Why would Tiger Woods want to get a coach? Why would a missionary like me with 32 years of missions under the belt want coaching? Tiger Woods, after all, is the best of the very best in his field. It is interesting to note that Tiger’s coach is not the better player, but he knows how to draw out gifts, talents and innate abilities out of others. Woods started winning tournaments again once he had hired his new coach.
This was one interesting fact that I found out in one of my courses classes I just completed. The business world has found out that training alone improves productivity by 22%. Training plus coaching increased it by 86%! In a Southern Baptist study of 601 church planters over a four year period they found out that adding coaching to their training doubled their church plants!
I thank the Lord for the opportunity I have to receive valuable training and information with a view of preparation for returning back to South America. Training cannot be left aside and many years of missions cannot be ignored, but ongoing coaching and mentoring of nationals is required for greater efficiency on the mission field. The two courses that I am presently doing at RTS are Biblical Conflict Resolution - Peacemaking (with Dave Edling & Ken Sande) and Mentoring and Coaching Leaders (Terry Walling & Steve Ogne). This has kept me very busy along with my other responsibilities (Chile and IIIM), but they are both absolutely essential areas to master if I trust to be effective. Stephanie has been able to audit the Leadership Mentoring & Coaching class as well which is so important for her development since she is so engaged in the area of leadership mentoring and development as well.
Please pray for Stephanie too. She is beginning to co-teach a course on mentoring women in the PCA church we are involved in here in March. Her nursing schedule requires her to work some Sundays too, which makes getting time off to teach on Sunday mornings during the Sunday school hour more challenging.
Stephanie and I would like to thank those who are standing with us through prayer and financial support. Your participation in our ministry is deeply appreciated.
Together for Jesus
Johan and Stephanie van der Westhuizen
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