Saturday, April 21, 2018

Honoring Veterans, Gold Star Families and Military Chaplains

Photo with the Chaplain of the VFW Post,
Gene Arnold and his wife Darla.

Pnnsylvania, USA --- Chris and Carol Green gave the opening prayer for the Unity Breakfast at the Lemoyne VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) Post 7530. This event was convened to honor all Service Men/Women and Veterans. It was also a time for honoring Gold Star Mothers, Gold Star Families, and the legacy of The Four Chaplains.

The tradition of the Gold Star began during World War II. During the early days of the war, a blue star was hung in homes and businesses to represent each living active-duty member. As soldiers were killed in combat, the gold star was superimposed on the blue star to honor the person for their ultimate sacrifice. Eventually, the mothers of those fallen service members became known as Gold Star Mothers, and their families Gold Star Families.

The Four Chaplains were remembered for their selfless service and legacy. On Feb. 2, 1943 Reverend Fox, Rabbi Goode, Reverend Poling and Father Washington passed life’s ultimate test by giving up their life jackets on a sinking ship. In doing so, they became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness. Learn more about them from the website: www.fourchaplains.org.

The event was sponsored by the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship in America (PA Chapters), VFW Post 7530, and District 18 PA.

"We were honored and blessed to share the breakfast table and hear powerful stories from the Chaplain of the VFW Post, Gene Arnold and his wife Darla," Chris and Carol commented. "
Gene also leads the PA Chapters of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship in America."

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Milestone: Homeless Shelter's First 'Life Success' Coaches Certified



Pennsylvania, USA ---- Community CARE Coaches, Chris and Carol Green commissioned the Shalom House Women Shelter's first 'Life Success' Coaches through their CARE-Ready Coach Certificate Program.

"All of these women diligently worked to obtain this certificate," Chris and Carol Green shared. "The class consisted of 7 members of the Shalom House Women's shelter staff and one member of the Shalom House Board of Directors."

In 2018, the Shalom House Women's Shelter committed to having its entire staff become Life Success Coaches. With the official certificates conferred upon this first class in a ceremony at The Rock Church in Harrisburg, PA, Shalom House took a giant step toward fulfilling that goal.

As affiliate members and International Statesmen with iChange Nations™, Chris and Carol Green have partnered with United Graduate College and Seminary International to offer an accelerated, ministry-accredited life coaching certification program. Their collaborative purpose and mission has been, to offer leaders, working in under-served communities, high-quality tools that empower and equip them to be more effective in their humanitarian efforts.

Shalom House was established in 1986 by a Catholic nun, Sister Patricia Brennan. This urban-centered women's shelter had at the core of its mission, to get women and children, experiencing homelessness, off the streets and housed in a safe, home-like environment.  Yet, the heart of the mission was about much more – the more being to put an end to the cycle of homelessness in the lives of women and children in our community.

Shalom House continues to provide emergency, transitional and permanent housing for homeless women and children with nowhere else to go. For many years this was the primary mission, adding the provision of basic needs (assistance with a bed, food, clothing, and access to community programs and services to address the unique challenges a woman and children may be facing).

Today, however, Shalom House’s primary objective is transformational housing. For women and children experiencing homelessness, the goal is the gift of hope: hope for a transformed independent and sustainable life, which includes, but is not limited to a transition to stable housing.

"In conjunction with partner organizations," explains Executive Director Denise Britton, "we help residents achieve the six vital linchpins of life: family health, financial health, social health, spiritual health, physical health, and mental health.

"These partnerships allow “wrap around” services and support, personally designed for each woman and/or child. Lastly, partnerships leverage our results and dramatically improve what we can do alone."

A key to moving closer to more lives transformed to long term independence, was Shalom House's incorporation Chris and Carol Green's Life Coaching into their service delivery protocols.

"Life coaching casts a forward-looking vision," Britton contends. "The tone and character of conversations are respectful, regarding the client as being capable, resourceful, and whole. Coaches find that optimal solutions are within the clients themselves. The coach follows the client's agenda, helping her discover her own value, purpose and goals."

Life coaching is based on 1:1 relationship-building with an agreed upon a set of deliverables.  The primary deliverable is a life plan that the client can use to improve her life and achieve her long term goals.  The emphasis is on the coaching relationship, building trust, and opening doors of positive exploration for what a life can truly be … unencumbered and confident.

"The coaching component also incorporates a personal reflection for the coach / mentor, to assess any areas of needed growth in their own life," Britton concludes.  "For truly, no one can lead another further than their own level of growth and competency.  If transformation is the real objective; real plans for interrupting any barriers within the agency itself must be identified, and addressed."

For Shalom House, Life Coaching has been a critical component to removing barriers and opening the doors to transformation wider than ever before.

*****

As the world's leading producers of CARE-Ready Coaches™, Chris and Carol Green teach and train community, government and education leaders, human service organizers, business visionaries, and neighborhood dreamers how to be much more effective by embracing the principles of CARE (Compassionate Accountability with Respect and Empathy) in their professional and personal lives. They LISTEN to people, LIFT people and LAUNCH people. Then they equip and empower them to do the same for others.

Many coaching, mentoring and community outreach programs employ what is known as a "deficit model" of working with people. That's where you focus on the problems (deficits) of a person, and then apply a set of pre-determined, cookie cutter steps and treatments to address their issues. The deficit-based model is what many well-meaning Helpers use, but it rarely works long-term, leaving Helpers wondering why their clients fail to break the cycles of addiction and recidivism.

However, CARE-Ready Coaching™ mirrors the principles found in the proven, Best Practice strategies of Strength-based, Solution-focused models. CARE-Ready coaches are trained to connect with people in order to build a relationship/ partnership that empowers the client; thus allowing the client to discover the solutions that will work best for them.

Also, while many coaching programs focus on how to target potential high-paying affluent clients, and high-paying speaking opportunities, the Greens train, equip and empower Care-Ready Providers and Coaches™, who are willing to take on the most often overlooked people of society; those who live in under-served communities, who can least afford, but benefit the most from professional guidance.

If you want to be trained and empowered to coach or mentor with a purpose that's greater than yourself, EXPLORE THAT POSSIBILITY at https://www.fruitfullifelearningcommunity.org/care-ready-certification