In the Spring of 2017, Charlene and Rod Giles set out to create the kind of marriage enrichment program they hoped to one day find, after nearly 28 years working in couples ministry together in their home church. As a couple, they taught, counseled and coached other couples in their Christian discipleship work. Utilizing their favorite purpose discovery workbook as a launchpad, the work was fast and furious in an effort to keep up with God as he poured into them and onto paper the material that would eventually become the curriculum for LifeQuest Couples Coaching.
Because of their previous experience in church ministry and with couples, they came to understand that God had uniquely prepared them for this effort. They quickly pulled together a pilot small group of couples that using materials they developed just the week before. Since that time the curriculum has been updated twice, with small changes to improve the overall experience. The basic format has stayed relatively stable from the start. The Giles’ have led five groups since then, and now rely on other trained coach couples to lead groups from many other churches.
Because groups are launched every spring and fall semester, individual couples and area church leaders can participate and begin to build their own LifeQuest Couples ministry for little investment. For smaller churches, LifeQuest Couples Coaching is the heart of their marriage ministry. In larger churches, LQCC can be just one of the offerings.
The next step in ministry development is the launch of training for new Associates, those couples who are prepared to lead the LifeQuest Couples Coaching ministry in their own churches and communities, wherever they may be. The Giles’ know that not every ministry setting will look quite the same. Associates are free to customize the program to fit their congregations and locations.
Other supporting components of the LQCC ministry include:
- Coach/facilitator training for laity and professional staff.
- LQCC Ministry leadership training for both laity and pastoral staff.
- Supervision calls for coach couples as they lead LQCC Home Groups.
- An Information packed web site including monthly blogs and frequent updates of information.
- A Coach/Associate portal on the website for updated group handouts and schedule templates.
- A quarterly newsletter for coaches, alumni, financial partners, church staff coordinators and others interested in the ministry.
- The website features online registration for upcoming groups. Groups are normally scheduled every spring and fall semester.
- During this next year we will continue to pursue grant and foundation sources of funding to assist us in duplicating the LifeQuest Couples Coaching ministry model in other locations.
- We are launching a ministry leadership training program in 2020 using conference calls. These new “Associates” will be prepared to lead similar LifeQuest ministries outside the Tulsa area. This training will be suitable for both laity and pastoral staff, professional counselors and life coaches who work with couples.
- A new presentation entitled “Covenant Marriage – Light in a Darkening Culture” is now available for scheduling. Our culture, and even the Federal Government, is redefining what marriage is. We believe these concepts are not just for marrieds. As Christians, we need to understand the profound purpose of covenant marriage for marriage partners and the Church as a body. With funding, we will make this presentation into a video that can be downloaded from our web site.
- We connect with mission-based organizations to explore ways they can work more effectively with married couples in mission together. Missions-minded churches will find LQCC another tool to support successful mission work.
- We now provide private couples coaching to couples who wish greater confidentiality, professional credentials, and personal attention.
Summary
LifeQuest Couples Coaching is a focused small group discipleship experience for married or engaged couples. It provides local churches with initial training and on-going support for leadership partners, enriched content through multiple channels of communication. A skilled team of professionals in coaching, counseling, ministry development, media production, financial management of ministry funds, and legal support comes together to create a unique ministry experience for churches. Congregations with limited resources are now able to deliver a powerful Christian marriage enrichment ministry to their church. It appeals to multiple generations within their congregations and develops a leadership base of mature Christian couples who know their unique gifts and purpose for the Kingdom of God and how they can best serve. Participants also come to see their spouses as unique gifts from God with a Unique Design for His purpose. Married couples learn to live life with new joy and a stronger sense of team.
Unleashing purpose…together!
