Community Life Coaches Honored with Doctorate Degrees for Decade of Innovative Service

Chris and Carol Green were publicly confirmed and acknowledged for receiving Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Christian Leadership (Chris) and Humanities (Carol), which were officially conferred upon them back on February 1, 2016, by the chief chancellor of the United Graduate College and Seminary International (UGCSI).

This public acknowledgment took place during a special evening of honor by iChange Nations™ who hosted their latest Golden Rule Award Ceremony on April 23rd at the United States Capitol Hill, Washington DC in the Washington Court Hotel.

iChange Nations™ recognizes Distinguished Leaders and those who are already part of their International Alumni who are effectively changing their community and nations through their efforts.

This is a recognized Ministry Degree that was conferred in acknowledgment of 11+ years of successfully implementing a new urban church model that produced an effective, family-impacting ministry in south central Pennsylvania. This innovative urban ministry model facilitates personal and relational healing. This new model provided the necessary training and preparation that helps attendees, students and seekers become effective community ready-responders who rescue hearts and homes.

"Exactly one year prior, April 25, 2015, Chris' job with the state of Pennsylvania came to an end," explains Carol Green. "This brought us face to face with the next step in God's plan and purpose for sending us and our family to south central Pennsylvania."

Afterwards they began working on a Master Certification for Life Coaching and expanding their work beyond the walls of the local church. Their practicum work, for earning their certification, included 60 hours of coaching individuals, but they immediately went well beyond that by taking their coaching into an unemployment center and a women's shelter. This led to opened doors for them to speak in other churches and organizations, including their home city of St. Louis, MO.

They started a non-profit, Fruitful Life Network, Inc, back in 2004, but they revived it to encompass their life coaching work.

Now plans are on the table to launch an urban leadership initiative that will train others in life coaching and equip them to go into and help various community outreaches that are already established and positively impacting the urban community.

"We are honored by this acknowledgement and we appreciate the kind words that are spoken about us," says the now publicly confirmed, Drs. Chris and Carol Green, "It is another key that we have been given to unlock doors that had been previously closed to us. Now we can go further in our mission to transform the lives of people from devastation to destiny."

World Peace Ambassador, Dr. Clyde Rivers calls Chris and Carol Green leading skilled experts in rebuilding, restoring and renewing hearts and homes. The Green are certified master life coaches who founded the Fruitful Life Network, Inc. an innovative community care and coaching outreach. 

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Life Coach Nugget: Gift of Resilency

A Father's Day Video

I have some very fond memories with my dad. He was a fun-loving dad who always threw caution to the wind. It got him in trouble many times, but it also gave his children a sense of adventure and daring that proved to be very helpful for us when we found ourselves called in to the ministry.

My dad saw my love for sports and took me to my first baseball game. The St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Montreal Expos and Jose Cardenal hit a two run double in the seventh inning that gave them a 4-2 victory. I couldn’t believe I was actually there, in a 50,000 seat stadium, looking at the high tech scoreboard, the massive crowd, and experiencing all the sounds I always heard when I listened to games on the radio. I had become a devoted fan; and dad gave me a chance to experience the real thing; to actually see my heroes live and in person. I have cherished that memory all of my life. 

There were many other games in the years that followed. I especially loved the day I sat between my dad and his dad and watched Bob Gibson, my all time favorite Cardinal baseball player, pitch on Labor Day. I actually realized I was experiencing something very special that would never happen again; three generations, sitting together, enjoying our favorite sport.

Those were the times that established something in my heart that I have tried to give my children. There are once-in-a-life-time opportunities that come your way, and I try to open the door for them to experience some of them. Then there are some things you cannot wait for, because some memories you simply have to make.

Through the years, I hope my children have had special moments that they recall with the same kind of fondness and deep impacting love that I feel when I think back on special moments with my dad.

My dad didn’t always put his arms around my shoulder, or say 'I love you' in those moments. He wasn’t that kind of man. He gave us nicknames and he always told us he was proud of us. When I was struggling in arithmetic, he started calling me 'math major' and it built my confidence to try harder and I found success. I became a straight-A student in math.

My dad is not perfect. He had his issues with his children from time to time, like any father. I was sort of a middle child. He married my mom, who already had a precious little girl, and they had three sons before I came along. One son died while my mom was pregnant with me. Then they had two more children after me. 

There were many times when life was very hard. It was downright harsh and cruel. I was angry with him many times, mainly because I had no idea what it took to be the head of the household. I learned from his mistakes and failures, as well as his resiliency. And maybe that’s the greatest thing my dad gave us; resiliency.

Just like my dad’s journey, as a husband and father, life has been hard, sometimes harsh and downright cruel for me, but I learned from my dad how to get up and go to work every day, no matter how you feel. When I lost jobs, opportunities, homes, friends, and loved ones, I knew how to get up and keep going. Dad demonstrated to us that you should never give up, even after a failure. You never stop, no matter how you feel.

So in honor of my dad and ultimately, God, my heavenly Father, I wrote a song many years ago that expresses thanks. I gave it an informal title: Thank You Daddy.

I just want to share that song with you this week. 

The lyrics are:

There’s so much I take for granted, 

Like the rising of the sun

Every time I see the morning, 

Never thankful for the dawn

Like a father who’s always there, 

With the same things every day

So consistent and expected, 

Sometimes I forget to say

(Chorus)

Thank you daddy

For the blue that’s in the sky

Thank you daddy

For the light that’s in Your eye

Thank you daddy

For the life beat I’ve been handed

I get so busy

I'm taking you for granted

There’s so much you’re always doing, 

You watch my life and keep me safe

Sometimes you throw in extras, 

Giving me a little bit more grace

You take the time to listen, 

When all I bring are complaints

You carry me on your shoulders, 

And you sing to me in the rain

I can always recall 

The discipline you gave

All the nights you spent with me

And the path that you have paved

You’ll give more love tomorrow

Than all my yesterdays

So please forgive me daddy

I never take the time to say 

Thank you, thank you

For every single day

Thank you, thank you

For every breath I take

Thank you, thank you 

You made us sons and daughters

Thank you, thank you

Because you are our Father

Thank you

© Green, Christopher 2002