The Transforming Effect of Group Coaching

Rev. Mike Sahler

My life was busy: pastoral demands, family commitments, personal needs, community involvement, friendship obligations, miscellaneous stress, and time for a relationship with God…My life was busy: hurried, harried, frantic, frenzied, the candle burning at both ends, panicked for more wax, and God was somewhere in the whirlwind of my life…I realized I needed relief from life in the fast lane with no exit in sight and that relief came in the form of group coaching with Dr. Larry Ousley…Through the coaching of Larry walking alongside me and other participants, I am able to claim that my life is still busy but my approach and attitude toward daily living is being reshaped, the whirlwind of my life is unwinding, and I can see God more clearly…I’m grateful for the privilege of having a Christian Coach encouraging me to claim God’s best for me that is already inside me…Larry’s group coaching has transformed my life and enabled me to experience and share forward a new life with focus, ease, flow and joy…My wife Debbie says, “Coaching has made a difference in your life, our marriage, your relationship with our children, your honoring God’s call to ministry,  and your relationship with God!”…Thanks Larry for being my coach and encouraging me to use a coaching approach in ministry and in abundant living!

Another Recommendation from a Past Participant

Rev. Willetta "Lettie" Ar-Rahmaan, M.Div.

Pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church, Newton, NC

As a new pastor and new to the denomination, the coaching class with Dr. Larry Ousley and Dr. Carl Arrington helped me recognize that we all face the same challenges no matter our background.  The group coaching class fostered new relationships and I was able to learn from others even when the issues were very sensitive.  I have used the listening skills and coaching skills in my full-time position which has truly helped me to be more aware of the valuable contributions of others and I'm able to coach others through problems and situations.  Thank you Dr. Larry and Dr. Carl for a wonderful and enlightening coaching experience that I still use today!

Endorsement from a Past Participant

Rev. Cathy D. Mitchell

Have lots of ideas about your life and ministry, but always seem to be going in several different directions without accomplishing those things that you feel God has called you to do most?  Setting goals and priorities have never been a problem for me, but seeing them through to fruition was quiet a challenge amidst the stress and demand of my ministry.  I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to have Dr. Larry Ousley as my coach to learn a process of advancing to completion of my goals and being able to celebrate every step of the way!    

Leadership Coaching Circles

Here’s your opportunity to get closer to God, become healthier, and to accomplish a particular ministry project. I created Leadership Coaching Circles to assist with this vital need. It is a 21^st century Wesley class meeting approach to becoming more fully alive in Christ and finding more fulfillment in your life and ministry. LCC enables you to both “sharpen the saw” and fulfill your calling for leadership.

Recommendation from Dr. Ken Nelson Based on a Previous Coaching Project I led for South Carolina Pastors along with Carl Arrington

Rev. Ken Nelson
Congregational Specialist,
SC Conference Office of Connectional Ministries

“Through his leadership, Dr. Larry Ousley provided a transformative group coaching experience in which our clergy learned how to share resources, best practices, and began to see each others’ successes as their own.Together they worked on similar goals, and learned with and from one another. Our clergy moved from seeing one another as competitors to seeing each other as colleagues.” 

Benefits of Leadership Coaching Circles

These elements of Leadership Coaching Circles help the participants to accomplish the above.

·       Circles of 6 to 8 members will meet for group coaching twice per month for four months focusing specifically on each participant’s spiritual practices, self-care, and a ministry project.

·       Participants will also as a bonus have the opportunity to participate in a twice per month coaching skills class for the four month semester. Both the coaching group and the skills class will happen by telephone conference call using Maestro Conference. This coaching skills class alone has a value of $197.

·       Participants will receive coaching by me in the group circle calls. Also participants will receive coaching by another participant in twice per month buddy coaching calls. Of course in these buddy coaching calls they will also practice doing coaching which will hone their skills.

·       Another bonus to participants is that each week I will share an inspiring devotional based on a lectionary passage for the upcoming Sunday. Ministry leaders rarely have the opportunity to be a participant in “worship.” Although the worship time in the circle meetings will brief, this focus will provide some centering, inspiration, and perhaps sermon ideas for the participants.

·       2 CEU’s will be awarded for participation in LCC.

·       The cost for all of this is only $50 per month for the four months for a total of $200. Payments will be made by check.

This opportunity is limited to 56 persons in 7 groups of up to 8 each starting in early September 2013.

Registration

Please click the link for the time of the circle of which you would like to be a member. The first meeting date is listed. Reserve the same hour each week for the calls which will either be a circle call or a buddy call. Submitting your name and email address will assure you of a place in LCC. Please sign up for only one of the circle times below.

Mondays starting Sept. 9 at 4 pm ET

http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/U6H6IJ9PJKZ7HSZF

Tuesdays starting Sept. 10 at 4pm ET

http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/Z3BWFZHTMOSZMDBG

***All participants are also asked to register for the coaching skills classes which will occur on Wednesdays starting Sept. 11 at 4 pm ET

 http://myaccount.maestroconference.com/conference/register/FXUPXAW3ATYDY1Q8

Make payment of either the initial installment of $50 or the whole $200 by sending a check made out to me at:

Larry Ousley, 172 Clearwater Drive, Waynesville, NC 28785