1. Who are you certified through?
That’s a good question. The simple answer is, I’m not. When I began to form my coaching practice I looked into the different coach certification programs out there and considered the advantages of working with one of those organizations. The problem for me however was cost and time commitment. I simply did not have the money and I wanted to begin my practice sooner than these programs would take to complete. I found that coaching came naturally to me. I read all the books that most of these coach certification programs required in their training and I just started coaching. The more I coached the more I learned about coaching.
My assumption in starting the SCPCC was that were many pastors and church leaders out there like me who do not have the time or money required to be certified through some of the more popular coach training organizations. That’s why I designed SCPCC to be different than the rest.
2. What are your qualifications?
I have almost 30 years of pastoral ministry behind me. Of the five churches I’ve pastored, three were churches my wife and I planted. I have a double major from William Jessup University in Christian Leadership and Bible & Theology. Six years ago I founded SCP and have developed a successful, full-time coaching practice that has grown in clients and revenue each year since it’s launch.
3. What do you have to say about your competition?
They’re great! I tell those interested in certification that if they have the time and the money and like the program these organizations offer then go with them. I can almost guarantee that when you’re done you will be fully trained and ready to go. But if you don’t have the money, nor the time, and if you are looking for a coach certification program that is unique…you should consider SCPCC.
4. Ok, so what is unique about SCP Coach Certification?
a. Half the cost compared to most of the well-know coach certification organizations.
b. Half the time compared to most of the well-known coach certification programs.
c. Work at your own pace. The SPCCC adapts to your busy schedule, not the other way around.
d. One-on-one with me, Dave Jacobs. Think in terms of a 3 unit online college course with only two participants…you and me.
e. Upon completion you become part of a coaching cohort of men and women like yourself who have gone through SCPCC and now enjoy a coach-community for ongoing encouragement, ideas, referrals, etc.
f. No travel. Many of the more popular coach certification programs require occasional travel for weekend intensives.
g. Learn how I started with nothing and built a successful coaching practice.
h. A different philosophy of the small church. If those completing their certification go on to coach pastors and church leaders, there is about an 80% chance they will be coaching someone from a smaller church.
I’ve devoted the last 13 years of my life encouraging, accepting, valuing, resourcing and admiring pastors of smaller churches. I don’t have a problem with smaller churches. I don’t see them as something that inherently needs to be fixed. Although I have nothing against church growth or larger churches (I coach pastors of larger churches) my aim in coaching leaders of smaller churches is not to help them grow their church but to have the most healthy church possible. It is from this philosophy, particularly when working with a smaller church, that my coaching and coach training is built upon.
i. Soul-care. Since I value spiritual formation and try to pursue a more contemplative life, this focus naturally shows up in most everything I do…coaching and coach training is no exception.
Typically pastors lack a spiritual formation focus to their personal lives. Most pastors do not have a consistent and meaningful devotional life. Assuming that most of those who complete the SCPCC will be coaching pastors it only makes sense to me that the inner-life and soul-care be a context from which coach training and coaching occurs.
5. How long will SCPCC take?
That’s entirely up to you. SCPCC is a complete “work at your own pace” program. No deadlines.
6. What advantages are there of certification?
There are dozens of organizations providing coach certification. The truth is there is no government regulatory agency that sanctions or oversees coach certification. In the end, the true value of any coaching credential is measured by the training behind the credentialing and the participant’s ability to deliver meaningful, successful coaching to each and every pastor/leader served.
Having said all that, there were a couple of times when I started out and was contacted by someone shopping around for a coach and I could tell that not being a “certified” coach was a deal-breaker for them and they went to someone who was. For some, a very few, certification makes the coach seem to them more legitimate. But once again, the value of certification is not the certificate but the quality of training that went into being certified.
7. Do I need certification to start a coaching practice?
No. Do you need training? Yes…especially if you want to be a good coach.
8. Upon completion will you send referrals my way?
I won’t guarantee that. What I will guarantee is that you will be trained on how to get your coaching practice off the ground and ways to find clients.
9. Does certification mean endorsement?
For liability reasons completion of the SCPCC will not mean endorsement by me (Dave Jacobs) or Small Church Pastor of which SCPCC is a branch. Certification through SCPCC only means you have fulfilled all the training and requirements necessary to be awarded certification.
10. Speaking of money, what is the cost?
$700.00
11. How do I get started?
Make sure you’ve read every page on my site. Next, fill out and send in the application form. When accepted into the SCP Coach Certification program you will be contacted by mail. After acceptance, you will be invoiced for your tuition fee. Send in your tuition fee and a date will be selected for our orientation call.
Have another question? Contact me at: scpcoaching@gmail.com