Life-transforming mentoring is rare...and it is a rare gift at a time of great need. What better time-investment for a senior leader than to pour the wisdom and experience of a lifetime into pastors who will serve the church in the coming decades. This deposit of wisdom, if given away generously, would greatly strengthen and enrich the church as well as offering a wise model for those in every calling.

Pastors often feel that there is no place they go where they are not expected to lead, have the answers, set the schedule, keep time, open in prayer, be the expert, always know the verse, and how to fix whatever is wrong. If it isn't actually expected of them, they often expect it of themselves. Pastors tell us it's exhausting.

Taking off from Dr. Jeffrey Auerbach's "Thirteen Reasons Therapists Make Great Coaches", I offer my own reflections on why theologically trained, experienced ministry practitioners have the foundation to be exceptional coaches, too.

One of the wise things Jesus did in training and spiritually forming the disciples was to make use of every life situation as a learning laboratory. He and his disciples lived life together virtually nonstop, for three years. Paul's practice was similar…

Most churches make the mistake of selecting as leaders the confident, the competent, and the successful. But what you most need in a leader is someone who has been broken by the knowledge of his or her sin, and even greater knowledge of Jesus' costly grace.

- Tim Keller

Provisions…from the word St. Paul uses to denote equipping, accompanying along the way…sending another along on their journey. It’s why we chose the name.