This IS\u00a0GOLD!<\/p>\n
I was all bright eyed and bushy tailed as an 18-year-old that just entered bible college.\u00a0 I had such aspirational dreams of being a missionary in Indonesia.\u00a0 I did not find myself in my family\u2019s place of origin Papua, New Guinea rather I found myself in the urban setting of Toronto. While studying my Bachelor of Religious Education I was introduced to a fantastic group of young leaders that had one of the most energetic, culturally relevant ministries probably in all of Canada.\u00a0 They invited me to serve with them as a college intern. The pace was high, the experience exciting and I was in the throes of a diverse ministry culture. I was sold! This was going to be my lifelong call to be a presence in marginalized communities to share the peace of Christ in the projects of Toronto.\u00a0 I would be a part of a culture that would resource, mobilize and train future leaders. My hope was that future leaders would find this call just as exciting as I did. What I quickly found out was I could not keep this pace for the long term and my natural talent was not enough to keep me healthy, raise healthy leaders and build a healthy organizational framework. After a few burn outs and six years later, I was introduced to my first coach. Looking back, I\u2019m thankful for coaching yet it was the late 80\u2019s and I feel it was more of a share time without many resources. \u00a0Although the experience with this coach was not the best I was grateful someone valued me and spent some time with me.<\/p>\n
Mining for Gold <\/em>helps us to understand the importance of having a seasoned coach that gives clarity of a ministry philosophy framework. This coach helps to value untapped strengths with those who are called and empowers them towards the potential God has for them. I truly believe we are called to multiply good healthy leadership as Camacho highlights in chapter 6. \u201cAnd the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.\u201d 2 Timothy 2:2[1]<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0I loved serving most when I saw communities and people truly experience the value of our presence in their lives. The kingdom of God truly had come to earth when lives and communities experienced healthy change. My passion was to build healthy leaders and build a healthy organization, but I had little to no resources to direct this aspirational pathway of mine.<\/p>\n I felt as though I was in the wilderness trying to find my way without much or any direction at all. You must understand this was the late 80\u2019s early 90\u2019s where coaching was not really a thing! In those days it was all trial and error, no professional coaches and we had to find our way. Camacho reminds us that the coaching process comes alive when we choose to help others thrive by investing in the gold mining process, imagine more and more people being set free to flourish![2]<\/a><\/p>\n Fast forward 32 years later. I finally had a seasoned coach.\u00a0 She asked me about what outcome I was hoping to have, she asked me several questions about my call, my strengths, passions, I was given a few assessments and we unpacked what I was passionately hoping for.\u00a0 My greatest hope was to learn how to resource, train and launch future leaders. \u00a0She led me to enter into my Master\u2019s at age 50. I remember thinking \u201cTHIS IS GOLD!\u201d and I can share this wealth with others! She helped me to discover my Sweet Spot! I wanted to help others do that too.<\/p>\n Camacho talks about a flourishing in Psalm 92 of a healthy tree bearing MUCH fruit.[3]<\/a> I\u2019ve always wanted to be that leader that would help others discover and lead from their sweet spot. I want those I lead to be godly leaders bearing fruit for the kingdom. I\u2019m not that old. I\u2019m 59 years old this year. I\u2019ve been thinking a great deal about a legacy plan and there\u2019s a great urgency to build a future of leaders that love Jesus, provide clothing, shelter and food for those who are in need for seven generations to come.\u00a0 This will be for a future we will not see without our names on it.<\/p>\n Part of my philosophy of ministry includes mobilizing leaders in the gifts they\u2019ve been given (Ephesians 4), multiplying leaders (Matthew 28:16-20, The Great Commission) and all of this to the Glory of God (Revelation 4). Camacho has written a compelling framework to help us tap into the strengths in those we lead and empower them to reach their full potential:<\/p>\n How exciting is it to have coaches that care, resource, and launch leaders into a future we will not see!<\/p>\n \n \n \n [1]<\/a> Camacho, Tom. Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders Through Coaching. London: Inter-Varsity Press, 2019, p.81<\/em><\/p>\n\n