The last two and a half years of leadership reading, and discovery got me asking these questions, what is the purpose of the church, and are we fulfilling our missional purpose. I have observed a number of churches with cute catch phrases, and mission statements. But are those expressions of cleaver branding or God\u2019s desired intention for us. Being an individual who grew up on the fringes of the subculture of school, I have always been sensitive to the disenfranchised, and unseen within every environment I have found myself. It did not seem to matter who came into my circle of influence I made it my mission to uncover that treasure buried within their brokenness. I find myself challenging colleagues to reevaluate their purpose. Maybe we ought to consider our role as leaders is to be gift miners, who reveal the treasure of God within each one of us. And empower one another to use that gift to bless others, within and without of the church context.<\/p>\r\n
Tom Camacho\u2019s Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching<\/em>,[1]<\/a> is a look at extracting the precious treasure of leaders through coaching. Camacho is a pastor and master-coach within the Vineyard movement. His expertise in coaching has been implemented in the areas of\u201d church planting, missions, non-profit organizations, military aviation and business.\u201d [2]<\/a> The book itself has two parts.<\/p>\r\n Part one: God\u2019s mining process: discovering gold. The six chapters is this part takes leaders through the process of seeing beyond what is presented to the raw material of value within individuals. He uses coaching practices, of \u201casking great questions,\u201d [3]<\/a> and reflective listening to cultivate God\u2019s rich deposit within an individual. The ultimate goal is to extract and reveal a potential leader\u2019s giftedness and set them on a journey of refinement, opposed to searching for people to fill slots of need within the church or organization.[4]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Part two: God\u2019s refining process: six principles that lead to thriving, encompasses entrusting the real work to the Holy Spirit.[5]<\/a> The role of our identity is embodied in how God has created us.[6]<\/a> The importance of working in cooperation with our \u201cGod-given design,\u201d [7]<\/a> which opens the door to our \u201csweet spot\u201d [8]<\/a> and a life of thriving. The end of this section Camacho discusses the role of refinement through challenges and hardship.[9]<\/a> He concludes the book with an emphasis on the significance of relationships throughout the process.[10]<\/a><\/p>\r\n Each chapter includes biblical and practical examples, as well as concrete coaching practices. At the end of every chapter is a section on what the author calls \u201cdeeper level questions,\u201d and \u201cpotential action steps.\u201d [11]<\/a><\/p>\r\n While I agree with the underling themes that we are created with by God intentionally, with a specific identity in which he holds the keys. We as leaders are the tools of the Holy Spirit, or can be tools, to reveal those unique special treasures. People have their most fulfilled life when they live in harmony with their design. And a person\u2019s sweet spot is the place of greatest, perceived fulfillment. I found myself being irritated with some of the author\u2019s biblical examples, and choices of words in regard to identity. Let me explain.<\/p>\r\n I am reminded that every book or resource has its limitations by the fact there is a beginning and an end. I also realize that Camacho\u2019s focuses on the development of Christian leader coaches and how they can implement these practices. While he does list \u201cother resources for our freedom,\u201d [12]<\/a> I have this reaction within me that feels like an emphasis on the latest fad. This could be that there is a coach for everything at this moment, or that the tribe I am a part of has trained all its upper leadership as coaches, yet there appears to be little effective implementation.<\/p>\r\n I also struggle with his emphasis on gold and leaders.\u00a0 Too often I have observed leaders overlook the treasures in those who are in their midst because they are set on identifying the raw gold and not the other rare materials. Every individual carry \u201ca treasure inside themselves.\u201d [13]<\/a> The Holy Spirit lives and through any believer who is willing to listen and obey his voice.\u00a0 My sense is that the primary responsibility of a godly leader is to be a gift miner of all those God has entrusted to them. If we are in fact living stones being built into a temple for God\u2019s dwelling (1 Peter 2:5), we ought to be in the business of equipping all the raw ore to be refined into their intended God given purpose.[14]<\/a> I would like to think that a well refined leader is the moldable gold that holds the precious living stones together in the temple.<\/p>\r\n Here are a couple more, brief thoughts:<\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n [1]<\/a> Tom Camacho, Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders Through Coaching<\/em>, First published (Nottingham: IVP, 2019).<\/p>\r\n [2]<\/a> Ibid, cover.<\/p>\r\n [3]<\/a> Ibid., 27.<\/p>\r\n [4]<\/a> Ibid., 28.<\/p>\r\n [5]<\/a> Ibid., 91.<\/p>\r\n [6]<\/a> Ibid., 105.<\/p>\r\n [7]<\/a> Ibid., 121.<\/p>\r\n [8]<\/a> Ibid., 133.<\/p>\r\n [9]<\/a> Ibid., 146.<\/p>\r\n [10]<\/a> Ibid., 157.<\/p>\r\n [11]<\/a> Camacho, Mining for Gold<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n [12]<\/a> Ibid., 154.<\/p>\r\n [13]<\/a> Ibid., 3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n