“Explore Getting Coaching,” a free tutorial for those interested in getting coaching, has been posted. The tutorial focuses on 4 questions:

1. What is coaching?
2. In coaching, who does what?
3. What could you work on with a coach?
4. Are you ready for coaching?

Eighteen members of Christian Academy in Japan’s school community gathered on December 5 to review the school’s improvement report. Participants included parents, students, staff, and administrators. After celebrating God’s blessings in terms of student learning, community, facilities, and program, participants worked in small groups to review sections of the school improvement report.

Close the Gap Now facilitated the meeting.

Nov. 27-29, over 800 Christian educators attended the ACSI International Christian Educator Conference in Hong Kong. Conference plenary speakers included Gary Chapman,  Bruce Lockerbie, Bridget Mary Aitchison, David Sun, and Phil Callaway.

Conference participants attended over 150 workshops, including 2 Close the Gap Now workshops:

• Ask Good Questions
• Assessment Helps Your Students Learn

The conference was held at International Christian School.

“10 Ways to Increase Biblical Perspective” by Michael Essenburg was recently published in CSI's Christian School Teacher. The article provides practical tips, including teaching vocabulary, asking open-ended questions, and using engaging instructional strategies.

At this morning's Connect2Grow gathering, cell church planters:

• Discussed how the house church model is a usable model for church multiplication.
• Explored using questions for ice breakers.
• Emphasized the importance of having cell/house church members relate to each other from the heart.
• Reflected on key questions like “Which groups in Japan have dynamics that are similar to cell/house churches?”
• Talked about ways to set goals and measure progress.

Connect2Empower is a network of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches.

At its meeting today, Christian Academy in Japan's board reflected on policy governance ends statements. For 90 minutes the board:

• Considered questions like "What's the significance of CAJ's primary end?"
• Connected ends and executive limitations.
• Explored which ends statements a given staff member focuses on.

Close the Gap Now facilitated the reflection.

At Connect2Coach's Nov. 13 meeting, JEMA members reflected on inquiry. Participants:

• Asked each other open-ended questions like "What 2 good things happened to in your ministry this month?"
• Documented their goals.
• Helped each other explore topic by saying, "Tell more about ___."
• Gave and received coaching.

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Coach is a network of JEMA members involved in coaching that connects to coach others.

"Steward the Mission God Has Given You" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in CSI's Leadership Insights. The article reminds the reader that while Christian education is about responding to crisis and the parable of the Good Samaritan, Christian education is more about stewarding the mission and the parable of the talents.

At today's Biblical perspective workshop, teachers at Christian Academy in Japan discussed key questions, including:

• How does assessment help students learn?
• What makes a good assessment good?
• What makes a good Biblical perspective lesson good?

Teachers then developed Biblical perspective assessments and lessons.

SEND Japan missionaries participated in a 1-day workshop on increasing self-management. During the workshop, participants completed a self-assessment, identified goals, brainstormed options for addressing the goals, developed action plans for achieving goals, and scheduled action steps.

Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now and Jon Winter of SEND Japan facilitated the workshop.

"Do Right Things, Then Do Things Right" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association. The article encourages readers to make sure they are work on the right thing before spending time on fin-tuning what they are working on.

"Help Your Students Make Connections Between What They Study and What the Bible Teaches" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in ACSI's World Report. The article describes a process teachers can use to identify the relevant Biblical principles they want students to connect to course content and skills.

Seniors at Christian Academy in Japan practiced their coaching skills during a 90-minute coach training. After watching demonstration of a coaching conversation, seniors reflected on what coaching is/isn't, considered the power of asking questions, changed closed questions into open-ended questions, and gave and received coaching.

"Use Assessment" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in CSI's Christian School Teacher.

Writes editor Dan Beerens, "Michael Essenburg suggests that good assessment methods help students to improve their ability to apply a Biblical perspective."

Today, members of the Japan Alliance Mission reviewed a draft of its purpose statement and objectives. (The draft was collaboratively developed in May 2008.) Mission members then reflected on the following question: What do you need to value in order to achieve your objectives and purpose?

Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now facilitated the planning sessions.

