Book Review: Christian Coaching

2142 Words9 Pages
Book Review Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential Into Reality Gary R Collins, PhD. Julie Donahue Liberty University LIFC 501-D03 Abstract Dr. Gary Collins divides Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality into seven sections: foundations of Christian coaching, skills of Christian coaching; assessment in Christian coaching; vision in Christian coaching; strategy, action, and obstacles in Christian coaching, specialties in Christian coaching; and the practice of Christian coaching. In this paper, I will summarize the key points of the book, share my personal response to the material, and describe how I will apply the material to my work as a life coach. In Part 1: Foundations of Christian Coaching, Collins defines coaching; describes a good coach; discusses the process of changing, and relates coaching to leadership. Coaching helps people find greater fulfillment in life. Coaching is not counseling, mentoring, discipling or consulting. Each of these practices involves accountability, encouragement, and a commitment to growth (Collins, 2009, p. 17), but coaching is a unique process that encourages clients to make their own judgments and decisions (p. 18). The Christian coach places an emphasis on an eternal purpose (p. 22). Christian coaches bring a biblical worldview; live out their Christian faith; understand that they cannot be completely neutral; and pray regularly for their clients (pp 24-25). Effective coaches know themselves and what they are good at, are sensitive to people, believe in people, build rapport with the clients, are flexible, are driven by firm convictions, and are leaders (pp. 34-36). People respond to change in one of four ways: innovators make change happen; embracers thrive on change and accept it enthusiastically; acceptors resist change but eventually go along with it; and resisters try to
Open Document