June 22, 2017 - No Comments!

Get Upstream


Just east of my home, the Snoqualmie River meanders for 45 miles through homes, farmlands, two counties, and then feeds into the famous Puget Sound. The river begins in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness way up in the Cascade Mountains. It's there in the mountains that the source waters run and collide together to form the river before it begins its push down through western Washington.

Most (but not all) of my coaching clients are bi-vocational worship leaders in churches of 500 people of less. They are neck deep in all of the challenges that come along with wearing multiple hats and leading worship while balancing a hundred other things. They want to build great teams and have fun being creative in the local church.

That said, most of them reach out after they are overwhelmed or drowning a bit. This is natural I suppose, similar to how preventative medicine has been scientifically proven to be cheaper and more effective, and yet most of us elect to avoid the doctor's office until a problem arises with our bodies. I'm no doctor, but I have seen a parallel in the worship leaders I coach.

My favorite clients are those that are trying to prepare in advance for the challenges coming for them. One of these leaders is Sarah. Yes, that's her real name. Sarah is a delight. Sarah isn't on staff at a church. She isn't even in full time vocational ministry. She's in a small town and has no aspirations of being in a big city.

Sarah is also clear in her calling to grow as a worship leader, so we've worked together for the last 6 months around how she can be best equipped for that future. Sarah wanted to get upstream, and learn how to organize, lead, and care for a worship ministry. She's already grown a ton and now has tangible skills in her pocket that she didn't a few months ago. I don't share this story as some kind of humble-brag, but for clarity. Many of the leaders I speak with seem surprised that someone like Sarah makes for a great client. I tell them what I'll say again now: I'd take a dozen more Sarah's because she's getting upstream and preparing herself for what's ahead. She comes prepared, asks good questions, takes feedback with humility, and follows through on her "assignments". She's growing because she's putting in the work. A few thoughts from her:

"Donald makes long-distance coaching effective...He cares genuinely about my growth as a leader and my growth in my relationship with Christ, with every meeting being centered around the gospel. The coaching has played an integral part in my development as a worship leader and leader. He has helped me to understand how to apply my gifts to serving God's people through worship and relationship. I appreciate his wisdom, creativity, and insight when it comes to working with a team. I've grown as a worshipper, as a worship leader, and am more confident in my identity in Christ because of our time together."

Sarah has invested in being the leader she wants to be in the future...she's been pro-active instead of reactive. Be like Sarah. Get ahead of what's coming. Ask questions of those further down the road than you around how you can grow in the areas of leadership that don't come natural to you, and how you can leverage the strengths you already have.

Some good "upstream questions":

-What will my team (up, down, and laterally) need from me in 6-12 months?
-What do I want the worship or arts ministry to look like this time next year?
-What do I need to do in my church to make disciples in the next year?
-Do I have any life stage changes coming (engagement, birth of a child, graduating college) and how can I plan for that?
-What do I want my volunteers and congregation to experience or learn this year?

I love the local church and local church leaders. If you or someone you know would benefit from some one-on-one coaching towards leadership development, organizing and recruiting artists, or growing your worship/arts ministry, let's chat.

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