TRANSFORMATIONAL MINISTRY COACHING
People often wonder what ministry coaching is. My close friend, Pastor Sam, captured it best:
"...someone who would listen, understand what I was going through, and guide me to take my eyes off the growing ministry or its problems, and turn my gaze back to Jesus."
We at Grats know the troubles, stresses, heartaches, fears, hurts, and even angers that can accompany ministry. We get it! And most of the time, we also have been given the wisdom to know what to do about it. (Hint: That last part of Pastor Sam's statement is ALWAYS the starting point!). This all is part of why we have been called to this work. And make no mistake - we have been called to this work of coaching pastors.
Having said all of that, can we address out of the gate one of the most common questions that ministers have in opposition to the work that we do:
“What can I get from coaching that I cannot get from calling pastor friends of mine?”
This was basically what one pastor said to me on a Meet and Greet call (a call designed for people interested in coaching with us, to explore it a little more). Already a little confused? Let us start this story from the beginning...
The pastor who asked the question above had been referred to us by one of our pastoral coaching clients. Our client had testified to his friend (the pastor who asked the question above) that our client's ministry and life had been wonderfully changed by the Lord through coaching. Based on that testimony from our client, his friend (the pastor who asked the question above) agreed to a Meet and Greet call with us. However, almost from the outset of that Meet and Greet call, it seemed that this pastor was clearly offended that he would even be considered for coaching. Why he chose to be on the call with us, we still have no idea.
We knew before starting this ministry that pastors would respond this way (being offended at the notion of coaching). It was our complaint to the Lord when He first called us to this ministry:
“They don’t want it, they’re too prideful for it, and they won’t pay for it.”
And He wanted us to rest our livelihood upon it?
And yet, we knew (and still know) that pastors desperately need it:
-
as decades of Barna numbers have shown (the church in America is in and has been, in steady decline for decades).
-
as decades of various denominational numbers have shown (the church in America is in and has been, in steady decline for decades).
-
as this article will show.
In fact, denominations are now trying to move to mandate some form of coaching among their pastors. The problem: the pastors continue to fight it and shoot it down.
(Sidenote: We agree with the pastors here as mandating coaching NEVER works. You can’t mandate salvation, spiritual growth, discipleship, or coaching – a form of discipleship. Ok, back to the story…)
We admit, we were very frustrated on the inside, that this pastor would come on a call to explore coaching, seemingly offended from the beginning... but we were not letting it show on the outside. We had a job to do. Besides, maybe we could help this pastor see the positive truths about coaching. And then the pastor flat out asked that question: “What can I get from coaching that I cannot get from calling pastor friends of mine?”
Seriously? Now we were struggling to keep our composure.
And then we felt like the Lord gave a brilliant (and VERY ACCURATE) response through us. We asked the pastor how many of those pastor friends has he actually called in the last 8 months. He said a few. We asked him how often he called them. He said a couple of times - total. We asked him what he and his pastor friends talked about. He said:
-
The design of their foyer.
-
How to fill out tax forms. (Don’t call a pastor about that – FYI.)
-
How to fill out W2 forms. (Or that.)
We told him that in coaching, we would drill down into his walk with the Lord – growing it and deepening it. We would drill into the vision for ministry that the Lord has given him for his church – discussing how to best implement it to drive success. We told him that we would tackle challenges together when they came up, and that the time to start coaching was NOT when you found yourself in the middle of big challenges. And finally, we told him that part of the power of coaching is the regular consistency of the conversations that happen - like clockwork. That consistency and that accountability is huge.
His response?
“What can I get from coaching that I cannot get from calling pastor friends of mine?”
Yes – he asked that question again!!!
We have found that when people repeat the same question in the face of already having been delivered a highly comprehensive answer, they either purposely did not listen to the answer and/or are ignoring wisdom and truth, so that they can maintain their predetermined standpoint/decision/will.
The phone call lasted a few more minutes and then it was done.
Yes, we had (for the most part) kept our composure all the way through… but we were so mad. What a waste of time. He agreed to a phone call with us for what… to argue with us about the validity of the ministry that God has given to us? Or to validate to us that he is a good pastor? Just like so many other pastors that we have encountered. So much pride… out of so much brokenness.
Clearly, the ministry of coaching pastors, is far more impactful than the quarterly call to a pastoral friend about filling out tax forms. But, in case that is still not totally apparent to you...
...Check out the testimonies below:
"For me, Ioannis’ coaching came at the right time in my professional and personal life where I needed some guidance and wisdom. Ioannis helps people get on board with what God is doing in their lives and he is good for the kingdom. With honesty and a passion for people to reach their God-given potential, Ioannis’ insights are too spiritual to ignore. I recommend him to any leader that needs a place to vision, grow and take the next steps in ministry and life."
Pastor Matt, PhD
“Ioannis met with me... at a time when I felt especially “stuck” as a pastor...
Ioannis has a unique way of asking questions and providing insight that helps get beyond the surface issues and more to the heart of the matter.
