During the Dec. 13 GROWLIFE meeting, participants reflected on how to encourage others and gave and received coaching. Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, GROWLIFE will continue meetings in 2008:

• Feb. 14 (Goals)
  
• March 13 (Reality)
  
• April 10  (Options)
  
• May 8 (Will do)

During the Dec. 6 COACHLIFE meeting, members networked, discussed portions of chapters 7-8 of Leadership Coaching, and watched/discussed a DVD clip on developing authentic relationships.

COACHLIFE, a community of practice facilitated by Close the Gap Now for participants and graduates of Keith Webb's coach training, will continue meetings in 2008:

• Jan. 10 (Chapters 9-10: Client's agenda/defining goals)
  
• Feb. 7 (Chapters 11-12: Listening)
  
• March 20 (Chapters 13-14: Questions)
  
• April 17 (Chapters 15-16: Taking action and support structures)
  
• May 1 (Chapter 17: Encouragement and expectations)

At Connect2Empower's November 29 meeting, members discussed the power of reflection, how to cultivate reflection within their mission organizations, and procedures and tools their organizations use.

During its Jan. 24 meeting, Connect2Empower's members will design debriefing tools that address work-related topics. Started by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Empower is a community of practice for Tokyo-based missionaries interested in member care and professional development.

“It’s Self-Management, not Time Management” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

 “10 Questions to Ask Students” by Michael Essenburg was published in published in CSI's Christian School Teacher.

During the November 6-9 Church Planting Institute held near Mount Fuji, over 300 missionaries and Japanese church workers further developed a vision for God’s kingdom. Participants worshipped and listened to keynote speakers, including Nobuji Horikoshi, Steve Childers, Mitsuo Fukuda, Josiah Bancroft, and Gary Fujino. Participants also attended a variety of workshops, including Close the Gap Now’s GROWLIFE Fundamentals.

Sixteen staff from the Christian Academy in Japan participated in GROWLIFE coach training. Participants identified their goals, transformed closed questions into open-ended questions, watched and discussed coaching demonstrations, and gave and received coaching.

Said one participant, "GROWLIFE has helped me see the importance of setting goals in all of my life in order to make progress."

Oct. 19-20, the Church Multipication Team of Asian Access participated in GROWLIFE coach training while staying on Etajima (near Hiroshima). The 26 participants enhanced their listening and inquiry skills and used the GROW process to empower each other.

Said one participant, “It enhanced my ability to help people think about the big picture before they zoom in on what they need to do to accomplish their goals.”

Asian Access missionaries involved in church multiplication participated in a 3-hour workshop on self-management. On Oct. 20, participants discussed the difference between self-management and time management, used self-assessment data to find ways to increase self-management, and used tools to identify goals, develop action plans, and schedule priorities.

Commented one participant, “This training really helped me figure out what I really need to focus on.”

Participants in the Sept. 24 GROWLIFE Inquiry coaching workshop focused on their inquiry skills. The 10 participants began the day by considering questions like "How is God growing you?" and "How is the Holy Spirit at work in your heart?" Then, participants learned and applied 3 inquiry tools (REALITY√, SWOT, and 6 Keys), before wrapping up the day by giving and receiving coaching.

September 20-22, the EurAsia Team of Christian Reformed World Missions worked together for 3 days in Manila on 5 goals: building relations, clarifying goals, brainstorming new ideas, developing a better understanding of the big picture, and networking.

Close the Gap Now provided training around foundational concepts, including:

• To accomplish your God-given mission, start by defining its achievement.
  
• Measure your current level of mission achievement.
  
• Take action to achieve your mission.
  
• The body of Christ works together.

Said a EurAsia Team member, “It was great meeting folks from other countries, many who are doing similar work to mine. Discussions centered on the global mission of the CRCNA and were fruitful.”

"GROWLIFE helped me to clarify what my goals are...to take the next steps in achieving them...to know effective ways to help others achieve their goals," said a participant of the Sept. 15 GROWLIFE coach training.

During the workshop, the 10 participants used open-ended questions to help others clarify a goal, explore it, and take action to achieve it.

“To Achieve Your Goals, Get a Coach” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

On August 7, the teachers of International Christian School (Hong Kong) continued their efforts to help their students understand and apply a Biblical perspective by focusing on the 4 Biblical perspective fundamentals:

1. Targeting Biblical perspective
   
2. Asking Biblical perspective questions
   
3. Assessing understanding and application of a Biblical perspective
   
4. Meeting student learning needs

During this Close the Gap Now workshop, participants:

• Considered questions: What’s exciting about helping students apply a Biblical perspective? Why does God ask questions? How does assessment affect student learning?
  
• Identified Biblical perspective questions they will ask students.
  
• Developed assessments using the 4 characteristics of an effective Biblical perspective assessment.
  
• Developed a plan to meet 1 student learning need regarding understanding and using a Biblical perspective.

July 24-28, Christian educators attended CSI’s Annual Leadership Convention In Harbor Springs, MI, USA. Conference keynote speakers included Cornelius Plantinga, Lauren F. Winner, and Walt Mueller.

Conference participants attended a variety of sessions, including a workshop by Close the Gap Now entitled, “Close the Gap: Action Steps to More Closely Match Schoolwide Goals and Results.”

June 14- 15, thirteen participants learned about, experienced, and used the GROW process (Goal, Reality, Options, Will do) and LIFE skills (Listening, Inquiring, Focusing, Encouraging).

