CoachNet in Transition

Bob Logan

The founder and president of CoachNet International Ministries - known and appreciated by Christian leaders for its hands-on training and consulting ministries - on some transitions and the next key step in his jouney.

I founded CoachNet with the vision of empowering Christian leaders to start, grow, and multiply healthy churches.  We’ve come a long way and seen many successes since then.  We’ve expanded into new countries and had impact on leaders and churches worldwide. 

Recently I’ve sensed the Lord desiring to continue that work and take it in new directions.  As a result, we are now undergoing some transitions—the natural result of healthy growth.  Essentially, CoachNet is multiplying into two parts:  CoachNet North America and CoachNet International. 

Tom Clegg will be leading CoachNet North America and taking on my responsibilities there.  CoachNet North America will consist of the U.S. and Canada.  (Due to language considerations, Mexico will be considered part of CoachNet International.)  I’ll still be strategically involved with CoachNet North America, but not with day-to-day operations. 

CoachNet International Ministries will be under the direction of Colin Noyes.  We’re going to seek to develop C2M2 internationally, unfolding more work toward multiplication movements.  CoachNet International will also continue to develop publications, translations, training materials, etc.    

As for me, I look forward to continued strategic involvement with CoachNet worldwide and the continuation of my coaching practice, as well as new ministry opportunities developing missional leaders in house church settings. 

Ten years ago over dinner, Dennis and Holly McCartin asked me, "Bob, what will you do when you retire?"  Without hesitation, I responded, "Plant a church."  Although I had not consciously considered the question before, it just felt right.  And although Janet and I had not discussed this possibility either, my response did not seem to come as a surprise to her.  "Plant a church" seemed like a possible word from the Lord. 

The time wasn’t right ten years ago, but increasingly the Lord has been putting a burden on my heart, as well as on my wife’s heart, for more hands-on ministry together.  Through my coaching and consulting work, I’ve seen firsthand the need for incarnational, missional ministry that raises and multiplies leaders for healthy church growth and multiplication.  Through my ministry at Hope International Bible Fellowship, my appetite has been whet for meaningful work among different ethnic groups in the Los Angeles area. 

And yet even with our rewarding ministry experiences, Janet and I found ourselves continuing to wait on the Lord’s timing.  Then recently I had a conversation with my coach, Colin Noyes, when he made a comment to me that stuck:  “It seems like your original vision has been largely accomplished. My question for you is, ‘What’s next?’”  About a week later, a participant at a training event said the exact same sentence.  It felt like a prophetic word, and those comments led into some serious reflection and prayer.  Since that time, others in the past few months have also been asking me, “Bob, what’s next?”

My time of prayer and reflection resulted in a strategic vision for starting a multiplying network of missional, incarnational house churches that focuses on raising up the next generation of leaders from various ethnic groups.  When I look around at the world, I see the vastly untapped potential of reproduction at the micro level.  Grassroots reproduction of leaders looks the same all over the world.  Living out Christ in our communities, utilizing our gifts to serve others, experiencing God in prayer, growing in obedience and in the Spirit.  The replication of these smaller units provides leadership for the whole: to fuel and multiply churches. 

What I’ve been sensing more and more along with Janet is the need to be a bridge to help facilitate the things God’s been doing around the world here in the west.  I’ve been sensing a personal call to move toward apostolic ministry that raises and multiplies leaders—helping to lead a movement that advances God’s kingdom.   

What I envision emerging is not a church per se, but a church network.  A missional, incarnational association of churches to accommodate the mission of raising and multiplying leaders from different ethnic groups.   

As I’ve prayed, reflected, and consulted with others, I feel that this comes from my heart and what I’m called to do.  What I’ve talked about here is consonant with the seashore vision God gave me so many years ago—it is simply the next step along the way for me.  So please join me in prayer for this new venture, as well as in celebrating what God has done and continues to do through CoachNet.

Internet: www.coachnet.org