Stewardship Landing

WHO IS EXAGO?

VISION
The name of Exago Ministries was chosen from Biblical Greek, meaning "leadership." More specifically, it means "to lead forward while bringing others," which is what we do in leading kingdom workers to thrive in their focus. We are called by the Holy Spirit to address the needs of ministry

leaders in a fresh way: “Exago exists to equip Kingdom Workers to survive and thrive.”

TRaining
Bringing biblical and practical solutions to real life and ministry challenges.

COACHING
Holistic and Member Partnership Development Coaching helps Kingdom Workers actively apply what they are learning with real-world relevance.

CONSULTING
Serves missional organizational leadership seeking to overhaul their ministry culture and practices.

HOLISTIC COACHING
Strengths. Weaknesses.
Opportunities. Threats.

Abbreviation key:
KW = Kingdom Worker (missionaries, church planters, pastors, non-profit Christian org workers, etc.)

HC = Holistic Coaching (a blend of ministry guidance, counseling and life coaching, but focused on those working vocationally for the Great Commission).

STRENGTHS:

HC process is simple but profound in walking KWs through a short, mid, and long term process of personal growth.
KW’s praise HC as life-giving and transitional for them, their marriages, their family, and their ministry focus.
HC’s credibility opens up KWs to recognize parallel critical personal financial planning needs.

OPPORTUNITIES:

Many qualified coaches might be interested if offered some fair compensation.
Marketing is virtually untapped, but there are several avenues to pursue for growth.
Social Media is a seperate but additional path of awareness and growth to reach KWs seeking growth and maturity.

WEAKNESSES:

Exago currently lacks funds to attempt scaling it’s HC offerings.
Operationally there is a need for additional internal staff leadership, admin, and external coach recruitment and guidance.
HC current systems need to be refined and/or replaced to better connect KWs into HC.

THREATS:

There is often a silent pressure on KWs to overlook issues that could jeopardize themselves or their organization from appearing to be “perfect.”
A high % of ministry organizations prioritize organizational needs over personal needs, all the while believing everything is ok and that high turnover is normal. In some cases they could dissuade KWs from engaging with Holistic Coaching and see it as a threat to their desire for full organizational control.
HC needs a cost to the KW because of high value. Exago needs to carefully balance too low or too high of prices while being fair and strategic.

CORE QUESTIONS & SOLUTIONS

The Big Question
How can the body of Christ equip Great Commission workers to better survive and thrive, through providing an increased amount of Holistic Coaching to more Kingdom Workers?

The Need behind the question
There are many variables as to why Kingdom Workers leave ministry prematurely (including but not limited to burnout, financial problems, lack of self care, organizational burdens, marital/family stress, and more).
Exago’s various resources help address this, but particularly “Holistic Coaching” creates positive impact for the Great Commission and there is an opportunity to scale it. “HC” focuses on strengthening and equipping individual Kingdom Workers who are in - or headed to - the mission field. Exago is already successful in various ways, but currently lacks the ability to increase the HC offerings without greater financial resources to provide research and trying new systems for growth.

Relevant Background
Many “Kingdom Workers” tend to (or are actually instructed to) self-isolate while not having life giving relationships, and/or realistic schedules, that promotes health in their personal, family, and ministry lives. This often leads to burnout and quitting. Exago’s Holistic Coaching helps change that, by equipping “KW”s to have a healthy vision for life and ministry. This has been experienced globally, with a particular emphasis in the USA and South Africa. Yet to expand the reach and fruit of Holistic Coaching, it will require funding for scaling and operational changes.

Obstacles to consider from the perspective of kingdom workers:
- Many KWs are underpaid, and/or have erroneously learned to NOT invest in themselves, so there is a practical and a psychological challenge to consider.
- Making HC free undermines its value in the mind of the KW, yet charging too much prevents KWs from signing up. KWs need to put some skin in the game if they are going to value and implement Holistic Coaching. We need to strike a balance.
- Current KWs who are involved already with HC pay a variety of different costs depending on their income and country of origin (ranging from monthly fees of $25-$250). Further research and appropriate pricing is a must for moving forwarD

How can Exago bring more Holistic Coaching to more Kingdom Workers?
Summary Answer: Exago needs to increase it’s internal and external team and systems, while investigating and decreasing obstacles that prevent Kingdom Workers from engaging.

By increasing:
A. Internal Team: There is a need for operational and administrative staff that can develop this part of the ministry from proven concepts into a growing and sustainable blessing.
- Currently, staff size prevents growth as schedules and focus are already maxed out.
- Solution - Charitable giving via Exago Stewardship of $169k could provide an initial 12 months worth of expenses with 2 staff members who can serve fresh initiatives in growing the external team, system, and promotion to KWs. It could also help underwrite further capital campaign initiatives as we expand upon what we learn.

