Spiritual Companion Stories
- Coach. See this Banner article on how “Coaching Inspires Indiana Pastor” on the verge of resigning. Read how two “Michigan Churches Get Coaching for Better Ministry” by turning problems into solutions and taking current ministries to another level.
- Counselor/Therapist. In the Banner article “When Pastors Hurt,” Rick Nanninga shares his experience of a full-blown panic attack while preaching. Nanninga found help through a psychiatrist and counselor, enabling him to return to his pastoral life and duties.
- Pastoral Mentor
Pastoral Mentor: “I have always had strong, caring mentors in my life—something that cannot be said for many people. These have been people who saw some gift or potential in me. In ministry, however, I have taken the difficult but imperative step of seeking out mentors for myself. After failing in some small ways, as we all do, God humbled me enough to enable me to recognize that I was not the spiritual leader who others saw, nor was I yet the spiritual leader who God was making me to be: I needed a mentor.
“My mentor has invited me into his life: to view his ministry, his marriage, and his other discipling relationships up close. I am a better pastor today because he has not simply given me information about ministry, but rather he has shown me a life that is worth imitating. This, for me, has been the most powerful part of his influence in my life—and that imitable example both enables and challenges me to mentor others.”
—Adrian de Lange, pastor of New Life CRC, Grand Junction, Colorado
Regional Pastor: “As a regional pastor, I have been privileged to support pastors and share ministry together. In my widespread geographical region, we have been blessed with Sustaining Pastoral Excellence grants, which have allowed us to gather together, nourish friendships, foster understanding, wonder theologically, and sustain healthy ministry. While I initiate some things as the designated “regional pastor,” intentionally connecting as a group (often via video conference) encourages mutual support. And grassroots ministering of one another goes far beyond anything I could ever hope to accomplish on my own. I'm not suggesting it is always easy, but, like other areas of ministry, regional pastoring has often been filled with unforeseen blessings: encouragement, support, vulnerability, laughter, and cherished collegiality, to name a few.”
—Joel Ringma, pastor of Terrace (B.C.) CRC
- Spiritual Director Syd Hielema procrastinated when a friend insisted he seek out a spiritual director. But once he gave in, he found a rich gift of grace. Now he calls him his Psalm 139 companion. See why in his blog.
Spiritual Director: “I met several times with a spiritual director during my Spiritual Vitality Project time and subsequent sabbatical. She was perceptive, gracious, and never judgmental. I learned to be gracious to myself in the rigors of ministry, and her insights into my life proved invaluable. I will continue with periodic check-in visits. They are God-ordained, and I should have done this 20 years ago as an aid to my ministry.”
—Ron Hosmar, pastor of youth and congregational life, Calvin CRC, Ottawa, Ontario
