If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
–Romans 12:18-19
Peace Advocates serving as coaches instruct, encourage, and advise one party to a conflict or dispute about the biblical principles of resolution and reconciliation, so he or she can go on their own to the other party or parties and pursue peace privately.
Coaches gather information about the situation, identify underlying interests, clarify issues and positions, confront constructively, discuss applicable Scriptures, provide encouragement and explore possible courses of action and outcomes. Peace Advocate coaches only work with one side in a conflict or dispute.
Choose Coaching if you want to take the initiative to work things out yourself directly with the other party or parties but need someone to help guide you by offering biblical instruction and encouragement.
Virtually every controversy is ended through negotiation in some form at some point. This being the case, it only makes sense to start the process of resolution and/or reconciliation with the parties talking directly with one another. Jesus strongly encouraged this during His Sermon on the Mount: 'Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court' Yet, this is often a difficult task for Christians when they don’t have the confidence to do so biblically or practically. This is where a coach can make all the difference.
Coaches are trained to approach conflicts and disputes from a biblical worldview and to help those involved understand and apply scriptural principles to both the issues and potential outcomes. Coaches know that disputes and conflicts belong to the parties involved and given the right circumstances and advice, they are best able to resolve them. For coaching to be effective, a party must be willing to do three things:
- To go to the other party or parties directly to work things out.
- To honestly acknowledge how they have contributed to the situation.
- To prayerfully consider and act on the instruction, encouragement, and advice offered by the coach.
NOTE: Coaching is not professional counseling. Coaching is generally a short-term, often informal engagement aimed at equipping the individual seeking help to navigate a specific controversy. Counseling is usually a longer term process aimed at addressing broader and deeper physiological, psychological, emotional or spiritual issues.