While planting churches can be an exhilarating experience, it can also be exhausting.  Starting a new church can provide one with deep satisfaction.  It can also be confusing and very challenging.  Typically, Mission Alive church planters work with a coach for  the first 2 years of their planting effort and in many cases longer.  They have found that working with a coach helps them focus on God's leading and develop plans to implement what God is leading them to do.

Coaches help church planters:

1. Listen to God's leading regarding their ministry
2. Maintain focus in the midst of chaos
3. Reflect on experiences and increase learning
4. Recognize God's activity and respond appropriately
5. Identify their giftsand deal with their limitations
6. Minister from values to actions (from theology to practice)
7. Respond effectively to obstacles and struggles
8. Think through and prioritize options
9. Develop action steps to move from vision to reality

Mission Alive church planters select their own coach in consultation with Mission Alive's Director of Equipping.  Most church planters and their coach schedule regular phone calls for their coaching sessions.  In some cases, when proximity allows, they may meet face-to-face.  Coaching usually starts shortly after the Theology Lab and will continue for at least 2 years after the church planters has finished the Strategy Lab and begun actively working to plant a new church.  Mission Alive church planters have found coaching to be such a helpful process that they become certified coaches themselves to use coaching as a means of equipping leaders in their church plants.