Coaching

Pastoral Coaching

All Pastors have drivers.  Some drivers come from life experience, even life trauma.  Some drivers come from expectations of others.  Some actually come from Jesus.  Jesus was a Pastor.  He was more of course, much more.  His pastoral function taught us a lot. 

Lots of Pastors have a murky view of the variance between pastoral counseling and pastoral coaching.  Pastoral counseling is a degree based skill set that in fact very few Pastors have.  Based on  perceptions and misplaced internal and external expectations, however, many pastors work feverishly to engage I counseling they are not equipped to do, producing pressure on several fronts.  Referral is a healthy pastoral practice, both under used and underappreciated.  The premium support Pastors can give therapeutically is often helping people to a trusted therapist who is skilled, gifted and loves Jesus.   Engaging a sister or brother in a therapeutic environment and remaining in the healthy role of Pastor is responsible and effective. 

What‘s the distinction then of coaching?  Pastoral coaching is the practice of inviting people into a conversation with Jesus that gives people the frame to see, hear, and be led by Him.  Pastoral coaching is transformational and Jesus is the transformer.  Pastoral coaching seeks to hear the heart of the sister or brother and the heart of Jesus.  The gift comes when the voice that is heard is Jesus.   He says…. Listen….

Be loved….

Follow…..

Trust….

Pastoral coaching opens people to the voice of Jesus.  Seemingly simple……but  the gift of a lifetime once people hear. Pastoral coaching is conduit work. Good preaching is coaching….it’s all about the connection…..all about the contact…all about the one clear, precise, loving, engaging voice.  Coaching is about clearing out the room.  It’s about making way for the King of hearts to come on in.  It’s about Jesus setting people free.  Pastoral coaching is about knowing the transformer and desperately wanting to work for Him knowing that He will change lives.  Pastoral coaching is watching Jesus give people their lives back and watching him breathe life into many for the very first time. 

Once you understand pastoral coaching, think about the impact Jesus will begin to have through you.  Think about the way you will treasure staff.  Think about the opportunities when seemingly mundane meetings will become points of intersection with Jesus.  Think about the transformation work Jesus will do.  Get ready to be amazed.