Learn more about Basic Coach courses.
Professional Coach Training Courses:
Leveraging Transitions
Mondays, September 8, 15, 22 + 29, 2025.
4:30 - 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 - 8:30 pm ET.
Multiple breaks with a 30-minute meal break.
Coaching Venues: Peers, Supervisors, Insiders & Outsiders
Mondays, October 6, 20, 27 and November 3, 2025.
4:30 - 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 - 8:30 pm ET.
Multiple breaks.
*No session on October 13.
Intercultural Awareness
Mondays, November 10, 17, 24 + December 01, 2025.
4:30 - 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 - 8:30 pm ET.
Multiple breaks.
Intercultural Mindsets
Mondays, January 05, 12, 26, and February 02, 2026.
4:30 - 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 - 8:30 pm ET.
Multiple breaks.
*No session on January 19.
Group Coaching
Mondays, February 16, 23 + March 02 + 09, 2026.
4:30 - 7:30 pm CT / 5:30 - 8:30 pm ET.
Multiple breaks.
Group Mentor Coaching Course
Monday, March 16, 2026
5:30-7:30 pm ET / 4:30 - 6:30 pm CT.
*2-hour session
Mondays, March 23 + 30, 2026.
5:30 - 8:30 pm ET / 4:30 - 7:30 pm CT.
*3-hour sessions
All sessions have multiple breaks.
What is coaching?
Having a coach and being coached means you are focused on next steps. Coaching is forward looking: Here’s where you are. What are you willing to consider to get you where you want to be?”
Coaching is not mentoring because the experience of the coach doesn’t matter. Coaching is not teaching; the coach doesn’t tell but asks. Nor is this athletic coaching that tells what to do. Coaching is not counseling; counseling is about what has happened in the past.
Support for Congregations and Ministry Leaders
In today’s world, pastors, ministry staff and church leaders find themselves poorly equipped to affect the kind of culture change needed. Leaders are expected to enable new dreams for their congregations despite shrinking budgets, continuing uncertainty and changing demographics of our neighborhoods. They are left feeling overwhelmed, overworked, ineffective, insecure, isolated and alone. Coaching can help. Coaches provide just-in-time support by asking questions and challenging the one being coached to set and reach their goals. Using deep listening, coaches ask questions to trigger deeper contemplation, providing a sounding board that allows the coachee to think more deeply and profoundly than they would without coaching.
Discovering new perspectives
Coaching begins with a hoped-for outcome.
Unlike counseling, mentoring, teaching, or consulting, coaching challenges the one being coached to think differently to discover new perspectives. These perspectives, in turn, invite and empower movement toward action. Using deep listening and probing questions, a coach walks alongside you as you discover your resources, set your goals and unlock yourself from stuck thinking.
The Michigan Conference focuses on sharing faith, being a beloved community, and ministry innovation. Leaders in transition (congregational leaders, staff, and pastors) may request free coaching compliments of the Michigan Conference. Click Here to request a coach.
What Types of Coaching Does The Michigan Conference Offer?
Click the buttons to learn about each type of coaching.
Ministry Transitions
Coaching for leaders (laity, staff, and pastors) experiencing role transitions. Offered free for 12 months (12 sessions)
Accessed by filling out Coaching request form.
When you fill out the coaching request form, someone WILL get back to you. You are NOT committed until after an initial session.
For More Information Contact Naomi García
Self Starters and Coaching for Any Other Reasons
Do you want to have a coach for the time and space to explore and seek clarity in your work, ministry and life?
CLICK HERE to fill out the Coaching Request Form and someone will be in touch with you. By filling out this form you are not obligated to agree to coaching.
For More Information Contact Naomi García
Which Conference Ministry Resources Does Coaching Partner with?
Click the sections below to learn about each resource.
Anti-Bias and Anti-Racism Training and Tool
- Click HERE to visit the Cultural Vibrancy Page
- For More Information Contact Lisa Batten
Support risk-taking ministry ideas of young adult imagineers.
- Visit the Young Adult Ministries Toolbox.
- For More Information Contact Lisa Batten
Frequently Asked Questions about Coaching
Click the sections below to learn about each resource.
- The International Coach Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
- Others might define coaching as:
- Discovery-based process to help people get results by bringing out the best in themselves
- A healthy, encouraging and grace-filled way to challenge assumptions that lead to a shift in perspective, emotion or attitude uncovering new possibilities.
- Coaching operates from the perspective that the client has the answers within themselves. Through deep listening and powerful questions, a coach enables the client to gain clarity about what they really want.
- Coaching maximizes potential, moving people from good to great as they are ready.
- Everything shared between the coach and the client is absolutely confidential.
- Anyone willing to invite new awareness, understanding, and plan for change can benefit.
- Anyone reaching for professional and/or personal goals
- Someone who appreciates a sounding board when making decisions
- Laity, staff, and pastors who want to grow in professional and personal development, communication and life skills
- Anyone who could use a cheerleader, accountability partner and unconditional supporter.
- “I wish I had a coach years ago.”
- “It is almost magical how creating a safe, dedicated time for thinking, clears a path to new thinking.”
- “A resting place for sound thinking.”
- “Unexpectedly ‘easy-hard’ every time.”
- Coaching is about identifying a clearly focused next step on whatever the one- being-coached is concentrating on.
- Counseling and therapy looks to the past to provide meaning and discovery, while coaching looks to the future and starts on the foundation of tapping into the individual’s potential.
- Mentoring is an expert passing on their expertise in a particular area.
- Once your request is received. The lead coach will assign you a coach. You’ll have a free introductory session at a mutually agreed time. If you start with a coach and it doesn’t click or feel right, the one being coached or the coach may choose to discontinue or request a change. The lead coach recommends a minimum of 3 coaching sessions.
- How often you meet varies and is agreed upon by the coach and the individual or group receiving coaching. It could be weekly, every other week, once a month or some other arrangement. Sessions are typically 30-60 minutes over the phone, by Zoom or in person.
Typically the charge is $50-$75/hour
- The Michigan Conference provides the gift of coaching to leaders experiencing or anticipating ministry transition. The gift is 12 one hour sessions to be completed within a 14-month time period. At no cost.
- For those not in ministry transition, other funding sources may be available.
Last Updated on July 25, 2025