Start a Christian Coaching Ministry 

 
 
Churches have been slow to use coaching as a
method of equipping in various areas such as
life, leadership, marriage, career, wellness, and
yes, spiritual formation and growth. In 2001
Gary Collins expressed concern that while
coaching was the “hottest” new profession in
America, virtually no churches were using it
(Christian Coaching, 15). In 2003 Reggie
McNeal recommended that churches provide life
coaching for spiritual formation (The Present
Future, 77). It is now 2009, and only a few churches provide any kind of coaching ministry. I
believe churches should establish Christian coaching ministries as a means of equipping for
spiritual formation, life, marriage, career transition, executive relational and life skills.
Christian coaching ministries should be in the discipleship “department” and not a part of the
counseling ministry.

So what is the difference between coaching, counseling, and mentoring as applied to discipleship
or spiritual growth?

• Coaching forms a co‐active partnership that seeks to empower and equip the coachee 
to achieve greater competence and growth in areas they desire. The coachee is 
essentially healthy and able to work with the coach to develop a plan for growth. In 
coaching, the coachee is able to co‐actively establish goals for the process. 
• Counseling usually involves some area of disorder, pathology, or dysfunction that 
essentially disables the counselee in one or more areas of life. The counselor tends to 
set the agenda and plan for counseling.  
• Mentoring begins with a clear and set agenda for the mentee or protégé. The mentor 
tends to serve as a supervisor of the training by sort of looking over the shoulder of the 
protégé.  

Perhaps churches have not started coaching ministries because the knowledge base for start-up is
minimal. Here are some guidelines for starting a Christian Coaching Ministry.

HOW TO START A CHRISTIAN COACHING MINISTRY

Small Church
Small churches can launch a coaching ministry beginning with the pastor. If the pastor has a
heart for both the evangelism and the teaching side of making disciples, he may seek coach
training.

Large and/or Mega Church

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The large and mega-church may launch a Christian coaching ministry using a process such as the
one delineated below. However, it is important to maintain a high standard for those serving as
coaches whether they are part of the professional ministry staff or volunteer lay persons. It is
equally important that the Christian coaching ministry function as a completely separate ministry
than counseling, even though the two disciplines have areas of commonality.

1.      Hire a ministry staff member who is already a coach. The position may be associate 
pastor, equipping pastor, minister to men, or discipleship pastor, etc. The coach minister 
should have a valid record of coaching others that may be verified before hire and/or he 
should have or be seeking coach certification from an accepted organization. Beware, 
however and research coach training organizations, as some have a “new age” 
orientation. There are many coach training schools and programs that are secular to 
distinctly Christian. Research these online to assess their accreditation status by going 
to  http://www.coachfederation.org/ICF/ which is the home website for the 
International Coach Federation. Other licensing agencies and coach training 
organizations exist, and some provide internal certification that is acceptable. The goal 
here is to establish a highly creditable coaching ministry, so do your homework, 
research and get references. Seminaries are now establishing coach training as an 
available option for ministry education. 
2.      Establish a budget for the Christian Coaching Ministry. Obviously the church may pay 
a full‐time salary to a staff pastor serving as a coach with other duties. Funds may also 
be needed for outsourcing some coaching. For instance, if there is no female coach on 
staff or a specialized coach is needed to assist someone (wellness, fitness, etc.) the 
ministry may need funds to assist with fees. However, the church should not incur all of 
the coaching costs for those seeking coaching, as they are more likely to work within the 
coaching process if they have an investment. 
3.      Develop guiding policies for the Christian Coaching Ministry. A starting point is the 
code of ethics available as a pdf document download from the ICF website listed above. 
Referral policies should be established at the outset, as well as the relationships 
between the counseling and coaching ministries. Each ministry may refer “clients” to 
the other. Remember there is a difference between coaching, counseling, and 
mentoring. 
4.      Provide coaching for the ministry staff. Insist that all staff ministers go through a 
coaching cycle with the new coach staff member. They need to see the benefit of the 
process and relationship first hand. If you are insecure and cannot handle the coaching 
relationship, others will not do so either. On the other hand, as others see the staff 
participating in the coaching ministry process at the launching, they will be more likely 
to accept the new ministry. 
5.      Launch the coaching ministry through the Men’s Ministry. Men are far more likely to 
seek coaching as opposed to counseling. If you are launching a coaching ministry that 
will offer services to men and women, it is important in a church to maintain a policy of 
men coaching men and women coaching women except in the case of marriage 
coaching.  

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 6.      Launch the coaching ministry by having a marriage coaching seminar. It is vastly 
different from marriage enrichment. Usually the enthusiasm resulting from the latter 
wears off quickly and is forgotten soon. Marriage coaching may have long term benefits. 
7.      Provide Christian executive coaching to business people in the church. This will 
deepen their Christian leadership effectiveness as witnesses for Christ in the 
community. 
There are many benefits for individuals receiving coaching as well as for the church. I will 
discuss the benefits of coaching in my next blog. Christian coaching is an innovative and 
transformational ministry that can change your church! 
  
Christian Coaching Blessings! 
  
Dr. Tom Cocklereece 

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