I work with girls all day, encouraging, guiding and being inspired as their lives are transformed for the better. So why, oh why, you may ask, would I start a girls cell group? A space to do much of what I do all day, but a free one?
Jesus.
Is the simple answer. I absolutely love my job and feel that this is in every way what God intended for me to do with my days, however as much as love work – sometimes, even a job you love, can become, work. Part of why I created my company was birthed from the PURE JOY I received from previous experience of journeying with girls on Stellenbosch campus in a cell-group leader capacity. I found immense joy in preparing for my then 4 girls cell groups that I ran; praying for each for the girls, searching the Word for inspiration on how we can conduct our daily lives & ultimately walking a road with these beautiful souls. And what I found was that by me investing time in each of them that they flourished.
A girl believed in is a girl who gets to know more of the Fathers’ heart!
When I launched my company I had a choice as to whether to include a Christian ethos or not. This was hard as I found that God had breathed this passion in me, but ultimately as I reflected, I felt that God was okay with me living out the desire He placed in me, without making my company a strictly “Christian” life coaching business. And it has worked. I seem to have found a balance between keeping Christian-eez out of my sessions unless girls share a passion for Christ too.
But in saying this, I have found that the more self-help type work I do, the more I seem to miss the power of the Cross, in changing us. My story to self-love is full of mistakes, tears, self searching & lots of self affirmations and renewing of my mind but none of this could have been without my deep knowing that my life has a purpose, that God is bigger than all this and that He created me with huge intention.
And so my heart for starting a girls group was two fold –
- I long to be reminded (as I share) of the power of the Cross and
2. This world can be lonely place and thus a space for girls to feel safe, challenged and inspired to live a life that Christ died for, lights me up inside
x C
hi Caitlyn, this speaks to me loudly as I am in the middle of completing my life coaching diploma at Strong Foundation (which is a Christian based life coaching institution) and it has been an incredible Journey but ONLY because we know that God is in it, and now starting my own life coaching business thinking about how to include it or not…. but as you mention I think you can find the right balance to be able to open up and speak about God when he prompts us and not scare Non Christians away at the same time. Good luck with the Cell that does sound like a fantastic idea! Im leaving my permanent job this week to start the coaching full time and Im sur it will also get very lonely, hence having those good networks to tap into regularly being KEY! All the best! xx Inge Madden
Inge, so exciting to hear that you are going on your own. SO clearly remember your coaching sessions & LOVE that you have got to a place where you are able to fully pursue this dream! Well done <3 And yes it is a tough decision to make but manageable either way xx
Your presence in my life as a cell leader still impacts me to this day. I love your outlook on life and your positivity and I love how it stems from overcoming obstacles that so many girls face.
Thank u Shan. You are such a gorgeous girl – inside & out, and I loved having you in my cell group back then 🙂
Hey Caitlyn.
Really cool to read this and am also inspired to see your progress! After our little facebook chat, i think it was 2 years ago, i am now done with my Results coaching Course plus coaches toolkit! Loved it! Am busy now getting my coaching going and also kind of having the same dilemma…not that its really a dilemna, but how to incorporate the 2 – not because I feel people need to be preached at but because so much of who I am and the victory i have had in life is because of what God has done in me -: I get the bit about sharing when the oppurtunity presents itself. Im more thinking about when i share, blog, market myself etc…and wanting to also bring in some spiritual inspiration in that regard….any thoughts of how this could play out are welcome!
Deb – How INCREDIBLE. GO YOU!! So happy to hear you have pursued this path – and yay, Results is just the best!! It’s a tough one as to how you choose to approach this. I’ve marketed myself just a s life coach but I blog as a woman of God and so clients often mention to me that they also love Jesus and I then know that I can bring God into sessions. Perhaps an option? xx
Thanks Kit. That’s actually very useful cos that’s what I had in mind…
I’ll let you know how the journey is going.
Thanks for being a great inspiration!