Where there is no Vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18)

Coffee Time Article that will challenge you in your Planning for this coming Year.

“What is the Vision for my Business?”

With pen and paper to hand I begin crafting a New Year’s Resolution concerning my ‘Christian Coaching Ministry.’ Initially I make a weak attempt to plan for 5 new clients every week; which means I would need to increase my Marketing activity by 50%

Is that possible? Yes, but only with a lot of hard work! … Or a miracle!

A little dis-heartened I sit back in my chair to peruse my environment. I’m seated in a favorite Cafe. Conversation’s flow freely here among the clicking of Lap Tops and clatter of coffee machines. It’s a place of comfort and inspiration. And yet, I’m still stuck! Eventually, my eyes are drawn to a chalked Black Board sign that reads – “Coffee doesn’t ask silly questions – Coffee Understands”

How often I sought the comfort of coffee, and the atmosphere that goes with it. But I now see that it’s not the false comfort of coffee nor the people that I hanker after but of the presence of God. For He alone is the Vision for my Business.

Click Here For Your Free and without obligation FREE INTRODUCTORY CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING SESSION. You will be required to fill in a short form.

The True Value Of Talents & Gifts In The Christian Church

A ‘Talent’ was a measure of worth in New Testament times. Their intrinsic value was based upon the fact they were made of either Gold or Silver.

They were used to purchase goods and services, in the same way use coins today.

 As New Testament Believers we each have been given value and worth in our God given Gifts and Talent, as a means of ‘purchasing’ as it were, the Kingdom of Heaven. It takes time and money to Evangelise and to build churches and to train Leaders.

We must be diligent to seek out those who have a passion to train and mentor future leaders, Creative Artists, Singers, Financiers, Entrepreneurs and Ministries.

We need Talent Spotters and opportunities to train talent.

There is so much Gold in ‘them-there-Hills” (our churches and house groups) and it’s up to each one of us to Mine it and use it.

Please read Matthew 25:14

Read Also Latest Blog on Talents http://christianlifecoach-peterjfoster.org/2014/05/06/how-to-develop-life-coaching-in-your-church/

Click Here For Your Free and without obligation FREE INTRODUCTORY ‘Developing Gifts and Talents in your Church’ CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING SESSION. You will be required to fill in a short form.

I welcome enquiries from UK and Worldwide.

Marketing your Christian Business

If you are a Christian in business, any type of business, you are actually in the ‘Marketing Business.’ No matter what is the nature of the business, be it Graphic Design, Estate Agency, Ministry Work, I.T., Business Start-up’s, Consultancy or ‘Handy Man’; you can’t get away with the fact that your primary activity is Marketing.

Without effective Marketing you are ‘up a creek and without a paddle!’ You are tossed to a fro by every wind of market conditions and are unable to make wise choices.

Marketing is not about ‘chance’ but a planned and sustained effort to connect your well defined target audience with your product offering.

I find a useful starting point is to describe, in a paragraph, your defined target market (your customers); who they are; what they want and how to reach them.

For example, my own marketing statement reads:

“I work with Christians, passionate to see God’s call and purpose upon their lives fulfilled; and who want to express their gifts and talents profitably; and to see their own lives and the lives of others prosper for The Kingdom.” 

You may prefer the ‘Elevator Pitch’ approach where you have 30 – 60 seconds (the time it takes you to go up a floor or two in an Elevator) to describe to someone what you do and why you should be chosen to do it.

In order to attract the target market’s attention, you must interrogate your product or offering to determine its USP (Unique Selling Proposition). For example: is your offering the cheapest on the market? Is it the most accessible? Or the only one endorsed? Or is it the only one with a money back guarantee?

If your product or offering has no discernible benefits then you will have to invent them.

Competition for products and services has never been so fierce. As Christians we need to be as wise as Serpents in taking advantage of every conceivable opportunity to ‘flag up’ our products and services.

And as a Christian Business Life Coach I am passonate about seeing you succeed!

I would like to offer you a FREE and without Obligation Marketing Coaching Session. You’ll be amazed at the difference someone looking in on your Business, with experience, can make.

Click Here For Your Free and without obligation FREE INTRODUCTORY  ‘Marketing Your Christian Business’ CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING SESSION.You will be required to fill in a short form. 

I welcome enquiries from UK and Worldwide.

Author of Picture

Henripontes

Fight The Good Fight of Faith

Just as soon as you determine in your heart to pursue a goal, a vision or a plan for your life, you will be challenged! The bigger the plan, the greater the resistance. You’re going to need faith to put up a good fight!

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The Bible talks much about pursuing goals. In Philippians 3:14 we are exulted to “Press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Now you see why the enemy of our soul is out to thwart God’s plans for your life! He really does not want you to prosper! Neither does he want you to use your faith in expanding your gifts and talents!

So how do we arm ourselves for the battle ahead. And how do we keep motivated in ‘pressing towards the goal’ – the goal God has given us?

1. The first action point is to be found in the above quoted Scripture verse. Prior to ‘pressing toward the Goal’ we are advised to “let go of those things behind.” This will mean many things to many people, but it could include for example: Regrets, disappointments, previous missed opportunities, failures, broken relationships etc…

Also, forgive yourself for falling for Satan’s accusations and forgive others for their sins against you. And don’t forget: God has given you a vision to fulfill – it is yours and yours alone! Others may not understand nor agree with your vision. But God does, and that’s all you will need to fight for your faith.

