For Admitted Program Participants
The Mission of the Rural Church Initiative Coaching Program
Inspire is an executive coaching program designed especially for leaders of small churches. Its mission is to empower rural church leaders through the discovery of compelling ministry vision and the practical tools needed for sustainable impact in the community
Program Overview
The Inspire coaching program helps church leaders articulate a clear mission aligned with their church’s values and community needs. By setting goals through the INSPIRE ACTION framework, leaders can prioritize initiatives supporting the church's mission. Inspire also aids church leaders in developing strategic plans with clear objectives, action steps, timelines, and performance metrics to ensure accountability.
The coaching process enhances leadership skills, emotional intelligence, communication, and conflict resolution, empowering leaders to effectively guide their congregations. It fosters high-performing teams, navigates organizational changes, and addresses interpersonal conflicts. Coaching also helps leaders develop community outreach strategies, build partnerships, and prioritize self-care to prevent burnout.
By offering ongoing professional development, Inspire equips church leaders to stay current on best practices, enhancing their effectiveness and impact. Leveraging MGR Development's expertise in executive coaching and ministry, this program offers a unique opportunity to strengthen their professional skills while growing spiritually.
Are you interested? Want to learn more?
What Others are Saying About your Coach
I consider Rick's coaching to be one of the best investments I've made in my career. When I knew I would be transitioning jobs, I reached out to Rick to guide me through what I anticipated would be a unique and challenging time in my professional journey. Rick made it clear from the start that his role was to help me uncover and refine my own ideas, and he excelled at helping me identify the key questions I needed to ask. His storytelling, along with his skill in balancing analogies and practical advice, made his coaching both accessible and impactful. I highly recommend Rick's coaching to leaders at any level, especially those like myself, who may have been uncertain about the value of coaching—it's definitely worth exploring.
D.J. Iverson
Lead Pastor
Lighthouse Christian Church - Oceanside CA
Lead Minister Coaching Clients from 2025
"Coaching really allowed both my wife and I an opportunity to share concerns without fear and have someone who understands ministry and has done it themself listen to us and understand what we are talking about. It is a huge comfort and encouragement just to have someone who loves the Lord and loves the church but also understands challenges of ministry who will listen to you and be a sounding board."
"My coach's questions really served to help me focus on determining goals with our congregation and moving on those. We are currently in the process of gathering feedback from hopefully every member of the congregation to assess strengths, weaknesses, and needs so that we can choose measurable goals for the near future."
"It opened up and clarified vision and direction for my walk of faith and my work in the church."
“I felt highly honored and cared for. Coaching helped me hear my heart, clarify vision, and affirm my calling.”
Learn More
About Coaching
What is executive coaching and how will it benefit church leaders?
Executive coaching is a professional development process where a coach works one-on-one with a leader or executive to enhance their leadership skills, performance, and overall effectiveness. This personalized coaching typically involves identifying the client’s strengths and areas for improvement, setting specific goals, and developing actionable strategies to achieve those goals. Through regular sessions, the coach provides feedback, support, and accountability, helping the executive navigate challenges, improve decision-making, and cultivate skills such as emotional intelligence, communication, and strategic thinking. The ultimate aim of executive coaching is to empower leaders to reach their full potential and drive their organizations toward success.
These same standards and methods can be applied to church leaders. Coaching is not advising, rather it is a practice that employs a reframing process using active inquiry to help clients seek answers for themselves. When clients identify a way forward for themselves they internalize and activate the solutions more effectively.
ICF Standards
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) is dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by establishing and maintaining high standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. The key principles and ethical guidelines of the ICF are encapsulated in their Code of Ethics and Core Values. Here are the main principles:
1. ICF Core Values
Integrity: Coaches must uphold honesty and strong moral principles in all interactions.
Excellence: Continuous improvement and striving for the highest quality in coaching practices.
Collaboration: Promoting a culture of partnership and cooperation within the coaching community.
Respect: Valuing each individual's uniqueness and fostering an inclusive environment.
2. Ethical Standards
Responsibility to Client: This includes explaining the coaching process, maintaining confidentiality, and creating clear agreements on roles and responsibilities. Coaches must also manage conflicts of interest and respect the right of clients to terminate the coaching relationship at any time.
Responsibility to Practice and Performance: Adhering to the ICF Code of Ethics, seeking continuous personal and professional development, and managing any potential conflicts of interest.
Responsibility to Professionalism: Coaches must accurately represent their qualifications and experience, and communicate the value and nature of coaching truthfully.
About Your Coach
Rick Gibson is the founder of MGR Development, a firm that specializes in coaching senior executives on strategy and communication. Rick is a certified executive coach who helps senior executives build sustainable personal and professional lives. He has a 27-year career at Pepperdine University, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer, Vice President for Church Relations, and Senior Vice Chancellor. Before Pepperdine, Rick was Associate Minister for eleven years at the Mission Viejo Church of Christ in South Orange County, California.
Rick has been active in the community, including roles as president of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles and a member of the Board of Governors for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves on the Board of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles Foundation and will be its president in 2027-28. Additionally, he is a trustee for Heritage21, a non-profit aiding declining churches.
Endorsements
Having served as a professional successfully working within not-for-profit organizations and for-profit enterprises for over 50 years, it has been my privilege to know and have worked with Rick Gibson in volunteer leadership roles for more than half of those years.
These experiences have included key leadership roles in Rotary International — locally and globally — as well as Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Netzel Grigsby Associates, a Los Angeles based company that provides expert counsel in fundraising, planning, staffing and training.
To every endeavor Rick brings honor, creativity, patience, and skill. In short, he’s a winner as an individual and professional.
Paul Netzel
Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Netzel Grigsby Associates
Chair, Rotary International Foundation 2017-2018
***
Every president or senior executive officer should have a colleague with a deep understanding of what the leader hopes to communicate and how the message can best be delivered and success achieved. I had the privilege of serving as a president/CEO for 19 years and I can scarcely imagine enjoying my work, much less doing it well, without Rick Gibson's presence helping me think through strategy, priorities, mission applications and substance. He never pressed himself on a situation or topic, but it was clear he was always ready to lend a hand and some carefully framed thoughts.
I am glad he plans to serve others as he served me so loyally during my presidency. He was a trusted ally and he has the ability to fill the same role for you. His gifts and skills are deep and wide, earnest and sincere.
Andrew K. Benton
President Emeritus
Pepperdine University
About the Grant
How is it possible to provide this resource at no cost to the congregation or participating minister?
Pepperdine University has received a $7.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Ministry in Rural Areas and Small Towns Initiative. The funding will support Pepperdine’s “Empower and Equip” program, which aims to strengthen leadership and ministries of Churches of Christ in rural areas and small towns across the U.S. The program will offer leadership training, resources, collaboration opportunities, and innovative solutions to enhance rural ministry vitality.
Mike Cope, Director of Ministry Outreach at Pepperdine, will lead the initiative, which also includes establishing ten regional hub partnerships. One of these hubs will be at York University, utilizing the network of heritage universities to provide targeted training and support for local ministry leaders and lay members. This collaboration underscores Pepperdine’s commitment to reinvigorating ministry efforts in these vital communities.