Start The Conversation

Let’s Start The Conversation

 

Jesus’ Great Commission in the lives of Christ followers seems often to breed more frustration and guilt than success. Especially the part about, “Go and make disciples.” (Matthew 28:19) Jesus wasn’t making a request, not an optional volunteer opportunity to work into our busyness. It was a command he expected to be part of our everyday existence.

In his book Mentor Like Jesus, Regi Campbell states,
“Life doesn’t happen in church. Church can prepare us for life…but life happens at home, at work, on vacation, in our neighborhoods. If we’re going to share a ‘piece of our map’ with the next generation, for their benefit, then we must be out on the road with them, doing life together. The lessons get taught in the context of everyday life, in everyday situations, through the wisdom of God planted and nurtured in the life of one of his more mature kids.”


That’s why I love spiritual coach/mentoring.

It is simple. It is powerful. It is the timeless language of Jesus, his secret weapon for insights, wisdom and spiritual growth, the difference between “telling” disciples and “making” disciples. That’s right, he didn’t say, “tell” them. He said, “make” them. With the promise of the Holy Spirit as the Enabling Presence in our lives, he was saying, You and I will always be together in building the Kingdom and making disciples. So trust the process, join me and invest more time with fewer people. 

In a time in which ‘tolerance’ and ‘acceptance’ is the religion of the day, Christians often hesitate in sharing matters of faith and encouragement, “not wishing to offend.” By adding coach/mentoring skills to what you already know, you can engage freely in open, meaningful conversations with seekers or non-believers. These same skills will also lead to transformational conversations between mature Christian believers and those who desire someone to come alongside as a spiritual coach/mentor.

Spiritual coach/mentoring turns the guilt factor upside down. Jesus didn’t leave us with an impossible task after all. Nothing is worse than to be handed a job you aren’t suited for, one in which you are bound to fail. Jesus would never do that. Does it surprise you to know that “making disciples,” whether it’s with our children, parents, grandchildren, neighbors, co-workers, students on campus, business clients, or just about anybody, is often more about “listening” than “telling?” More about asking powerful questions than having all the right answers? With the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and by honing a few important skills, we can become competent and confident in sharing life and faith across the generations!

Introducing Start the Conversation from The CASA Network on Vimeo.

 

What is a Start the Conversation™ Event?[1]

The focus is on integrating coach/mentoring skills within the existing life and leadership roles of Christ followers everywhere, adding to their current Biblical knowledge, communication and leadership styles, vital coach/mentoring skills useful in sharing faith, hope, and encouragement that spans the generations. Start the Conversation events may take the form of a ‘conference’ in which several churches or organizations join together or a workshop in a multiple-discipline training event. Each participant will receive his or her own workshop manual.

 

What happens at a Start the Conversation™ Event?      

Through instruction and one-to-one interaction, participants learn key coach/mentor skills, including:

  • How to listen effectively
  • The use of powerful questions
  • The language of transformational leaders
  • The value of small wins
  • How the COACH Model™ works for you
  • The Third Person in coaching conversations
  • How to maximize the potential in others

 

Who is Start the Conversation™ for?

Start the Conversation is instructional and interactive, intergenerational in scope, and designed for seniors in high school through seniors in life (ages 18-88), volunteers, small group leaders, coaches, mentors, parents and grandparents, young adults, business and professional leaders, church and nonprofit organization ministry teams, anyone interested in improving intergenerational communication skills, and willing to invite the Holy Spirit to be their Silent Partner in every conversation.

 

How will Start the Conversation™ help me develop meaningful relationships with those older/younger than me?

Participants learn how to engage in meaningful, supportive conversations as leaders, family members, coworkers and friends, helping themselves and others in any age group to:

Gain clearer focus
Move from vision to action and achieve goals faster
Make better decisions
Learn new skills to take the next step
Be confident in intergenerational conversations

 

How can we bring Start the Conversation™ into our church or denominational group?

  1. Churches, educational institutions, and other parachurch organizations designate someone to initiate contact with The CASA Network. 
  2. Once date(s) have been agreed upon, a CASA Network assistant will coordinate with you to help ensure a successful event.
  3. The primary sponsor church/host of your Start the Conversation event may invite other churches, groups or individuals to co-sponsor or participate in the event.
  4. Your representative will predetermine the type of event: i.e., all church intergenerational (ages 18-88); church professional staff and/or volunteers; business-for-ministry leaders, etc. 

 

What is the length of a Start the Conversation™ Event?

The length of a conference or workshop can be one, two or three days.
The number of participants ranges from a minimum 40 to maximum 100.

 

How much does it cost?

  1. Each participant pays a non-refundable $25 registration fee to confirm his or her place in the event. An offering will be received for The CASA Network Start the Conversation mission at the completion of the conference/workshop. We believe this is so important that no one will ever be denied the opportunity to experience the conference/workshop due to financial difficulties. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
  2. Start the Conversation workbooks will be provided to each participant.
  3. Sponsoring churches or institutions are responsible to provide a rent-free facility adequate for the event, snacks, drinks, and lunch option for participants, plus travel expenses for the instructor(s).

 

Contact: The CASA Network
Tel: 425.460.3709  Toll Free: 888.200.8552
13646 NE 24th Street, Bellevue WA 98005
Email: info@gocasa.org 

 

[1] Start the Conversation™ is a result of the collaborative efforts among The CASA Network, Creative Results Management, Inc., Legacy Coaching & Consulting, and Pinnacle Forum Northwest. Content may vary depending on the length of the conference or workshop.