Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
CHRISTIAN LEADERS FACING CHALLENGES
Christian leaders today find themselves in unprecedented times with increasing turmoils across our world, fractured and polarized political systems, increasing moral decline, paralyzed relationships, and the rapid speed of technology and rate of change. Our local communities and churches face these challenges daily, and the pressures are intense. In the midst of this difficult landscape, churches and christian leaders are called to share the gospel of our Lord Jesus, and provide a place for saints to continue to learn, grow, and live out their individual calling that Jesus has on their lives.
PASTORS WITH MINIMAL SUPPORT
Pastors are called to lead these churches forward, and the obstacles they face are many and increasing: people/leader conflict, lack of shared vision, internal power struggles, difficulty implementing change, sporadic parishioner involvement, difficulty with delegating and developing others, burn out, and a number of other issues. Many pastors don't have any significant amount of formal leadership training to call upon. Their leadership development is almost exclusively “on-the-job trial by fire” and more often than not, pastors do not have a safe place to share their heart and struggles as they are in the midst of these fires.
POWER OF THE PASTOR, COACH, AND HOLY SPIRIT
This is where coaching fits in. A good coach quickly builds a trusting relationship and a safe environment for the pastor and asks the right questions at the right time. This will propel the pastor to action and resolution generally targeted on some type of issue noted above. Good coaches don't just give advice and provide answers to solve tactical problems. They probe, challenge and stimulate, guide and provide safe accountability. An effective Christian coach has one additional huge resource, the help of the Holy Spirit of God. Working together, the coach, pastor, and the Holy Spirit can bring insight, clarity, and personal ownership to the issues at hand. Ultimately, whatever the client and coach work on, the goal is to develop, transform, propel the pastor and church forward, bring about abundant life (John 10:10), and further the Kingdom of Christ.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10