partnering with church & ministry leaders
Resources
Coaching (see below)
Workshops
Leader Training
D52 (see below)
The Locker Room
The WillowNet Podcast Series
(coming soon)
Workshops: The Word UP
- A workshop type event consisting of 1-hour sessions in either a one-day or weekend format with one goal: Phil. 2:2.
- Strategically targeting the heart and challenging the status quo by asking questions, and exploring, clarifying, and focusing on biblical answers: Who are we? Why are we here? What is a disciple? How do we make disciples?
- Designed to create "light-bulb" moments to awaken & inspire all believers to seek God through His word.
- Potentially greater impact than most week-long revivals
- A Workshop can be used to effectively unite a core group, launch a new ministry, or facilitate revitalization.
Call me to discuss a workshop for your church, staff, or team.
Shepherd-Coaching
Dynamic coaching can help a leader find clarity and make progress in what God has called them to do. Coaching not only can help you make progress, it has the potential to greatly reduce the stress, frustration, disappointment, and loneliness experienced by many ministry leaders.
A more detailed explanation of coaching is provided below.
A Friend
As both a coach and strategist, my desire is to help ministry leaders become CHAMPIONS for Christ. I want to be the friend that sticks closer than a brother. If you are hurting, lonely, frustrated, or just stuck, please call me. If nothing else, I WILL PRAY WITH YOU!
What is Coaching?
Psalm 78:72
What is Coaching? It’s about making progress with joy in the faith.
When most of us hear the word “coach” we think of sports. Maybe you immediately thought of your favorite SEC coach, running up and down the sideline, shouting across the field, throwing headsets on the ground, hopefully getting a Gatorade shower after a victory. Uh… no! We’re not talking about sports. We’re talking about winning the world by making disciples and enlarging the kingdom of God.
The term “coaching” most likely originated around 1830 at Oxford University. When one student helped another student prepare for and pass an exam, he was said to have “carried” or “coached” him. A coach was a vehicle and referred to helping someone get where they need to be. It did not become associated with sports until much later.
I have adopted the term “shepherd-coaching” to help provide clarity as to what I do. As you know, a shepherd cares for and has a relationship with each individual sheep but always with an eye on the growth and multiplication of the flock. A shepherd knows that the growth of each individual will result in an increasing flock and herd. He watches over the sheep to ensure they are healthy, growing, and multiplying. A coach comes alongside to help the leader find clarity as to God’s will, then determine and take the steps necessary to carry out God’s will. In short, a shepherd-coach comes alongside not to speak into your life, but rather to draw out what God has placed in your heart (Prov. 20:5). The purpose for enlisting a coach is to continually progress with joy in the faith. (Phil. 1:25) as both a servant of Christ and a leader among His people. My goal is for you to one day hear Christ say, “Well done…” The verse that best describes our heart and purpose is Colossians 1:9-10, “…that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”
What does it cost? Probably less than you think.
I want to provide professional level coaching available to every leader who wants help. Regardless of the size of your congregation or your personal income, there are a number ways we can make this happen.
Who am I? I’m glad you asked!
I am Jeff Mann, a thirty-plus-year veteran of ministerial leadership and I have the scars and limp to prove it. I have been a pastor, church planter, and associational missionary. I am a catalyst, and while I have worn a number of different hats, my role in the Body is probably best described as a “foundation” guy. Barnabus is my biblical hero and coaching comes naturally. It became a routine part of my ministry when I realized that if I can help someone discover a truth or find God’s will for their lives, they own it and will be much more likely to apply it. Utilizing coaching skills for over 20 years with individuals and in small groups, I have witnessed faster growth and life-change than through preaching alone.
My formal training came through the SEND Network of the North American Mission Board of the SBC while serving the Alabama State Board of Missions as the interim Church Planting Strategist, and I have recently completed professional level training. I adhere to ICF competencies and ethical standards. I am currently contracting and serving the Alabama State Board of Missions as the Coaching Champion through the Office of Associational Missions and Church Planting to train coaches and oversee a network of coaches in order to provide coaching for every church planter supported by ALSBOM. Coaching has become part of my DNA.
Coaching gives me great joy and I want to help leaders of all types of ministries reach their potential and become Champions for Christ! If you are interested in knowing more about how the dynamic of coaching can help you, let’s talk. Contact me by email or phone and we’ll arrange a convenient time to have a coaching conversation.
What is d52?
D52 is a TOOL for Disciple-Makers!
D52 is a journey at the feet of Jesus!
