jim griffith
bio
Jim is the Founder of Griffith Coaching Network.
A veteran of 6 church plants, Jim focuses on assessing, training, and coaching new church starts. Since 1996 he’s assessed over 1900 church planting candidates, trained over 7,000 planters, and coached over 1500 projects in their efforts to reach the mission field around them. He works with over thirty (30) organizations.
Having conducted over 100 “autopsies” on failed new starts, led Jim to put together “The 10 Most Common Mistakes New Starts Make.”
His vast experiences and intuitive skills have contributed to Jim becoming the church leader's "paraclete;" a mantle he wears with infectious enthusiasm.
A graduate of The University of Florida and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Jim and his wife, Jan, have five children and reside in Centennial (Denver), Colorado.
my coaching philosophy
I started planting churches in 1978. While I had a few people to talk with about them, every church project I worked on, (five in total) left me wondering,
- “Am I doing this right?
- Is there anyone else who has done this?
- Isn’t there someone I could talk to?
- What if I mess up?”
And each time, I found my voice echoing off a wall. I felt, well quite honestly, alone---until 1991. I attended a church planter’s Boot Camp, and in the first session I wept as the director talked about the need to come alongside church planters; to give them counsel and strategies and an outside voice that could be trusted. All my emotions boiled to the surface over the next three days: elation, sorrow, excitement, resolve, information, and yes, a plan; and, as importantly, someone to talk to.
This quote from Bob Logan, the “godfather” of church coaching, says it best:
“I longed to have someone come alongside me as a Barnabas… someone who would listen to my dreams and visions... encourage and cheer me on... someone who would ask probing and powerful questions to sharpen my thinking... help me turn obstacles into opportunities... believe in me when it seemed like nobody else did... care about my family relationships... pray for me strategically and personally.”
In 1996 I decided to leave the local church and coach ministry leaders. I have made Bob’s words my own.
And, I’m proud to say I didn’t need to instill this ethic in any of my Associates. They too have traveled a similar path of ministry achievement, yet often alone. In fact, that’s one trait I look for in any good coach---someone who is able to say, “I have been in your shoes…and succeeded. Now let’s do it together!"
Our coaches will walk with you to achieve your dreams for ministry...by asking good questions, helping you think through strategic options, guiding you through the challenges that will come (and they will come!), and listening with you to God's voice for your ministry. You don't have to go it alone!
So, whether you are starting a new church or working to bring new vitality/vision to an existing one, a coaching relationship is one of the best investments you can make…Welcome to the Griffith Coaching Network, where:
- You are not alone.
- We offer no “boiler plate” solutions. Coaching is personal and customized.
- If we cannot serve you, we will point you to someone who can.
