More than anything else the Altar Call represents change. Not merely an experience but lasting change. A person makes a decision to follow Christ and they are forever changed. There is a change in their relationship with the creator, a change in their guiding compass, a change in behavior and a change in life direction and purpose. Change! This level of change is transformational. Rather than focusing on the past its focus is on the future that a new life brings. The Altar Call doesn’t bring the change it is the process, the event, whereby change happens.
Coaching is similar to the Altar Call in that it leads to a focus on change, transition and transformation; that lead to progress. I have not seen a tool more effective than coaching to define the challenge, refine the journey and choose the path. The Altar Call is not the destination, and neither is Coaching. It is a tool that relies on the leading of the Holy Spirit in directing the person being coached. Coaching is a process to gain focus and thereby accelerate progress. With so many divergent challenges we face, coaching narrows the focus and points to the next step. It’s simply the process to discover what the next steps could be.
Coaching acknowledges that no one knows your life better than you, no one knows your challenges better than you, no one can hear from God for your life better than you. Your Call, your ministry, your ideas, and your decisions.
The goal of every Christian leader is be to be Spirit led and decision confident.
So, build an Altar and hire a Coach.