D52 is designed to:
1.) get people into the Word and hearing Christ speak;
(Luke 10:38-42)
2.) develop a habit of spending some time each day with Christ - listening, responding and journaling;
3.) understand and see the big picture of His plan to redeem the world. (Phil.2:2; 1 Cor. 2:16) D52 is prayerfully and strategically designed to help participants understand:
· the authority of God’s word,
· the preeminence of Christ,
· the priority of His kingdom,
· the purpose of His church &
· His mandate to be disciples who make disciples.
4.) experience the greenhouse dynamic of "koinonia" for growth and development through encouragement, support and accountability.
(Mt. 18:19-20; Col. 3:16)
5.) become active participants in God's plan to enlarge His kingdom through His church. (Mt. 28:18-20; John 20:21)
How it works: 21+21+10 = 52
Participants are enlisted for either 21 days (3 weeks) or for 52 days, depending on the setting and need. Participants are asked to commit to approximately 30 to 40 minutes each day reading the Bible and answering a few questions, and meet with 2 to 12 people once a week for about an hour. Each small group time will consist of a discussion of the texts read during the previous week along with a lot of encouragement and prayer. The discussion is guided to help each participant process the insights and instructions they have heard and seen in scripture and learn from each other.
Jesus said, “Come & see” (John 1:39), “Follow Me” (John 1:43; 10:37)
and “As the Father sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21)
The first section, “Come and See”, focuses on the Bible as God’s Word and Christ as the Living Word, revealed as Creator, King of Kings, and the Good Shepherd. The third Journey Group meeting is commitment oriented and focuses on Christ’s call to “follow Him”.
The second section, “Follow Me”, is for those who desire to be His disciples and focuses on Christ and His church—who we are, why we are here, and how we operate. Section two last for 21 days.
The final section, “I Also Send You”, occurs during the last ten days of D52, during which we will look at how Christ called, equipped and sent His disciples. The group will discover what it means to “make disciples”, and be encouraged to respond personally to the Great Commission as disciples who make disciples.
Why D52?
D52 is simple. All D52 requires is 1.) a guide, 2.) one or more willing participants who have a Bible and a guide book, and 3.) a home or other suitable place to meet. Enlisting participants is as easy as “come and see”.
D52 is versatile. Whether church revitalization, church planting, or as a starting point for new converts, D52 will help people develop the disciplines and an understanding of what is necessary to become effective participants in the work of the church.
D52 is effective. God’s word is alive and powerful. Countless lives have been transformed by simply reading God’s word. (Is. 55:11 & Jer. 1:12) Good things happen at the feet of Jesus! Check out the testimonies at the end.
D52 is reproducible. Because of its simplicity, anyone who has completed D52 can facilitate a new group. This offers great potential for multiplication.
D52 is affordable. We believe that D52 can make a difference in both individual lives and churches and we do not want anyone or any church to be left out because of the cost. The guide books are only $10 each (+shipping) if you purchase 5 or more, and a free Leader's Guide is included with every first time order.
Why did we call it “D52”?
The short answer is the “D” stands for disciple and this journey is 52 days long. There is a little more to it, however.
In Nehemiah we read that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burned but through God’s grace and a committed people, the walls were rebuilt in only 52 days. But while the walls were being rebuilt, their foundation of faith was being rebuilt. What followed is an excellent picture of what a revitalized church might look like (ch. 8 & 9).
D52 also incorporates the most important element of discipleship: sitting at the feet of Jesus. Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, you really are My disciples” (John 8:31) and to Martha, He said, “But one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42). What was Mary doing? She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening.
A study of the gospels reveals that everyone who came to or was brought to the feet of Jesus was welcomed, received His undivided attention, and found grace. Lives were changed. Disciples were made.
So why did we choose the name D52?
Because a lot can happen in 52 days and good things always happen at the feet of Jesus. And that is happening! Lives and churches are already being changed through D52 by the living word of God! Below are a few comments from participants.
Testimonies:
"D52 was truly life changing for me and my wife. Love D52!" - Kyle
"I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend D52. There were distractions that presented themselves, but the victories and insights with a group of believers surpassed anything I could have ever imagined. It was unbelievable how the group fed each other and grew from week to week. This weekly practice became such an integral part of our lives, I literally grieved when it was over. - Amanda
“D52”...was life changing... Forever committed!" - Dena (and 14 months later still sold out for Christ and His Kingdom!)
"I VERY much enjoyed working through (D52) and was truly impressed with how it gently nudges the participant to see for THEMSELVES who Jesus is, what the purpose of the scriptures are and many other essential biblical precepts. I can see this being equally important for a new believer, OR someone like myself who needed to once again meditate on some of the great truths brought out in this study. I liked the simplicity of the materials; the directed reading and just a few simple questions (that were more than enough to discuss at length during group time, even with a relatively small group like ours.) - Sandra
To find out more about how D52 - Journey at the Feet of Jesus can be used in your context, give us a call at (256)600-2835.
D52, sample page