Planting a church can be a wonderful, exciting experience. It can also be a lonely, discouraging journey. Because of this, it is important that every church planter have two special people in his or her life — a mentor and a coach. The two roles are very different, and each addresses particular elements in the life and ministry of the planter.

Mentors are spiritual friends and gentle guides. They are wise people with years of ministry experience. Their focus is on the spiritual life of the planter and the well being on the planter's family. Mentors do not need to have been planters, nor do they need to be knowledgeable about all aspects of church planting. Their role is not to teach or give advice about how to plant the church, but to care and give advice on how to live. Mentors are usually either sought out or discovered. They are almost never assigned. Mentors may be part of the denominational system, but that is not a requirement. A mentor is rarely also the supervisor of the church-planting project. The two roles are different; in fact, they can even be contradictory. It is best to keep the two roles separate. Denominations can assist planters by (1) encouraging pastors to make themselves available to meet with planters and, thus, facilitate the process through which planters often discover mentors and (2) clearly define the role (expectations and obligations) of a mentor.

Coaches are teachers and skill builders. They are people with the ability to help others perform at a higher level. Their focus is on the day-to-day activity of the planter and the development of the church-planting project. Coaches do not necessarily need to have been planters, but they need to be familiar with all aspects of church planting; and they need to understand human behavior and personality.

The role and value of a coach is that he or she:

1. Asks questions that help guide the planter to think more deeply and with greater clarity about the church-planting project.
2. Helps the planter see what he or she would not otherwise see, serves the vision of the planter, and assists in clarifying that vision.
3. Provides an "outside" ear and voice for both the planter and the church-planting system
4. Adds expertise and information to the church-planting process.
5. Assists the planter and the church-planting system to reach their goals.
6. Serves as a compassionate, secure, and confidential outlet to vent frustrations and problems.
7. Provides a clear line of communication between the planter and the sponsoring agency.
8. Conducts reality checks on the planter's vision, values, and strategy.
9. Walks with the planter through conflict when it arises.
10. Helps the planter implement the master plan in proper sequence.
11. Works with the planter to develop strategies for recruiting, launching, and fundraising.

A coaching relationship is fostered by some sense of affinity between the planter and the coach. For this reason, assigning coaches can be problematic. Providing planters with some form of input into the selection process can prove helpful.

Coaches may be part of the denominational system, but that is not a requirement. Coaches are rarely also the supervisor of the church-planting project. The two roles are different; in fact, they can even be contradictory. It is best to keep the two roles separate. Denominations can assist planters by:

1. Identifying an approved cadre of coaches from which the planter may choose.
2. Clearly defining the role (expectations and obligations) of a coach.

Some people may question the need for coaches for church planters or other pastors. The answer to this question is straightforward. Natural talent and acquired knowledge are great tools for leaders who desire to plant a church or lead a church toward growth, vitality, and faithfulness. These tools alone, however, may not be sufficient. The missing element is often the presence of a coach. Just as great athletes with multimillion dollar contracts need great coaches for maximum performance, so do great leaders of congregations. Retaining the services of a coach is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. It is recognizing both that each person is unique and that no person knows everything. While spiritual friends help us develop our spiritual lives and mentors help us develop our personal and professional lives, coaches help us perform better. A coach is part trainer, part behavior analyst, part motivator, part accountability partner, part reality detector, and part resource provider. Coaches help leaders clarify their goals, better define the context in which their decisions are made, explore possible options for reaching their desired outcomes, and provide support and resources once strategic decisions are made. A coach can assist with defining reality and contemplating possible action plans but leaves the responsibility for decision-making with the person being coached. Coaching may be formal or informal, paid or free, involving a contract or just a verbal agreement.

With hard work and some natural talent, most leaders can be above average. With the assistance of a coach, leaders can become outstanding!

Professional coaching in a church-planting situation is usually provided on a contract basis. The contract will usually specify the terms and extent of the coaching relationship. Typical elements of a coaching contract include the following:

• The length of the contract (usually 6-18 months).
• The method of contact between the planter, they sponsoring agency, and the coach (usually via e-mail and/or phone with in-person meetings arranged as needed).
• The frequency of contact between the planter and the coach (often one or two phone calls or meetings per month with e-mail as needed).
• The fee schedule for the contract (this varies greatly, but is often between $100-$300 per month with onsite visits at an additional fee).
• Any reporting requirements of the sponsoring agency.
• A clear delineation of the role of the coach.
• A statement of the sponsoring organization's expectations, the anticipated timeline, and a definition of "success."
• Any other items that the planter, coach, sponsoring agency, and/or launch team members feel need to be added and to which all are in agreement.

Identifying potential coaches and selecting one or more is not as difficult for the church leader as it was ten years ago. A number of companies, organizations, and individuals now offer coaching for church leaders. These include Easum, Bandy and Associates; the Griffith Coaching Network; Inquest Christian Ministries; and INJOY. In addition, several consultants and consulting groups offer training in coaching to assist sponsoring organizations in the development of an in-house cadre of coaches.

The presence of a good coach does not guarantee the success of a church plant, nor does the absence of such a coach guarantee the failure of a church plant. The presence of a coach does, however, increase the likelihood of success. Additionally, a coach can help the church-planting system refine its efforts and improve its process. A coach can, and probably will, save a church planter and the sponsoring organization many times their investment in the coaching contract.

The Rev. Jim Griffith is the founder of the Griffith Coaching Network, a network of coaches committed to helping church leaders develop more fruitful ministries. Jim spent the first twenty-years of his ministry life starting five different congregations. In 1995 he entered a full-time coaching ministry to church leaders and congregations, a mantle he wears with infectious enthusiasm.

Dr. Don Nations is an associate of The Griffith Coaching Network and has trained as a consultant with Bill Easum. He is a Certified Human Behavior Consultant and is a nationally certified coach for church planters. He has both planted a church and served as a turn-around pastor for several churches during his ministry. He currently serves as the director of a teaching parish (cooperative church ministry), and he has published several articles. Don is available to coach planters, work with denominations and judicatories, train coaches, assess potential planters, and conduct onsite consultations.