How Regional Leaders Can Become the People Pastors Want to Call

Episode Overview Regional church leaders occupy a unique position: they carry a larger vision while serving local churches with vastly different needs, cultures, and challenges. In this conversation, Brian Miller talks with Jim Jansen, founder of Anchor Consulting, about why coaching may be one of the most valuable tools a regional leader can develop. Drawing from Jim's years of working with local churches, they explore how coaching can turn denominational leadership from something local pastors resist into a relationship they welcome. Key Ideas & Takeaways 1. Regional Leaders Have an Advantage Outsiders Don't Outside consultants can bring valuable expertise, but regional leaders already understand the denomination's culture, language, priorities, relationships, and history. They can see patterns across churches and connect leaders with resources and people they already know. Jim describes them as potential "inside coaches." 2. Organizational Authority Can Be an Asset—or a Liability A visit from a denominational leader can trigger the question: "What do they want?" Local leaders may expect another request for money, another program, or the latest organizational initiative. Coaching changes the posture from "Here's what we need from you" to "How can I help you?" 3. People Don't Necessarily Want Coaching—They Want Breakthroughs Jim's team began simply giving coaching away. As pastors experienced progress, encouragement, and helpful conversations, coaching began to "sell itself." The relationship changed because regional leaders were increasingly experienced as helpful rather than intrusive. 4. A Shared Vision Doesn't Require a Uniform Plan Regional leadership still has an important role in establishing vision and priorities. Jim's organization had a clear emphasis on evangelism and mission. Coaching allowed each local church to answer the question: What does that vision look like here? 5. Local Leaders Need to Own the Plan A regional leader can cast a compelling vision, but the local church ultimately has to make it its own. The pastor and congregation understand their particular people, community, opportunities, and limitations. Coaching helps them develop a plan that fits their context instead of merely implementing someone else's strategy. 6. Coaching Demonstrates Trust in Local Leadership Jim argues that regional leaders should trust that the Spirit of God is at work in local pastors and leaders. The regional leader doesn't have to determine exactly how the larger vision will be implemented everywhere. Coaching creates space for local leaders to discern how that vision should come alive in their particular setting. 7. Coaching Can Produce Organizational Fruit Jim describes having roughly one-third of ministry leaders engaged in some cadence of coaching. Over six or seven years, what felt ordinary day-to-day produced significant results. He credits the coach approach as an important foundation for the fruit and goodwill they experienced. 8. Coaching May Be the Missing Tool for Regional Leadership Regional leaders often have vision, relationships, and access but lack a reliable way to help local leaders translate vision into action. Equipping trusted regional staff with coaching skills can extend the ministry of senior denominational leaders across many churches. Coaching connects big-picture vision with local ownership, action, and accountability. Memorable Quotes & Ideas "People don't want coaching. They want the breakthroughs." "How else can I be of help to this local church?" "You could have a vision, but it's the local pastor, it's the local church, that has to not only make the vision their own, but they have to make the plan." "Have a little bit of respect for the Spirit of God at work in local leadership." "Coaching is probably the missing tool to help you extend your ministry to all the local churches." "We saw so much fruit and so much goodwill built when we began to approach things with a coaching mindset."