Last night I coached first base for my son’s Little League team. It got me thinking about coaching. Over the years he has had some great coaches. They all bring something different to the table. Each of them has had a different, yet very important, role to play in his development. Coach John taught him to love the game. Coach Eric gave him the confidence to play against the best. Coach Ryan is teaching him what it takes to take his game to the next level. I am so grateful for all these men.
I am learning that the role of the Pastor is primarily that of a coach. We often think of the pastor as teacher, but that’s not really accurate. Teachers are primarily responsible for information transfer. The really good teachers help their students apply the information to “real life”, but it is their ability to transfer information that is most important.
In the West we have turned pastors into teachers. The ability of the pastor to transfer biblical information has been celebrated as the highest level of achievement for the pastor. It is as if every person in the congregation will need to pass an ordination exam to be an active participant on the new earth. They won’t.
When we launched the Antioch Movement a couple of years ago we wanted to see rapid multiplication. My desire was for us to launch multiple missional communities in rapid succession.
It’s a great idea.
It really sounds awesome.
It’s how the church ought to be.
What I’m learning is that for this to be a reality I have to up my “coach game”. To be sure, I’m a player/coach like the old baseball managers. If we’re going to see true multiplication happen then I have be a coach first.
My primary job is not that of teacher. Information transfer doesn’t get missional communities launched. Coaching does.
I think about a person in our congregation who attempted to launch something recently. I passed on really good information about what to do. I was supportive. But, I didn’t coach them. I didn’t come alongside them very well and help them through the process. I was a cheerleader, but not a coach. Coaching requires much more engagement, a significant amount of accountability, and a dash of “I’m here to help.”
I’ve been a player most of my life. That’s what missionaries and number two guys in the church are. They are players, the head guy is the coach. The transition from player to coach is hard. Maybe recognition is the first step.
Isn’t it funny the things you think about when you’re coaching first base?
The post Pastor, coach! appeared first on The Journal by Daniel M. Rose. It was written by Daniel M. Rose.
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