To my great surprise, I find myself thriving in a second career of leadership and executive coaching.

The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”

By that definition, coaching is very similar to what I’ve been doing throughout my career in ministry.

And that’s how I’ve approached coaching – as ministry.

This was emphasized to me recently when one of my former coaching clients reached out to me because he wanted to give me an update on an exciting development in his life.

He was so excited and proud to tell me that he had forgiven someone in his life who had hurt him badly in the past.

He said, “Do you remember when I asked you about forgiveness in one of our coaching sessions?”

I said, “Of course.”

He said, “You told me what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. That gave me the clarity and courage to finally forgive this person. I never would have been able to do that if it wasn’t for your coaching.”

I was stunned by this.

The coaching I had done with this person was in a business setting, not a spiritual one.

Yet, this coaching turned out to be a platform for ministry.

I am so grateful that, through coaching, doors are being opened for me to have an impact on the lives of people I would never have the opportunity to meet otherwise.

But, what about you?

What opportunities might you “see” by approaching your work as ministry?

What doors might open to you by viewing your work as an extension of your walk with Christ?