I was challenged by Ioannis in a good and much-needed way. Many Pastors isolate themselves because they don’t have someone to serve as a sounding board or to talk to who will provide constructive feedback. Ioannis understands the business and ministry side of things as he has experience with both. He is positive, Christ-centered, and highly motivational.”
Pastor Konrad
"I had an opportunity to begin some coaching sessions with Ioannis. I had received some coaching in the past, so I thought I had a decent idea of what was coming. However, God had some other plans in store. As we began our partnership, I really wanted to focus on the Mission and Vision Statement for our church. As we began to hammer out what that looked like, God began to reveal some different things in my life. As much as I wanted to get certain things accomplished, God used Ioannis to help me see some other areas that needed some more dire attention.
At that point in time, I had begun to experience some ministry burnout. I had discovered that I had checked out, lost hope, and was just simply going through the motions of ministry. Somehow, I was blinded to the reality that I was living in. I was having such a hard time finding our Vision and Mission Statement for the church because I wasn’t even aware of what my personal one was! This was hard. What led me to this place? How did I even get here? And how do I get out? Do I even want to get out?
But God…
God is so good. Through His patience and his love for me, along with the help and direction I was receiving from Ioannis, things slowly began to change. Sin of pride, unrest, and complacency were revealed to me. As I repented, God showed His grace to me and I began to listen to His voice more clearly. There were changes that needed to take place in my life that I wasn’t aware of. Through this coaching partnership, and more importantly, by Gods goodness, I was able to begin to make some of these changes.
I’m thankful for Ioannis and how God has used him in my life."
Pastor Dustin
"As someone who went into this craving unbiased, God-centered truth to be poured back into my life from someone who wasn't afraid to offend me or confront my thought processes when they were out of line with biblical truth - I could not be more grateful for my time in coaching with Ioannis. When I tell you that there were major changes before I even had my first "official" meeting with him - I mean it. In meeting with him for a brief introduction and kind of trial visit - he challenged me that from that point forward and prior to beginning the rest of our meetings, to begin every day in the Word FIRST before anything else and to establish a consistent Bible time with my children. These are things I was already doing - but unscheduled and where I could fit them in (less consistent with the kids' Bible time). I wasn't giving my first-fruits of my day and my time to Him. Within that week or two before our official first meeting I was praising God for the changes I was seeing in my home just from that bit of obedience to seek Him FIRST and consistently with my children. My children were having conversations about faith with me. My husband began praying over and with us as a family before he walked out the door to work (this was NEW and so beautiful). I saw that my willingness to be faithful and put God first led to a family that seemed to want to follow that example. All this after a brief conversation that challenged me to step up. I was praising God that even if this is all that came of these visits it was HUGE. But it wasn't all that came and it wasn't the only challenge presented to me in truth and love.
I was also in a place at that time of taking on a new leadership position unexpectedly and feeling unequipped yet also knowing that if God called me to it, it wasn't in my own power and will that this position would or should be led. I am called in obedience to God and to follow where He was/is leading me and His congregation. Ioannis helped me to process letting go of the feeling that I needed to be perfect and have everything just right and reminded me that I am a CONDUIT for Christ. That picture has stuck with me and helped me through many situations since in both ministry and personal life.
In fact, Ioannis is a beautiful picture of what it looks like to be a conduit for Christ. The way that he prayed over our conversations before we had them, discussed biblical truths and always pointed me back to Christ is something I am so grateful for. I was at a huge transition in my personal life at this time as well, choosing to step away from my career and steward my home, my family and my marriage well as I felt personally called and convicted. We had valuable conversations that sprung up from my own questions and desires to be a biblically grounded wife and mother and how to steward my family relationships and roles well. I have seen the fruit of those conversations and appreciate the willingness to speak God's truth into those conversations, not worldly opinions.
Coaching with Ioannis was such a blessing. His heart for honoring the Lord through this ministry is evident. His ability to speak TRUTH in love and with wisdom is a gift. When doing so he never makes you feel like he is standing against you or pointing a finger at you - but that he is coming along side you, reminding you that you have the ability to put on the full armour of God against the enemy and the lies that try to sneak their way into our thoughts and perceptions. I will be forever grateful for my time in coaching and wouldn't be surprised if I find myself back here in future stages of life."
Joanna - Worship Leader
Still need more? You can also read Pastor Tom's testimony on our Articles and Podcasts page (or just clink this link: "A Pastor's Coaching Testimony".)
Do you want to be the leader who transforms challenges into opportunities?
Do you want to be the leader that walks in full freedom; not subject to fear of any kind?
Do you want to be the leader whom God has called you to be?
Absolutely!
So, click the "Start Here" button below to book your free Initial Coaching Meeting with Grats!
Not ready yet to talk to us? Still needing to see more? No problem. We have volumes of free resources on our Articles and Podcasts page that we know will both challenge and bless you!
Here are three great starter articles:
-
What is Coaching?