B. External Team: We need to find more qualified coaches that have ministry experience, plus gifting, plus time and energy to do the shepherding work of Holistic Coaching.
- Currently we repeatedly trip on the same hurdle of not having enough qualified volunteers, as most qualified “would be” coaches are dependent on their skill set as part of their livelihood.
- Solution - research and launch a beta program that offers some reimbursement to actual qualified coaches, so that Exago can increase its stable of gifted leaders while moving away from near total dependency on volunteers that stunts our growth..

CHANGING LIVES

HOW DOES EXAGO HOLISTIC COACHING BLESS KINGDOM WORKERS?

Sanctity - Most Kingdom Workers are used to being the one who does all the pouring of truth into the lives of others. Holistic Coaching allows them to be the one being blessed, guided, and encouraged in their value as a child of the King that just so happens to have a vocational ministry calling. These are NOT the same thing, and life giving reminders of that truth brings joy and empowerment.
Safety - whether real or perceived, Kingdom Workers often won’t dig deep regarding their own needs, partially out of self-preservation from a felt threat that they will be disqualified from ministry for not having all the answers and not being perfect. Having a 3rd party that cannot fire them, and who doesn’t report to their supervisor, frees them to be authentic about burdens and struggles without fear of reprisal.
Consistency - Holistic Coaching is not a flash event, as the genunine monthly interactions bless regularly.
Honesty - Having a coach focused on the personal NEEDS of a Kingdom Worker leads to trust and opportunities for greater depth in the individual, their marriage and family life, and of course in ministry focus.
Finances - Exago additionally offers those being coached the opportunity to interact with people and/or programs of expertise in the areas of:
- personal support raising (often the area of most felt need by missionaries globally)
- personal budgeting
- personal long-term financial planning in line with Proverbs 13:22

WHAT COULD PREVENT A KINGDOM WORKER FROM ENGAGING WITH HOLISTIC COACHING?

They might be in the minority and actually have healthy and life-giving relationships. Praise the Lord!

Though they might not be in a good place personally, they avoid deeper interactions because of their own unhealthy “messiah complex” that is undermining their work.
They may have learned the hard way that they are (temporarily) safer from hardship or judgement if they remain hidden or aloof about personal needs.
They perceive that they can't afford it (unlikely true).
Their ministry organization tells them to keep all personal or ministry problems in-house (any sort of external counseling or member care is seen as threat to institutional control).
They don’t understand it or have never heard of it.
Exago hasn’t scaled its ability to provide enough certified and gifted coaches without a dependency on volunteers.

*The Last two are foundational issues That we believe we can change with practical solutions

GIVING INVITATION

Partnership Opportunity
Seed funding desired: $169,000

Breakdown:
Direct Ministry:
In-Person Coaching/Training - South Africa...20k
KW Coaching Pay Underwriting...25k
KW Future Minded Expense Underwriting...4k
Kingdom "Benevolence" Seed Fund...5k
Retreat Space Seed Fund (Ohana)...5k

Operational Building:
Additional Staffing Funds...60k
Office / Hardware / Subscriptions...10k
Website / Graphics Development...5k
Exago Related Travel...10k
Capital Campaign Expenses...10k

Though we desire greater results, the sought-after funds should provide Exago with the opportunity to revise current systems and scale Holistic Coaching to serve at least a dozen additional Kingdom Workers, possibly more. The intended primary focus will be Kingdom Workers serving the Lord in the USA and South Africa.

Meanwhile, the process will provide Exago with an opportunity to better discover methodologies for an increase in future scaling and ministry to Kingdom Workers.

THE 5 BIG QUESTIONS

Mission
What is our Mission?
We equip Kingdom Workers around the world to not just survive in ministry, but also thrive. So many times Kingdom Workers leave the ministry not because they are no longer called, but because they burn out, can’t support their families financially, etc.

CUSTOMER
Who is our customer?
We serve Kingdom Workers which includes but is not limited to pastors, missionaries, camp directors, etc. Though english is our primary language, this ministry is not bound by nationality or geography. Much is done online and in person.

VALUE
What does the primary customer value?
Kingdom Workers value being effective in completing their personal or organizaitonal vision for the Great Commission. They are more likely to accomplish their vision when being blessed in a holistic way and equipped “as they are going” and operating out of the leading of the Holy Spirit as they use their gifts.

Result
What ARE THE resultS of kingdom workers engaging with HOlistic coaching?
-KWs are more likely to spiritually and emotionally survive any current crisis, not just in life but in ministry.
-KWs are more likely to thrive in healthy marriages and family life.
-KWs are more likely to have clarity on personal vision and discovering practical steps toward healthy change.
-KWs are more likely to make good personal and ministry financial choices that prepares for their future.

IMPACT
What is our plan?
In the short term, Exago seeks seed funding that will improve our ability to offer Holistic Coaching to another 12+ unique Kingdom Workers in South Africa and the USA, while we improve and modify internal operational systems. After reassessment of what we’ve learned, we have a long term goal of multiplying Holistic Coaching even further.

THANK YOU EXAGO STEWARDSHIP!