You’ve probably heard before that what you do the easiest and with the least effort is what you are gifted in, but for some people, identifying their gift can be a process. Debra Bell,
“When I first started the coaching business it was at the advice of my therapist,” she said. “I had been in group therapy for a while and he noticed how I interacted with the others in the group.” Debra would ask members in the group probing questions which helped them begin to process things for themselves, but helping people become aware of what is transpiring in their life is not new to her. She remembers how people would visit her office to ask questions and sometimes to ask for advice and prayer. “Out of that, I found myself more and more taking on that mentor role with people.”
One of Debra’s goals, when she takes on a mentee, is focusing on what the person needs. “I think it is important if you are seeking a mentor that you come with an idea of what that looks like,” she said. “I don’t want to lay out something for you and that is not what you want or need.” In addition to one-on-one coaching and leadership development, Debra felt called to add retreats to her business. After attending three prayer retreats, she said God began to speak to her about the process of what happens in retreats, and at the end of 2015, she began to put the vision in place.“Rest and Redirection Retreats are designed as a spiritual retreat for women who want to connect with God and reposition themselves for purpose,” she said. She does this by putting women in small groups so that they can hear God clearly.
In addition to being a business owner, Debra is a minister at The Church Without Walls, and works at Houston Baptist University (HBU) as the Coordinator of Student Work Study and Internships in the Career and Calling office. She started working at HBU in November 2016, and in January 2017, she began to recruit students to join her discipleship group, an extension of KALEO at HBU. Courtni Hatton, a recent graduate of HBU, found a supportive community through the discipleship group. “It helps you grow as a person and in your faith because you can dive in and have a good understanding of the word,” Courtni said. “Having accountability partners lets you know that there are people surrounding you that love you and care about you, which improves your self-esteem.”
Throughout all of her endeavors, the underlying element of what Debra does is the same. However, she knows it can be difficult for some people to identify their passion especially if they are skilled at many things.
Debra is currently enrolled in the Master of Science in Management and Entrepreneurship program at HBU. She started the program in Fall 2018 and will complete the degree in August.
If you would like to connect with her, please visit her website https://www.askp3coaching.org
Photo Credit: Debra Bell
