Coaching Group

Dirk Nowitzki, the former NBA MVP and future Hall of Famer, was asked days after winning his first Championship in 2011, what was it that made him so great? After citing his teammates and coaches he mentions the countless hours of training and practice. When asked about Dirk, his coach Rick Carlisle said “Guys like Dirk Nowitzki, these guys are wired a certain way. And they're uncompromising with how they approach their preparation to play." Dirk is known as one of the greatest to step foot on the basketball court, and all of this is credited to his training and practice.

When thinking about being “great” at having an impact for God’s Kingdom, we believe a similar principle applies. We know that if anything is to be accomplished in the name of Jesus, it will be because of His prompting alone. However, He calls us to be prepared. We desire for our students to be used to do great things. In order for this to occur we want them to be trained and practice a and implement so they can gain the necessary skills.

 This semester we have started a group that meets every other week at our house which we call “Coaching Group”. This group meets for the purpose of learning how to effectively have a ministry where God has placed them at SFA. The group is made up of handpicked students from various areas of campus (Greek, Business and Art students, freshmen through seniors) that we see as leaders.

Coaching Group is a step by step training where students are taught a particular ministry skill. They spend the next two weeks practicing it in their life, and then come back for the next step of training. The content is simple, tangible, and designed for the students to succeed while walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Here’s a glimpse into their training this semester for how to live life missionally:

Week 1: Vision casting the need. – Open the eyes of the students so see the need for the Gospel on the SFA campus. 14,000 students and only around 1000 being effectively reached

Week 2. Prayer – Talk to God about others, before you talk to others about God.

Week 3. Friendships – It’s critical to build meaningful friendships by taking a genuine interest in who a person is.

Week 4. Spiritual conversations – Taking an everyday conversation and turning it into one where you are listening about a person’s spiritual experience in life.

Week 5. Gospel conversations – The art of turning a spiritual conversation into one where we can share with our friend about how they can know Jesus personally.

Week 6. Follow up – Continuing to love and serve your friend while encouraging them to place their faith in Christ, and walk closely with Him.

Every time the coaching group meets, we always start with celebrating, and hearing how God has been at work as they stepped out in faith to practice what they are learning. We wish you could be there with us to hear how God is stirring hearts and using these students in amazing ways! But we want to share a story of how one student, Sarah, has seen God work as she has stepped out in faith.

Sarah is a freshman believer, and met many friends during the beginning of the year and as she has got to know her friends better, she realized many don't know God, and even one is a professed atheist. Sarah has been praying for these friends, and chances to share Christ with them! As the week and challenges have progress, she has seen the Lord open doors, starting with caring for them, being an intentional friend, and starting spiritual conversations. Now, several of her friends who were not spiritually interested previously have started attending Bible study– including her atheist friend! And she has even been able to have gospel conversations with the atheist friend! Please continue to pray for Sarah, and the friends in her life who are considering Christ.