This coming year, I want to focus less on training and more on coaching—especially in the context of youth ministry. As I get older, more of my energy is naturally shifting toward helping young leaders grow into great leaders. I still believe in training. I still teach. I still build systems and resources. But more and more, I’m becoming convinced that while training can inform, coaching actually transforms.
Why Training Alone Falls Short
Training is tricky. If it’s not done right, it can be almost worthless. We’ve all sat through trainings that were long on information and short on impact. Too often, training becomes a one-size-fits-all solution for leaders who are anything but one-size-fits-all. Every student leader, intern, or volunteer comes from a different background, carries different fears, and feels different levels of calling and confidence. That’s where training alone starts to fall short.
Why Coaching Actually Works
Coaching, on the other hand, almost always works—because it’s personal. A coach steps into the real life of a young leader. A coach gets into their doubts, their habits, their spiritual discipline, their leadership blind spots, their mistakes, their wins, their family dynamics, and their calling. Coaching adapts to the leader instead of forcing the leader to adapt to a system. It asks better questions. It listens longer. It corrects more lovingly. And it challenges more intentionally.
Why Coaching Matters in Youth Ministry
In youth ministry, this matters more than ever. We are not just developing program helpers—we are shaping future pastors, missionaries, parents, church planters, teachers, coaches, and kingdom leaders. Information alone won’t prepare them for the pressure they’ll face. Curriculum alone won’t sustain them when leadership gets lonely. But a coach walking beside them just might.
That’s why I’m committing this year to building coaching relationships and coaching environments—through one-on-one investment, small leadership cohorts, and leadership development events designed around conversation, feedback, and real-world application. My goal isn’t just to make young leaders more skilled. It’s to help them become more self-aware, resilient, spiritually grounded, and mission-driven.
A Challenge for Youth Ministry Leaders
If you work with student leaders, interns, or adult volunteers, I want to challenge you to consider shifting your leadership strategy. Don’t just train them—coach them. Teach the content, yes. But also sit with them in the mess. Ask them how their soul is doing. Watch how they lead. Call out insecurity. Affirm growth. Push them when they’re playing it safe. And remind them often that leadership is not about position—it’s about responsibility, influence, and faithfulness.
Training fills notebooks.
Coaching shapes lives.
And the future of youth ministry depends on leaders who have experienced both.
