Back in the mid 2000s when the seeds of our present ministry were being sown, we would take pastors away to a place of beauty, enjoying lovely meals and wide ranging conversation at the table. I recall listening to one man’s story and his questioning aloud how anyone could respect him. Everyone in the room saw past his struggle to the strength, gifts, and beauty of his redeemed heart, and instead of losing their respect, his honesty increased their respect and trust. By God’s grace we’ve seen this happen repeatedly, facilitating an intentional environment, prayerfully attending to men’s hearts, and seeking the presence of Christ together.

In 2023, as I facilitated the pastoral search at Valley Springs Presbyterian, we noticed how The RightPath® assessment instruments maximize the efficacy of the hiring process.

Even when we travel, taking a break from everyday routines and work, we should be in a place of learning, growth, and restoration. In fact we would argue that being out of our normal role and crossing boundaries into the unfamiliar is a powerful combination in which to learn.

As most of us are still contemplating our hopes for the New Year, I offer some prompts and reflections that I hope will be of encouragement to you.

When we moved to Colorado to plant a church in Castle Rock we felt we were ready.

We’d had ten years’ experience as a pastor and spouse. Longer when we include our years in para-church ministries. We’d been assessed by Serge* and sent to spend a season as missionaries in Ireland. And a wonderful season it was. But this continued a pattern and a process, of greater awareness of “our plans/God’s plans”…

We believe deeply that Christian leadership differs widely from what most of the leadership industry defines as good leadership….

This is why we use the RightPath® instruments for the accurate, scientific assessment they provide to help a team make progress in these areas and more.

It is also why a coach who will help you practice these things in the fabric of your world makes all the difference. As we like to say, you can’t simply read a book and sort it all out from there on your own.

Structure, Support and Challenge are domains that exist in tension with each other. Learning and growth occur when the tension is equal. But when the tension is unequal some form of struggle will result.

What we've learned, and what is contrary to our instincts in our culture, is that spiritual formation is a relational process. It takes others to help us see ourselves as we are, without blinders on: people who will pursue us and speak loving truth to us even putting our friendship at risk to do so.

…unable to give voice to what I’m discovering is a slumbering grief.

Life-transforming mentoring is rare...and it is a rare gift at a time of great need. What better time-investment for a senior leader than to pour the wisdom and experience of a lifetime into pastors who will serve the church in the coming decades. This deposit of wisdom, if given away generously, would greatly strengthen and enrich the church as well as offering a wise model for those in every calling.

Pastors often feel that there is no place they go where they are not expected to lead, have the answers, set the schedule, keep time, open in prayer, be the expert, always know the verse, and how to fix whatever is wrong. If it isn't actually expected of them, they often expect it of themselves. Pastors tell us it's exhausting.

Taking off from Dr. Jeffrey Auerbach's "Thirteen Reasons Therapists Make Great Coaches", I offer my own reflections on why theologically trained, experienced ministry practitioners have the foundation to be exceptional coaches, too.

One of the wise things Jesus did in training and spiritually forming the disciples was to make use of every life situation as a learning laboratory. He and his disciples lived life together virtually nonstop, for three years. Paul's practice was similar…

Most churches make the mistake of selecting as leaders the confident, the competent, and the successful. But what you most need in a leader is someone who has been broken by the knowledge of his or her sin, and even greater knowledge of Jesus' costly grace.

- Tim Keller

Provisions…from the word St. Paul uses to denote equipping, accompanying along the way…sending another along on their journey. It’s why we chose the name.