Consulting is not new. Even I have a whole section on my website dedicated to consulting (hey, I'm available!). What is new is the spree of folks in the professional church ministry world launching online consulting services, a.k.a. e-coaching:
Carlos Whittaker, Director of Service Programming at Buckhead Church in Atlanta, is offering a four-month coaching network on "Closing The Gap in your creative ministry/business."
Tony Morgan, former Chief Strategic Officer at NewSpring Church in South Carolina, is offering a six-month coaching network for church strategists and leaders.
Kem Meyer, Communications Director at Granger Community Church, is offering an eight six-month coaching network for Church Communications Strategy.
Tim Stevens, Executive Pastor at Granger Community Church, is offering an eight six-month coaching network for executive pastors.
OK I know what you're thinking: Online education isn't new! The University of Phoenix has been trying to sell us on this for years, right? Well, it's true that e-learning has been around for a while, but I would argue that this latest wave is something unique and seems to be driven by two things:
1) higher bandwidth and new videoconferencing technology — services such as Skype and Tokbox, coupled with broadband Internet pipelines, are really making e-coaching networks like these possible for the first time. And because the tools are virtually free, the opportunity is open for anyone with something genuinely unique to teach and an audience that's willing to pay to learn.
2) personalities — When Spencer Burke launched ETREK back in 2003, it was a pretty revolutionary idea in online education, utilizing Web, conference calls, and in-person theological training. But it was probably a little bit ahead of its time, and it was branded somewhat anonymously and ambiguously, rather than splashing Spencer's name and face all over it. This is in contrast to the new breed of e-coaching networks, which are built primarily on the leader's expertise/experience, reputation, and personal brand equity.
Are you someone who's got something unique to share? My wife is a clinical sexologist, and she offers e-coaching for sexual health questions, issues, and concerns. If you have a similar unique area of expertise, e-coaching could be a great outlet for you to pass that gift on to others and make some income at the same time.
Are you someone who's looking to learn? Watch for more and more e-learning opportunities as experts get their consulting mojo going online via videoconferencing and coaching networks like the examples above.
Or maybe you're someone who'll just sit on the sidelines and watch how things develop. I guess that's where I'm at this point, and I think it's going to be fun to see what happens over the coming months.
UPDATE 8/8/2009: Thanks to John Saddington for correcting some of the figures above in this post (I've made the edits) and also sharing his own insights and thoughts on e-coaching in his own great blog post.
Add Nelson Searcy to the list.
Honesty Everybody making money off of their faith and perceived success is getting mildly annoying. As believers aren't we supposed to "Give it away to keep it"? Can you imagine the apostles charging other people to COACH/DISCIPLE them in how to better reach people for Christ.
I like what lifechurch.tv is doing - give it away - give it away - give it away.
It's time to go back to the OPENSOURCE sharing of our faith.
Posted by: Eric Jaffe | August 07, 2009 at 07:54 PM
Eric, thanks for your comments. It's certainly encouraging to see generous people who would sponsor and underwrite the costs associated with being able to give valuable goods away.
There is also another principle of fair wages in 1 Timothy 5:17-18, "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, 'Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,' and 'The worker deserves his wages.'"
Posted by: djchuang | August 15, 2009 at 11:57 AM