Striking Gold
The book Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching by Tom Camacho contains frequent historical stories about people who struck gold, and after reading this book, I feel like I could add my name to the list. The book provides a philosophy and framework for healthy Leadership Coaching, which is helpful, but my ‘Eureka’ moments were the direct connection to my NPO, and the personal encouragement I received.
Philosophy and Framework: I have had limited and less than positive experiences with coaching. The one coach I enlisted had an agenda, and was interested in leading me to conclusions, rather than asking questions to help me discover a path for myself. While I knew that was not what healthy coaching was about, those few sessions caused me to be guarded against the idea of receiving, or even providing, “official coaching”.
Mining for Gold is filled with Biblical passages and current examples that point to what heathy leadership coaching should look like. In reading it I was reminded that coaching leadership is not like a CEO driving an organization to produce their own desired results, but is “much more relational, intimate, and patient. The pace is slower and more relaxed”. (Camacho, 31) The framework for spiritual coaching leadership is not about a coach managing to a pre-determined outcome, but it takes a journey through 1. Deep listening; 2. Asking great questions; 3. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit, and 4. Encouraging the person being coached to determine the right next steps (Camacho, 59-60).
In short, leadership coaching is relational and transformational; not mechanistic and transactional. It is the kind of leadership Jesus exhibited, and reflects the type of leader I would have liked to work for as a younger man, and that I would like to be, now.
Connection to my NPO: My research has to do with how churches can nurture an environment that welcomes Gen Z into leadership growth and true partnership. While I am still in the “problem” phase of the NPO and am a long way from finding a solution, my instinct tells me there will be relational answers when attempting to transform the culture of a local church to be hospitable to emerging Gen Z leaders.
Mining for Gold highlights the need for relational answers when seeking to empower younger spiritual leaders. Camacho writes: “There is a rising generation of leaders who want more. They not only want to participate in the important things God is doing locally and around the world; they want to thrive in every dimension of their lives. They want healthy bodies, strong marriages, and great families while they seek to thrive in their work. I think this is a very positive development. I dream of an army of coaching leaders dedicating themselves to raising up a new generation of thriving leaders.” (Camacho, 39)
My dream for my NPO is local churches shaping cultures that make it possible for Gen Z leaders to thrive in every area of their lives. Coaching leadership seems like an effective part of the path to get there.
Personal Encouragement: Gen Z leaders are not the only ones who are hungry to thrive. I have embraced leadership patterns that have led to a less-than-thriving personal life. As I am well into my “third quarter” of ministry leadership, I am interested in discovering new ways to engage what Jesus promised: Abundant life!
I found Mining for Gold at an important time: Shortly after the start of each calendar year, I go away for a prayer retreat where, among other activities, I listen to the Lord about my personal priorities for the year. I read this book during my retreat and was reminded that I am at my best when I spend 80% of my time on my “sweet spot”, which is where passions, wiring and fruit intersect (Camacho, chapter 10). As I plan for 2023, and beyond, I would do well to heed that advice.
Finally, in chapter 11, Camacho reminds the reader that the way of the cross—suffering—refines us. In the last three years I have gone through the most difficult season of my ministry life, and this book challenged me that instead of ignoring or running away from the realities I have been facing, I am being invited into processing what I have learned from those things. Growth most often happens in the hardest parts of life, and I would do well to embrace and apply those lessons learned from my pain as I move forward. Receiving coaching can help me do that, and offering leadership coaching can be a way to help others use their suffering to grow as well.
About the Author
Tim Clark
I'm on a lifelong journey of discovering the person God has created me to be and aligning that with the purpose God has created me for. I've been pressing hard after Jesus for 40 years, and I currently serve Him as the lead pastor of vision and voice at The Church On The Way in Los Angeles. I live with my wife and 3 kids in Burbank California.9 responses to “Striking Gold”
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Hi Tim, I sort of wonder if I purposefully search for my “sweet spot.” Maybe unknowingly God brings me to places where people and I intersect. I will have to be more attentive in the future. I sort have operated under the thinking that “coincidence is when God chooses to be anonymous.” Thus, I figure that those “coachees” who come across my path are there by design. Wondering if I need to be more purposeful. Shalom…Russ
Right? It’s a dance between growing from what comes our way as providence and purposefully pursuing opportunities. Perhaps there is a way to merge the two thoughts in ways that are not competing, but complementary.
Tim, I also thought a alot about the 80/20 rule throughout this book. In fact, for fun I made an excel spreadsheet to look at where my hours were going each week and I have some adjustments to make. It also makes sense of why I feel fueled and passionate at times and why I feel drained or zapped at others. Tom mentions a great idea that I’ve heard Andy Stanley say, “What fuels one, drains another.” How some people love numbers, event planning and administration I will never understand, but I know people who feel the same about research, reading, and teaching! Great posts!
I’m with you, Adam. I’ve never met a spreadsheet that I liked. Big picture drives me, detail drains me (so formatting for Turabian is not my favorite part of this process). I know we can’t always do what we want to do, but I spend too much time I could be in my sweet spot getting pulled into things that don’t help me make my best contribution. Determining when that happens (like you did with the spreadsheet) is wise; I’m interested in finding out how you used your observations to make changes.
I had two conversations today with two pastors about that 80/20 rule. Camacho’s “sweet spot” discussion stuck with me and carried into those two meetings. Even while I had Cicero’s response to Maximus’s question in Gladiator running in the back of my mind (Russell Crowe’s Maximus asks Cicero if he found it hard to do his duty, and Cicero responds, “Sometimes I do what I want to do, but the rest of the time I do what I have to.”). On the other subject — your NPO — I’d love to hear more about what you find along the way as you unpack what “hospitable” looks like in the local church when it comes to equipping the next generation (Gen Z) for leadership. I wonder if there is a “hospitality” metric somewhere in there, sort of like how Camacho described what a thriving leader looks like.
That’s a helpful thought: A hospitality metric. At this point in my research on developing Gen Z leaders I’m starting to realize that the problem isn’t the development path or curriculum as much as it’s the fact that many church cultures are not welcoming to Gen Z where they are at. So why would a potential rising leader want to be developed as a leader in a place that shares none of their values and doesn’t act like they like them? Hospitality (a welcoming of a stranger) is key when hoping to engage a generation that may to some feel “strange”.
I’m struck by your emphasis on coaching as a relational endeavor. You’re right that it should be a personalized experience, helping you “discover a path for yourself”. Not having a lot of experience with coaching, I’m curious how the experience would be affected by knowing the coach vs. working with a coach who doesn’t know you personally. Perhaps there would be advantages and disadvantages to each option?
This is a really powerful question, Kim. I have a pretty deep bench of ministry and professional relationships, and my coaching, counseling and spiritual direction has always come from those I know. I strongly believe in relational ministry and have pushed back against professionalizing the ministry… but I do wonder if there is a place for a more detached approach with coaching. There are certainly pros and cons and I need to make some effort to understand why a “not known professional” might contribute something different than a known friend.
It is fascinating when you link Camacho’s writing with your NPO, Tim! When you intend to welcome Gen Z in leadership growth and true partnership within your NPO, I think you have the vision to look inside Gen Z and that there is gold that God has instilled in them. What an inclusive and constructive view. You are such a visionary church leader!
I pray for you to support you in addressing difficult times in your ministry life during these three years. I’m sure God the Great Shepherd continues to accompany you faithfully. He is exploring the golden potential inside you to bring you to an even greater noble responsibility in the future.