Over the weekend I helped my wife, Janice, host a conference for Christian Life Coaches that have been through her Certified Professional Life Coach training. The theme of the conference was – Building a Better World. (Read more about the conference here – Christian Life Coach Conference.) Over three days there were workshops on how to grow a coaching practice or ministry. Among the topics addressed were social media, career coaching and how to be an entrepreneur from a Christian perspective. We were blessed to have Laurie Beth Jones and Kim Garst as featured speakers. Both are recognized as exceptionally gifted and successful leaders in their respective fields.
The weekend started on Friday night as Terrell Huntley, one of our talented coaches, and his worship team, led us into God’s presence. The final song that was sung was Holy Spirit.
The refrain of the song goes like this:
“Holy Spirit You are welcome here.
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.
Your glory God is what our hearts long for.
To be overcome by Your presence Lord.”
During this time of praise and worship, I sensed the Holy Spirit whisper to me the word – ‘healing.’ I immediately thought to myself, “Why might there be healing taking place over a weekend when the topics of presentations were about entrepreneurship, career coaching and social media?”
The conference had been soaked in prayer in the weeks preceding the weekend. We opened the conference in prayer, prayed for each speaker after they presented, and prayed before meals.
Well, during the wrap up time on Sunday, the coaches were asked to share how the conference was of value and meaningful to them. Several of the coaches shared intimately of how God had worked in their spirits, hearts and minds during the conference to propel them more boldly into the vision He had given them about their coaching businesses and ministries. The conversations they had with one another, the content and delivery from the speakers, the Friday evening worship time, and time that the coaches spent alone with God during the weekend all provided a special opportunity for the Holy Spirit to touch the lives of those present. There were many tears of joy and love that were shed. Courage to keep moving forward was restored in many coaches.
As I listened to their sharing, tears also flowed down my eyes. My tears came from the compassion that Jesus stirred in my heart for these coaches and for the community of Christian Coach Institute. And my tears came because we were all blessed by the presence and work of the Holy Spirit over the weekend. Our heartfelt cry during worship on Friday night had been answered.
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~ Matthew 18:20
We all experienced the presence and love of Jesus during the conference. Many coaches experienced His presence, inspiration, and yes, healing to continue their journeys to serve others through coaching to “build a better world.” This was a wonderful example of the value of being in community with other believers and what can happen when a group of people cry out to God.
Related Resources and Programs
‘Be in Community with Other Believers’ is one of 42 Biblical Principles that are addressed in our PathWay 2 Wholeness Bible Study.
More blog posts about the Holy Spirit.
More blog posts about healing.
2015 Christian Coach Institute Conference Hashtag – #CCIInspire2015