At Connect2Empower's Sept. 19 meeting, JEMA members from 5 missions focused on the purpose and structure of annual reviews. Participants:

• Used a set of questions to coach each other.
• Reflected on annual reviews, using questions like: How can annual reviews empower? What hinders your staff from being empowered by annual reviews?
• Talked through questions/issues raised by participants.

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Empower is a network of JEMA members tasked with professional development that connects to empower Christian leaders and organizations.

During two 90-minute workshops held today at Christian Academy in Japan, teachers identified Biblical principles and Biblical perspective questions. Teachers will use these principles and questions to design Biblical perspective lessons and assessments. Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now led the training.

"Focus on Your Mission" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in CSI's Leadership Insights. The article addresses the following question: To increasingly focus on your mission, what do you need to keep doing, start doing, and stop doing?

At this morning's Connect2Grow gathering, cell church planters:

• Discussed how to structure church activities in such a way that all members participate.
• Shared ministry challenges.
• Celebrated the news of a new cell church that will start on Sept. 6.

Connect2Grow a network of Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches, is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

August 22-24, the EurAsia Team of Christian Reformed World Missions worked together for 3 days in Manila on strategic planning, accountability and reporting, new ministry options, and team building.

Close the Gap Now provided team building activities based on the following:

• Connect, Don't Silo: Connect with others. Pursue God's calling—together.
• Reflact, Don't Act: Reflect, then act. Practice reflaction.
• Ask, Don't Tell: To provoke others to reflect, ask questions.

On August 18, 39 faculty members from Christian Academy in Japan and Kyoto International University Academy continued their efforts to connect Christian education philosophy, course content, and their students by participating in a Close the Gap Now workshop.

Michael Essenburg, workshop presenter, focused the participants on the following questions:

• What kind of people do you want your students to be?
• What do you want your students to understand?
• What Biblical principles do you want your students grounded in?
• What’s your vision?
• What’s the target? Is it worth it?

Said one participant, "When I saw the workshop questions ahead of time, I wondered how I would think through all of them. But as we went through the day, I found myself answering each question freely and authentically from my heart. I'm to excited start the year—because I have a vision of who I want my students to become in Christ."

"Want to Achieve Your Goals?" by Michael Essenburg was recently published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association. The article encourages the reader to pray, document goals, take action, and reflect on progress.

Cell church planters from 3 missions gathered at today's Connect2Grow meeting to encourage each other, reflect, share best practice, and get input on ministry challenges.

Connect2Grow, a network of JEMA members connecting to grow cell churches and house churches, is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

At Connect2Empower's May 30 meeting, JEMA members from 6 missions focused on the power of conversation. Participants:

• Used a set of questions to coach each other.
• Reflected on the power of conversation, using questions like: What do people in your mission talk about? What satisfies/concerns you about conversations with those in your mission? How do conversations help?
• Talked through questions/issues raised by participants.

Facilitated by Close the Gap Now, Connect2Empower is a network of JEMA members tasked with professional development that connects to empower Christian leaders and organizations.

“When You Ask a Question, What Do You Want Your Students to Learn?” by Michael Essenburg was published in CSI's Christian School Teacher.

“To Provoke Reflection, Ask Open-Ended Questions” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

On May 23 at SEND Center, 22 staff from 8 Christian organizations participated in a 6-hour coaching workshop. During the training, participants reflected on Christian coaching beliefs, identified their goals, watched coaching demonstrations, practiced their coaching skills, and finished the workshop by giving and receiving coaching.

May 19-20, members of the Japan Alliance Mission collaboratively focused on strategic planning by identifying the needs the mission wants to address, updating its purpose statement, and brainstorming key objectives for carrying out its purpose. Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now facilitated the planning sessions.

During April and May 2008, teachers at Christian Academy in Japan are focusing on how Christian education involves worldview education. Each week, the teachers read a section from Marck Eckel’s The Whole Truth and then discuss it on Tuesday afternoons. The discussions are facilitated by Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now.

During their discussions, teachers respond to the following:

1. Regarding providing worldview education, what helps/hinders you?
   
2. What helps your students understand that everyone has a worldview?
   
3. What key questions do you want your students to consider? Why?
   
4. A person’s worldview is connected to how s/he answers 1 or more of your key questions. How can you help your students understand this?
   
5. How does your Christian worldview affect your educational practice?
   
6. How can you increasingly target students understanding and then applying a Biblical perspective to course content and skills?

