Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality [Hardcover]

Gary R. Collins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2001

Coaching has expanded beyond athletics to almost every aspect of life that requires accountability, encouragement, and a commitment to growth.

Dr. Gary R. Collins takes the successful principles of coaching and gives them a God-centered application. Broader in scope than either mentoring or discipling, Christian Coaching helps people find God?s vision for their lives and learn to live accordingly through stories, insights, and interviews.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Those in counseling or church leadership particularly will appreciate Collins' work in Christian Coaching. -- Christian Retailing, December 10, 2001

From the Inside Flap

Help others get from where they are to where they want to be.

Hal is an engineer who works for a large company. He has a good job with an excellent income and his future looks bright. Living in a comfortable home in a desirable neighborhood, he is surrounded by others who are also highly successful, upwardly mobile young professionals. The whole family is active in a good church where Hal was recently elected as a church deacon. He and his wife teach a Sunday school class. He is a member of a health club and has enlisted the services of a workout coach and a tennis coach. From all outward appearances, Hal has it made. Why would he need a life coach?

Hal is miserable. In his busy life he has no time to reflect on where he is headed or even relax and enjoy where he is now. Solitude or time alone with God never seems to happen. He would like to get off this treadmill, but doesn't know where to begin. He needs someone to come alongside him, listen, and give him honest feedback. He needs a life coach. Working with a coach, he can evaluate where he is in his life, form a vision of where he wants to go, and set priorities and goals to get there.

Well-known author Gary R. Collins gives us a how-to book for becoming a Christian coach. "Coaching is the art and practice of guiding a person or group from where they are toward the greater competence and fulfillment that they desire." Coaching is not about looking back. It is about looking ahead. It is about helping people:

- Discover a life purpose
- Map a clearer vision for the future
- Develop a mission statement
- Find and articulate clear values
- Learn to manage change effectively
- Appraise performance
- Strengthen communication skills
- Get out of a rut
- Build self-confidence
- Gain the courage to take risks
- Nurture a closer walk with God

Filled with valuable coaching principles, as well as interviews with experienced and practicing Christian coaches, Christian Coaching will motivate and inspire you to help others turn potential into reality.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (December 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576832821
• ISBN-13: 978-1576832820
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Resource For Christian Coaches, January 10, 2002

By 

Linda R. Stoll, M.S., CLC, BCPC (Salt Point, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality (Hardcover)

Collins' book is an outstanding resource for the Christian coach - and for anyone else who works closely with people. His clear writing style and enthusiastic approach to coaching make this volume hard to put down. If you want to know more about coaching, or are considering being coached or becoming a coach, this is a "must read."

The appendices at the end of the book are a great resource for coaches - these forms, tools, and questionnaires are worth the cost of the book alone!

This book provides a long-awaited and much-needed introduction of the field of coaching to the Christian community. It is sure to have great impact!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Guide to Christian Coaching, April 4, 2005

By 

Victoria Carrington "Homeschool Parents" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality (Hardcover)

Although the work is lengthy and a little wordy (or this could reflect my relatively short attention span with 2 small ones at home), this is a very important guide to Christian coaching. Like Dr. Collins, I was a mental health professional (a psychiatrist) before I became a coach and Dr. Collins does a good job of differentiating the two.

He does a very nice job of explaining to the uninitiated what Christian coaching is and how it can help.

Recommended reading for those considering utilizing Christian coaching or becoming a Christian coach.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview of Christian Coaching!, December 2, 2004

By 

David R. Bess (Charleston, WV) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christian Coaching: Helping Others Turn Potential into Reality (Hardcover)

If you're looking for an overview of Christian coaching, as I was, look no further. Collins here provides an excellent treatment of the subject. He defines Christian coaching, offers its benefits, and then distinguishes between its many varieties.

Collins has long been a reliable name in the field of Christian counseling. Now he presents a volume describing the broader field of Christian coaching.

This book is well-worth the investment of your time AND money!