CMN believes that coaching plays a vital role in the success of a church plant. We believe in it so strongly that we require pastors of our Matching Fund Churches to complete at least one coaching session each month. One new planter found coaching to be so valuable that he felt those on his leadership team would benefit from it as well.

David Docusen, pastor of Center City Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, enrolled his small group leaders in a coach training session led by Sam and Vicki Farina. “Sam took his two-day training on coaching and condensed it into a five-hour training session with 12 of our small group leaders,” says David. “I can’t say this more emphatically - they knocked it out of the park.”

David’s team learned how to ask questions as opposed to giving answers. “This coach approach to leading small groups is forming an incredible culture of coaching leadership,” he says. “It was so timely to have this training for our leadership during the beginning stages of our church.”

And while this was only a one-day training session, David believes the effects of it will continue to be felt at Center City Church for a long time. “I am looking forward to seeing how these ideas develop and having this be a part of our normal routine of training small group leaders.”

Want to incorporate coaching into your church plant? Find out how by contacting the CMN offices at 417.862.2781 x 3500.