Participants commented:

• "I came wanting coaching to become a reality, to put flesh on a concept. I not only saw it, but I was able to do it."
  
• "I enjoyed lots of guided practice in a relaxed atmosphere.... An insight I had is I need to give less advice and ask more questions."
  
• "The seminar is well prepared and anyone will feel comfortable joining the seminar."

 “Ask Questions” by Michael Essenburg was published in published in CSI's Christian School Teacher.

“Use Assessment to Increase Student Use of a Biblical Perspective of Course Content"  by Michael Essenburg was published in ACSI's World Report.

“Using Reflection to Leverage Results” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

Here's what some of the participants in the May 11 GROWLIFE Fundamentals workshop said:

• "This workshop gave me some tools that I will be able to use in discipling."
  
• "I gained confidence and believe I can help others with GROWLIFE. Thanks!"
  
• "I came away from the workshop with concrete, measurable, attainable action steps to achieve my goal. Amazing!"
  
• "I don't know when I've been to a workshop that is so practical."
  
• "GROWLIFE can transform your life and your ministry and your organization."

During the workshop, the 17 participants learned about the coach's heart, practiced coaching skills, and gave and received coaching.

“Measure Mission Achievement” by Michael Essenburg was published in ACSI's World Report.

“Want to Increase Your Productivity? Stop Working!” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

On March 2, 20 missionaries and Christian Academy in Japan staff attended Close the Gap Now's GROWLIFE coach training. Participants learned about, experienced, and used the GROW process (Goal, Reality, Options, Will do) and LIFE skills (Listening, Inquiring, Focusing, Encouraging).

Said one participant, “It was helpful for me to see the role coaching can play in a pastor’s ministry.”

Another added, “I can already take home and apply some skills.”

December 17-18, Dan Beerens (Christian Schools International, CSI) and Michael Essenburg (Close the Gap Now) collaborated to develop a draft of K-12 standards for CSI’s Bible curriculum. To develop the draft, Beerens and Essenburg:

• Built on a document formulated by the Eastern Ottawa (MI) Christian schools.
  
• Reviewed other Christian schooling documents.
  
• Cross-checked the draft of the standards with the head, heart, and hands outcomes that CSI is using for its Bible revision project.

Currently, CSI’s Curriculum Advisory Council and Christian Academy in Japan's K-12 Bible teachers are giving feedback on the draft of the standards.

Feb. 13, the board of Christian Academy in Japan participated in a 90-minute training by Close the Gap Now entitled, “To Achieve Your Mission, Start by Defining It.”

During the training, the board considered questions like:

• If you don’t define the mission, how effectively can you and the headmaster work?
  
• You’re the headmaster—what do you need to know?
  
• How can a definition of mission achievement empower a headmaster?
  
• How can you define your mission effectively?

As a result of the training, board members were able to:

• Recite the mission.
  
• Understand and recite the MOSAIC school improvement process (Mission, Objectives, Standards-based Assessment, Improvement plans, Collaboration for results).
  
• Use the MOSAIC scorecard to explain the big picture.

In an e-mail to Close the Gap Now, one board member wrote, “THANK YOU again for using your coaching skills yesterday with the board. There were a lot of individual comments made to me about how helpful and insightful the presentation was.”

On Feb. 8, 25 Mountainview International staff completed a Close the Gap Now workshop, focusing on increasing student understanding and application of a Biblical perspective by using questions, using assessment, and meeting student needs.

During the workshops, participants considered questions:

• Why does God ask questions?
  
• What makes a good question good?
  
• How can you use your Biblical perspective questions effectively?
  
• How can assessment increase your students’ understanding and application of a Biblical perspective?
  
• How can you meet your students’ learning needs?
  
• How will you use what you have learned?

As a result of the workshop, participants commented:

• “I need to change the focus of my teaching from simply facts-based to more critical thinking and Biblical perspective teaching.”
  
• “I realize I need to understand how God sees my subject and approach it from that view.”
  
• “An insight I had is that Biblical integration can be both relevant and intentional.”

Today, Close the Gap Now initiated monthly GROWLIFE coach training sessions for missionaries and staff members of Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ). Held at CAJ, training sessions are scheduled for February 15, March 15, April 18, and May 17.

During these 90-minute sessions, participants will:

• Watch coaching demonstrations
  
• Learn about Christian coaching beliefs and the GROWLIFE coaching model
  
• Practice coaching skills
  
• Give/receive coaching during 15-minute coaching sessions

Sessions are designed for those who want to explore coaching and see if they want to attend a coaching workshop (1-4 days), or if they want to pursue coach certification.

Today, Close the Gap Now started monthly COACHLIFE training sessions designed for participants in and graduates of the Core Coaching Skills certificate program (and certified coaches) who want to network and further hone coaching skills.

Held at Christian Academy in Japan, training sessions are scheduled for February 1, March 1, April 5, and May 10.

Jan. 3-5, Christian educators attended the ACSI International Christian Educator Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Conference keynote speakers included Joseph Kim, Dave Wilcox, and Donald Lichi.

Conference participants attended a variety of workshops, including 4 Close the Gap Now workshops:

• What Do You Want Your Students to Understand, Be Able to Do, and Value?
  
• How Well Are Your Students Achieving Your Student Learning Outcomes?
  
• Use Assessment to Measure and Increase Student Understanding and Application of a Biblical Perspective
  
• Meet Student Learning Needs to Increase Student Application of a Biblical Perspective

The conference closed with a banquet held at Pan American Christian Academy.