Are you stuck?
Are you lacking resources?
Has the urgent taken over the important?
“We help you own your story so that you can lead with clarity.”
Pastor
Ministry Coach
Certified Church Consultant
Jeff Martin
Whether you’ve been serving for just a few years or for decades, the weight of ministry is real. Too many leaders find themselves driven by the urgent rather than guided by the important. Meetings, crises, and deadlines crowd out time for reflection, planning, and intentional leadership. Gospel Anchored Coaching and Consulting helps you slow down, refocus on what matters to you most, and lead from a place of clarity and conviction. I’d love to hear your story, learn what you’re navigating, and explore how we might partner together in the work God has entrusted to you.
We are here to help you with:
Hiring a ministry coach is easy.
Step One: Schedule your free 60-minute consultation.
Step Two: Receive a customized proposal tailored to your unique context.
Step Three: Begin getting the support, encouragement, and equipping you and your team need.
What We Offer
One-on-One Coaching
Through personal assessments, goal-setting, and personalized coaching, we help you lead with clarity, while staying firmly rooted in the gospel, so you can make a lasting impact. Together we develop a professional and personal plan of action that addresses the issues that are most important to you and your ministry.
Preaching Lab Training Cohort
The Preaching Lab is a guided, practical training experience. Designed specifically for busy lay church leaders, participants will learn how to move from biblical exegesis to homiletics, with an emphasis on Christ-centered preaching that connects with today’s audiences.
The Leadership Workshop Series
Church leadership today comes with unprecedented challenges—and opportunities. From shifting cultural attitudes to financial pressures and personal burnout, ministry demands wisdom, resilience, and fresh approaches. These workshops equip pastors and leadership teams with practical strategies to navigate today’s realities, strengthen their churches, and lead with clarity and hope for the future.
Strategic Planning
Our five-phase process helps your church clarify vision, align resources, and develop a repeatable, actionable plan that leads to lasting impact. You and your leaders will be equipped to use this process for years to come.
Sabbatical Coaching
We offer a structured coaching journey tailored to both the pastor and their spouse, with a focus on relational renewal, spiritual restoration, and sustainable rhythms for ministry and life.
Our Approach
Applying the Gospel
True leadership begins with our identity in Christ. Whether providing individual leader coaching or organizational consulting, we prioritize helping you apply the gospel to your own heart—addressing not just organizational strategy but also heart-level motivations.
Caring for Leaders, Not Just Institutions
Healthy ministries start with healthy leaders. Our goal is to support you relationally and spiritually. One of our unique aspects is providing mentoring for spouses, who are oftentimes overlooked and under supported.
Creating Feedback-Rich Cultures
Long-term growth demands honest feedback. We help you and your ministry build systems and rhythms of feedback—both formal and informal—that foster accountability, learning, and relational health.
Customizing Services
We reject a one-size-fits-all approach. Every engagement begins with listening carefully to your story and context. We tailor services to your specific needs and goals, and adapt as necessary throughout the process.
Equipping for Lasting Change
Our aim is empowerment, not dependency. We equip you with sustainable tools and processes—whether strategic planning, preaching development, or team training—that you can maintain independently for lasting impact.
Jeff Martin grew up in northern New Jersey and studied Marketing at Miami University (OH), where his life was redirected by God through the ministry of Cru. He joined Cru staff, met his wife Mary, and spent 23 years with the ministry, including seven years as a missionary in Bulgaria. After earning an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Jeff served as Cru’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Director before becoming lead pastor of Rock Creek Church (MD) in 2013.
In 2025, driven by his passion for developing leaders, Jeff intentionally transitioned out of his role as lead pastor, stepping into a part-time teaching pastor position. This strategic move created space for him to invest more fully in equipping and supporting other ministry leaders through Gospel Anchored.
With over 25 years of leadership and coaching experience, Jeff has led multi-ethnic teams and churches and is a certified church consultant. He is passionate about helping ministry leaders navigate the complexities of leading others—and themselves.
Jeff is energized by sports, laughter, deep conversations, and boating on the Chesapeake Bay.
A little about us…
Originally from Arlington, VA, Mary Martin earned a Social Work degree from James Madison University. She served with Cru for 23 years in various roles, including campus ministry and mentoring younger staff women. At church, she helped launch the Titus 2 ministry, which supports the elder team, mentors women, and encourages spiritual multiplication.
She loves coming alongside the wives of ministry leaders and giving feedback on church health assessments. Mary is known for her encouragement, wisdom, and attentive listening.
Her current hobbies include Les Mills workouts, baking, going to Broadway shows, and hosting monthly scrapbooking workshops. Mary loves opening her home for guests and spending time with her amazing husband of 34+ years, three children (plus two sons-in-law), and first grandchild Asher!
What Others Are Saying
“Jeff's coaching comes from a wealth of experience as a practitioner and ministry coach. He helped me clarify vision & coached our team through a robust strategic planning process that is bearing fruit. I cannot recommend Jeff more highly as a personal and ministry team coach!"
Ed Choy
Senior Pastor, Restoration Church
“Jeff’s coaching, insights, and attentiveness helped make our sabbatical incredibly fruitful. As a coach, Jeff strikes that rare balance between leadership development, soul care, and transparency. I have already highly recommended Jeff and Mary to others for sabbatical coaching.”
Adam Wilson
Pastor of Discipleship and Implementation, Redemption City Church
Let’s Talk!
I’d love the opportunity to hear your story and see how we might be able to partner together to serve you and your leadership.