Prayer Coaching - Fall 2026: Reorienting You and Your Church Toward God

Life and ministry get busy.  The to-do list never seems to get completed.  And in the midst of that, our souls become depleted.  In our distracted world with the 24 hour news cycle, sport, social media, and texts, messages, and email, we know we need to take time with God. Yet, oftentimes when we pray, it simply feels like another thing to check off the list. 

The beautiful truth is that God wants so much more for us in our time with him.

Would you like to revitalize your own prayer connection and relationship with God to minister to your own soul?

Would you like to experience that renewal and be able to disciple others with how you’ve grown, creating a culture of prayer in your own congregation?

Do you long to build a life-giving church that grows healthy, spiritual, passionate followers of Jesus? 

Are you beginning to realize that church that is done on our own strength is missing the power of the Spirit?

Then the Prayer Coaching Cohort may be for you!

In the fall of 2026, two new cohorts will be offered to pastors, staff, church prayer leaders, and elders or deacons. These coaching groups will be offered:

Tuesday Group (on Zoom)

2:00-3:30 pm CST - Sept 1, 15, 29, Oct 13, 27, Nov 10, 24, Dec 8

Wednesday Group (on Zoom)

1:30-3:00 pm CST - Sept 2, 17, 29, Oct 14, 28, Nov 11, 25, Dec 9,   (Note: Sept 17 is a Thurs, moved for Classis meeting)

(Each group will be limited to 8 participants.)

Here is the registration form if you are interested in joining the coaching cohort.

If you have any questions, email Jon Hoekema at [email protected].

Here are some testimonials from previous cohort participants on their experience and the value of this prayer coaching opportunity.

Micah VanDyken, Palos Heights CRC, Palos Heights, IL

I really appreciated the heart posture this course reminded and invited me to in prayer, a posture of relationship, listening, waiting, and responding to who God is as seen in any passage of scripture. It helped me re-frame the goals and anxieties I have around future ministry and what success looks like.

Maria Bowater, Red Arrow Ministries, Paw Paw, MI 

The prayer cohort experience was such an encouragement - we did not simply talk about prayer, we prayed together. It was a blessing to humbly and honestly journey with others into what it means to seek God's face, not merely his Hand, and to present ourselves before him to be transformed in prayer. I am truly grateful for the material we worked through, the edifying conversation, and the godly men and women I was blessed to encounter on the way. May God continue to be glorified in this ministry as He refines us in prayer!

Daniel Bud, Craigmore CRC, Colorado Springs, CO

"I had an educational and inspiring experience during the 2026 Spring Prayer Coaching course. Pastor Jon Hoekema provided excellent leadership, along with thoughtful curriculum and resources that enriched our discussions and guided our prayers.

One of the greatest blessings of the course was its practicality and the significant amount of hands-on time we spent together in prayer - which seemed to make up the majority of our gatherings. It was not merely a class about prayer, but a meaningful fellowship with the Lord.

This experience has deeply strengthened and cemented in my life the understanding that prayer is, above all, a relationship with God. I am very grateful for this opportunity and highly encourage others to participate in future courses."

Gerrit Bomhof, retired pastor

As I examined my prayer life (I am 76 and a retired pastor) I concluded that it was mostly transactional. I desired God to bless my life, ministry, preaching, family, church and community. I can only be thankful for God's grace-ful answer to these prayers. Yet, I did not sense that I was in the presence of God, no matter what the situation. Intellectually I knew that prayer testified to a relationship with God, but this prayer cohort deepened my faith and profoundly touched my heart and soul.

Josiah Youngquist, Elsworth CRC, Elsworth, MI

You won’t regret investing time in this prayer coaching opportunity. Jon offers a fresh perspective on prayer, viewing it as a means to deepen your relationship with God. This is a  chance to expand your prayer vocabulary and grow in your prayer life.