At this morning's Connect2Grow gathering, cell church planters:

• Discussed how the house church model is a usable model for church multiplication.
• Explored using questions for ice breakers.
• Emphasized the importance of having cell/house church members relate to each other from the heart.
• Reflected on key questions like “Which groups in Japan have dynamics that are similar to cell/house churches?”
• Talked about ways to set goals and measure progress.

Connect2Empower is a network of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches.

At Connect2Coach's Nov. 13 meeting, JEMA members reflected on inquiry. Participants:

• Asked each other open-ended questions like "What 2 good things happened to in your ministry this month?"
• Documented their goals.
• Helped each other explore topic by saying, "Tell more about ___."
• Gave and received coaching.

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Coach is a network of JEMA members involved in coaching that connects to coach others.

SEND Japan missionaries participated in a 1-day workshop on increasing self-management. During the workshop, participants completed a self-assessment, identified goals, brainstormed options for addressing the goals, developed action plans for achieving goals, and scheduled action steps.

Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now and Jon Winter of SEND Japan facilitated the workshop.

"Do Right Things, Then Do Things Right" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association. The article encourages readers to make sure they are work on the right thing before spending time on fin-tuning what they are working on.

Today, members of the Japan Alliance Mission reviewed a draft of its purpose statement and objectives. (The draft was collaboratively developed in May 2008.) Mission members then reflected on the following question: What do you need to value in order to achieve your objectives and purpose?

Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now facilitated the planning sessions.

At Connect2Empower's Sept. 19 meeting, JEMA members from 5 missions focused on the purpose and structure of annual reviews. Participants:

• Used a set of questions to coach each other.
• Reflected on annual reviews, using questions like: How can annual reviews empower? What hinders your staff from being empowered by annual reviews.
• Talked through questions/issues raised by participants?

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Empower is a network of JEMA members tasked with professional development that connects to empower Christian leaders and organizations.

At this morning's Connect2Grow gathering, cell church planters:

• Discussed how to structure church activities in such a way that all members participate.
• Shared ministry challenges.
• Celebrated the news of a new cell church that will start on Sept. 6.

Connect2Empower, a network of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches, is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

"Want to Achieve Your Goals?" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association. The article encourages the reader to pray, document goals, take action, and reflect on progress.

Cell church planters from 3 missions gathered at today's Connect2Grow meeting to encourage each other, reflect, share best practice, and get input on ministry challenges.

Connect2Empower, a network of JEMA members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches, is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

At Connect2Empower's May 30 meeting, JEMA members from 6 missions focused on the power of conversation. Participants:

• Used a set of questions to coach each other.
• Reflected on the power of conversation, using questions like: What do people in your mission talk about? What satisfies/concerns you about conversations with those in your mission? How do conversations help?
• Talked through questions/issues raised by participants.

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Empower is a network of JEMA members tasked with professional development that connects to empower Christian leaders and organizations.

“To Provoke Reflection, Ask Open-Ended Questions” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

On May 23 at SEND Center, 22 staff from 8 Christian organizations participated in a 6-hour coaching workshop. During the training, participants reflected on Christian coaching beliefs, identified their goals, watched coaching demonstrations, practiced their coaching skills, and finished the workshop by giving and receiving coaching.

May 19-20, members of the Japan Alliance Mission collaboratively focused on strategic planning by identifying the needs the mission wants to address, updating its purpose statement, and brainstorming key objectives for carrying out its purpose. Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now facilitated the planning sessions.

“To Encourage and Empower Others, Listen” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

The Member Care Committee of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) met this afternoon. Committee members Paul Nethercott (TEAM), Mary Esther Penner (World Venture), Faith DeLaCour (Asian Access), and Michael Essenburg (Close the Gap Now) networked, reflected on the past year, and considered what to present at JEMA's annual meeting on Feb. 19.

In preparation for doing annual personnel conferences, 13 SEND International staff participated in a 4-hour DRAWLIFE Fundamentals workshop. Said one participant, “I’m prepared to do conferences better.” Added another, “As a result of this workshop, I value doing conferences more.”

During the Feb. 1 workshop, SEND staff:

• Used the DRAW inquiry process (Define • Respond • Analyze • What’s next).
  
• Enhanced their LIFE skills (Listening • Inquiry • Focusing • Encouragement).
  
• Explored 5 Christian beliefs about drawing out the blessings God has put in His people.
  
• Developed a list of hot tips for drawing out.

On January 31, several Japan Evangelical Missionary Association members interested in growing cell churches and houses churches attended Connect2Grow's first network meeting. During the meeting, participants discussed their visions and began the documentation of goals for cell/house churches.

Connect2Grow was created and is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

At Connect2Empower's January 24 meeting, JEMA members developed work-related debriefing tools. Participants:

• Discussed current practice.
  
• Learned about the DRAW inquiry process (Define • Respond • Analyze • What's next).
  
• Watched a video on Lencioni's 3 signs of a miserable job (anonymity • irrelevance • immeasurement).
  
• Used a template to begin development of a work-related debriefing tool.

Connect2Empower was created and is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

As part of team training, 16 YWAM Japan staff located in the Tokyo area participated in coach training. During the 6-hour coach training held January 3-4 at Tokyo Bible Church in Shin Koiwa, participants:

• Discussed Christian beliefs about empowering others, including the belief that God is at work in the heart of every believer.
  
• Considered questions like, “What can a question do better than a statement?”
  
• Enhanced their skills in listening, inquiring, focusing, and encouraging.
  
• Gave and received coaching.

Here’s what participants said about GROWLIFE Fundamentals coach training:

• I learned to encourage others better.
  
• Simple skills used intentionally to help others can make a big difference to someone.
  
• I enjoyed learning how to listen better and ask questions in a different way.

YWAM Japan focuses on training, evangelism (including church planting), and mercy ministries.

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.

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.

"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.

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."

“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.

“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.”

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.