When I first joined The Navigator staff in 1968, I clearly understood that one-on-one discipling was at the heart of the movement and vision.
It all began In 1964 as I listened to a recording by The Navigators founder, Dawson Trotman where he asked the penetrating question, “Men where is your man? Women, where is your woman. Where is the man or woman who is living for Jesus Christ today because of your life?”
I was at a mountain retreat at the time (had been a Christian for four years). After hearing that statement from the message entitled “Born To Reproduce” I was floored… staggered in my emotions and my mind. I took a walk by myself in the woods. I couldn’t think of a single person in whom I was investing. That tape, that retreat, that moment was a monstrous paradigm shift for me in the way I viewed ministry, church, leadership…everything!
From that moment on I began to pour my life into men in a very strategic and purposeful way.
Fast-forward 50 years. It is still a core conviction of mine to pour into other men one by one.
”We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” I Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV).
Not just teaching and giving information and knowledge to men, but giving them my life, my energy, my care/concern in a one-to-one relationships.
Now I refer to it as coaching, which is broader than what I did in discipling. Over the years I have poured my life into hundreds of men trusting that God would use me to help them be the laborers whom he asked us all to pray for in Matthew 9:36-38 (ESV):
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (ESV)
Here is an interesting thought from Bobby Clinton: “If the Lord was to make a statement to us, looking not only at the leadership gap, but also at the present leaders, he might rephrase Matthew 9:36-38 as follows:
“When he saw the leaders, he was filled with dismay, because so many quit, so many were set aside, and so many were plateaued and directionless. They had lost their zest for leading. They had no clear philosophy or direction in their leadership.”
They were leaderless leaders. Then he said to his disciples. ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the leaders with clear direction are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth knowledgeable, discerning and direction-oriented leader-laborers into his harvest.” (“Leaders Who Last” Page 137).
This is where Life/Leadership coaching comes in!
This idea of coaching potential young leaders has become core to my vision and purpose statements:
MY VISION IS:
Influencing thousand of leaders in hundreds of churches all over the world in having biblically based, Holy Spirit empowered and Jesus honoring lives and ministries.
MY PURPOSE IS:
To help equip and empower the next generation of leaders in local churches by:
- Coaching
- Teaching
- Writing
On April 15, 2014 I began a new chapter in my life of coaching. I started my own coaching/consulting business. I have never had a business of my own. Now I join the ranks of small business owners.
I have been discipling and coaching leaders for fifty years, but always under the umbrella of a local parachurch organization or through a local church. This is a first for me to have my own business, which I am calling:
DK L&L C&C
(Dave Kraft Life & Leadership Coaching & Consulting)
I am prepared and excited to coach leaders who want to take their leadership to a new level. I have openings right now!
Check out Coaching to find out more and let me hear from you if you are interested in investing in coaching. I would love the opportunity of connecting with you and exploring what coaching could mean to your personal life, family life and work/ministry life.
Recent Comments