The Ripple Effect of Coaching
Pictured: The 2022 Coach Approach Skills Training class for UMCRM leaders, Glisson Camp & Retreat Center (GA), with instructors Rev. Chris Holmes and George Howard.
In the fall of 2022, something powerful began at Camp Glisson in the North Georgia Conference. Twenty leaders from United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (UMCRM), representing ten Annual Conferences across the country, gathered for a transformative experience—Coach Approach Skills Training (CAST) with the Holmes Coaching Group. This training was funded by a grant written and additionally supported by North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries, to include participation by trainees (60% of participants) from UMCRM beyond North Georgia. The grant request was strengthened by its inclusion of a broad and geographically-diverse cross section of Camp & Retreat Ministry leaders. The grant was made possible by a generous donor who believes deeply in the broad impact UMCRM can make through equipping and empowering camp ministry professionals.
Co-active coaching, the foundation of CAST, offers a powerful shift in perspective. It’s not about giving advice—it’s about helping someone unlock their own wisdom, become more present, and take courageous steps toward growth. The coaching skill set couldn’t be more aligned with the heartbeat of camp and retreat ministry, where transformation begins in relationships and is nurtured in community.
“Coaching training was very impactful and is something I will continue to practice with summer staff,” shared Rachel McGuire, Assistant Director of Village & Sparrowood at Glisson (N.GA). “It has especially changed the way I speak to folks when they bring up problems—I find myself being more curious and asking more questions rather than trying to solve things for them. I’m grateful to be given the gift of a new mindset!”
Thanks to the initial investment in UMCRM coaches, the impact of the training didn’t stop with those 20 trainees. It’s been rippling outward ever since.
Small peer practice triads formed during the course have continued meeting regularly, honing their skills through collaborative coaching. Some participants have gone on to pursue a professional credential with the International Coaching Federation. One team of UMCRM coaches hosts periodic refresher training sessions to review the CAST course content and provide opportunities for peers to share what they are learning through coaching practice. Twelve UMCRM coaches shared their services by offering 3 free hour-long coaching sessions to attendees of the biannual UMCRM National Gathering in January 2025, donating more than 90 hours of coaching in support of fellow UMC camp and retreat ministry leaders. Each of those sessions carried forward the spirit and skills fostered by the original CAST class.
“The Coach Approach Skills Training is the #1 thing I’ve done to enhance a skill set I didn’t even realize I had,” said Suzanne Akins, Director of Camping & Retreats at Epworth by the Sea (South GA). “I use what I learned almost daily in my natural “habitat,” but I also use it professionally as I coach clients, staff, friends, mentees, etc., in working towards my certification.”
“CAST put words and structure to so much of the transformational leadership I've experienced in camp ministry in a way that I can better practice for myself, share with others, and translate to a variety of contexts.” –Cameron Jones, Director of Communications & Program Advancement, North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries.
As the ripple continues, what began as a donor-funded learning opportunity has quietly shaped the culture within the UMCRM network. By equipping trained coaches within Camp & Retreat Ministries, a general awareness of the benefits of coaching has begun to build, along with a culture that prioritizes mutual support, deep listening, curiosity, creative problem-solving, and more. The trained leaders are now supporting one another and their peers in richer, more intentional ways. They're coaching summer staff, guiding boards, mentoring new leaders, and cultivating spiritual and professional growth with renewed insight.
“The approach that each person is “creative, resourceful and whole” empowers my coaching process and has benefited the way I understand myself and others. It’s the human condition to say we want to do things (reach a goal, change a habit, etc.) but never get around to it. This style of coaching helps people to move through our obstacles and take the action God is calling us to.” –Jen Burch, Director of Communications & Community Engagement, UMCRM Association
The CAST training was a significant milestone in my professional journey. Before the training, I felt a calling towards a new career path, but was uncertain about what that meant. However, after the training and especially due to the coaching I received as a trainee, I experienced a renewed desire to help people in a different way. Equipped with tools and techniques from the Co-active Coaching model, I was able to build relationships and foster growth with various ministry leaders. Shortly after, I clearly understood my calling: I was meant to pursue a career in mental health counseling. I am currently enrolled in a program to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. The skills I acquired through the training have proven invaluable in my development as a future counselor. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! –Cat Holbert, former Executive Director of Camp & Retreat Ministries, Desert Southwest Conference
Because of one generous gift, a community of trained, compassionate leaders now brings this mindset to ministries across the country. And because of UMCRM’s wide network and collaborative spirit, that impact is multiplying—quietly and powerfully.
We at UMCRM are grateful for this ripple that has become a wave.