2. The second step is to become accountable to a prayer-partner, a church Leader or a Coach/Mentor – someone of strong faith. Instead of the Enemy seeing just little old you fighting to establish your God-given Goal, he will see two or more standing in agreement. The Bible says “Two are better than one..” (Eccl. 4:9) And if you include Jesus, that’s three against one! And…“A threefold cord is not quickly broken” Eccl. 4:12

3. Write the Vision. There is something very powerful about writing your intentions. Somehow it set’s in concrete your plans – especially if you read and reread the vision. It will give you a battle plan to refer back to, a statement of faith, and a strong  position you can throw at the Enemy!

Rehearsing you ‘Battle Plan’ will build faith and add weight to your determination. Go over it in your mind regularly.

4. Finally, get ready to celebrate your victory! Speak in terms of the battle is already won. In Christ Jesus the ‘enemy’ is defeated and God’s Kingdom is done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

If you would like to take advantage of a ‘Free Life Coaching’ Introductory Session; please Click Here.

Click Here For Your Free and without obligation FREE INTRODUCTORY CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING SESSION. You will be required to fill in a short form. 

Meanwhile please tell me your God-given vision or Goals. I would love the opportunity to stand in agreement that your Plans are made successful.

How To Promote a Successful Christian Ministry

photo: aimee daniells

When you’ve been blessed through a Christian Ministry, you just want to tell others about it; even Minister the very same thing. The word Ministry means ‘Giving people what you have been given.’

There are many Christians who have a creative streak – even Entrepreneurial – who would love to develop their talent and offer it as a full or part-time Ministry.
And why not? It is honoring to give people what has been given to you.

So how do you go about promoting your own Christian Ministry? Let me tell you how I have gone about it.

When I began my “Christian Life Coach” Ministry I prayed long and hard for an opportunity to present it to the Leadership of my church.

During that time the Lord took opportunity to ‘try my heart’ for any motives that were not of Him and for me to make it clear in my own mind what is the true Biblical basis for coaching within the Body of Christ.

When my opportunity came to present my Christian Ministry to the Leadership, it was as though the Lord had laid out a Red Carpet before me. Within a short time I had an enthusiastic thumbs-up!

But, it would have been wrong to expect the church to do all the promoting for me. I have a leading role in communicating the positive benefits of coaching through ‘Talks’, Seminars, Free Promotional offers and Inspirational articles.

Similarly it would have been wrong to confine my coaching ministry to my church only, but to think of reaching the wider church.

So how did I do it?

For the past 12 months I have been learning how to reach out to my potential Christian ‘market’ through Digital Media and conventional Media.
What follows is a brief summary of past, present and on-going marketing activity.

1. A Website presence is essential. Ensure you use ‘Key words’ in the title and text that people are searching for on ‘Google’. To discover what are the most popular words being searched for on your subject go to ‘Adwords Key Tool’.

2. Add a Blog to your website – either actually on your website or linked from your website to a social websites such as ‘WordPress’. This will help engage folk in your offering (as this, hopefully, is engaging you, my precious reader!)

3. Write about your subject from different angles and with different target markets in mind. So, for example you could write about those seeking Inner Healing; Relationship issues; Christian Gifts; Talents and career matters.

4. Again, ensure your Blog title is being well searched for by checking with ‘Adwords’ and then seeing how many ‘Google’ searches there are for your title and subject. If there is huge competition on Google you need to weigh up the chances of being seen

*5. Ensure your website is not only a static page because ‘Google’ will not rate it very highly (neither will the reader!). Include a number of pages with changing text. ‘Google’ like these more spontanious and continuously changing websites; another good reason for adding a Blog to your Website.

6. Social Media Marketing is a sometimes bewildering means of getting your message across – to potentially thousands of people. I personally like LinkedIn and Google+. They are fairly straight-forward and easy to understand. There are plenty of ‘How To…’ articles and You Tubes videos instructing you to become your own expert. Be patient and organized in your explorations and weigh carefully the potential benefits.

7. Please do not forget conventional marketing tools such as: Business Cards, Small A5 Leaflets, Letterhead paper, and small adverts in appropriate media. These do still attract attention! Even better. Seek an accomplished Designer to ‘hone’ your message to your potential target market.

8. More on general advertising: use sparingly and only with a ‘time-limited’ offer.

9. Meanwhile, make yourself accountability to a Coach, Church Leader or trusted friend with help keep you on-track with your promotional activities.

10. Practice ‘presenting’ your Christian Ministry to firstly yourself (in a mirror) then to others. Hone it down to it’s unique proposition. Focus on the benefits to the client and be sure you believe it yourself too!

You may be interested in reading my own so-called ‘Elevator Pitch’

“As a Life Coach… I work with Christians, passionate to see Gods calling and purpose for their lives fulfilled, and who want to express their gifts and talents profitably, and to see their own lives and the lives of others prosper for the Kingdom.”

Click Here For Your Free and without obligation FREE INTRODUCTORY  CHRISTIAN LIFE COACHING SESSION. You will be required to fill in a short form. 

I welcome enquiries from UK and Worldwide.