“Is it important for your students to apply a Biblical perspective to course content?” by Michael Essenburg was recently published in CSI's Nurturing Faith. The article asks the reader 6 questions about students applying a Biblical perspective.

“To Encourage and Empower Others, Listen” by Michael Essenburg was published in Japan Harvest, the quarterly magazine of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association.

“What Question Do You Want to Ask Your Students?" by Michael Essenburg was published in CSI's Christian School Teacher.

Today at Seisho Kirisuto Kyokai Tokyo Kyoukai, 13 participants completed day 1 of the 5-day Core Coaching Skills Certificate Program (CCSCP). Led by Keith Webb and Takeshi Takazawa, participants watched a coaching demonstration, reviewed and practiced listening skills, and learned the COACH model.

Roger Hederstedt, Sean Collier, and Michael Essenburg (Close the Gap Now) served as table coaches.

The Member Care Committee of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) met this afternoon. Committee members Paul Nethercott (TEAM), Mary Esther Penner (World Venture), Faith DeLaCour (Asian Access), and Michael Essenburg (Close the Gap Now) networked, reflected on the past year, and considered what to present at JEMA's annual meeting on Feb. 19.

Close the Gap Now, in collaboration with staff of Christian Academy in Japan, has developed a tool that teachers can use to reflect how they are helping students understanding and apply a Biblical perspective. The tool focuses on a unit plan and includes key questions:

• What are you excited about?
  
• How did you prepare your students for the assessment?
  
• What modifications will you make to your unit?

To see teacher reflections, please download:

• English 10, Kim Essenburg
  
• Social Studies 6, Anda Foxwell

In preparation for doing annual personnel conferences, 13 SEND International staff participated in a 4-hour DRAWLIFE Fundamentals workshop. Said one participant, “I’m prepared to do conferences better.” Added another, “As a result of this workshop, I value doing conferences more.”

During the Feb. 1 workshop, SEND staff:

• Used the DRAW inquiry process (Define • Respond • Analyze • What’s next).
  
• Enhanced their LIFE skills (Listening • Inquiry • Focusing • Encouragement).
  
• Explored 5 Christian beliefs about drawing out the blessings God has put in His people.
  
• Developed a list of hot tips for drawing out.

On January 31, several Japan Evangelical Missionary Association members interested in growing cell churches and houses churches attended Connect2Grow's first network meeting. During the meeting, participants discussed their visions and began the documentation of goals for cell/house churches.

Connect2Grow was created and is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

At Connect2Empower's January 24 meeting, JEMA members developed work-related debriefing tools. Participants:

• Discussed current practice.
  
• Learned about the DRAW inquiry process (Define • Respond • Analyze • What's next).
  
• Watched a video on Lencioni's 3 signs of a miserable job (anonymity • irrelevance • immeasurement).
  
• Used a template to begin development of a work-related debriefing tool.

Connect2Empower was created and is facilitated by Close the Gap Now.

Close the Gap Now and Transforming Teachers announce the completion of Biblical perspective teacher training standards. These standards target helping teachers help their K-12 students understand and then apply a Biblical perspective to what they study. Contributors to the standards include Christian educators living in Canada, Germany, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, the US, and South Africa.

Says Michael Essenburg of Close the Gap Now, "At Christian schools, we train teachers to help their students apply a Biblical perspective to course content. These standards, which will serve as the basis of a teacher training program, will help us provide teachers with challenging, coherent, relevant training."

Download: Biblical Perspective Teacher Training Standards

As part of team training, 16 YWAM Japan staff located in the Tokyo area participated in coach training. During the 6-hour coach training held January 3-4 at Tokyo Bible Church in Shin Koiwa, participants:

• Discussed Christian beliefs about empowering others, including the belief that God is at work in the heart of every believer.
  
• Considered questions like, “What can a question do better than a statement?”
  
• Enhanced their skills in listening, inquiring, focusing, and encouraging.
  
• Gave and received coaching.

Here’s what participants said about GROWLIFE Fundamentals coach training:

• I learned to encourage others better.
  
• Simple skills used intentionally to help others can make a big difference to someone.
  
• I enjoyed learning how to listen better and ask questions in a different way.

YWAM Japan focuses on training, evangelism (including church planting), and mercy ministries.