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Pastors need coaches AND counselors (w/ Jordan Ducote)

podcast Dec 23, 2021

Jordan Ducote has been a pastor of a megachurch for four years. He’s 37, but looks like he’s… well… about 20.

He’s uniquely a successor… of his father.

There are blessings and burdens— alike— of following a legacy leader.

 

Jordan began attending the church when he was four. There’s a story (a “true” legend) that the baptistry of the church was being used for storage when Jordan’s dad took over the church. And, the back rows of the sanctuary were “taped off” so no one would sit there.

When he came on the scene, Jordan’s dad emptied the baptistry, declaring, “We’re going to use it!”

And, he vacuumed the back rows, after removing the tape. “We’re using those, too!”

How do you follow THAT guy?

 

In his own words, Jordan never had an “I felt called” moment. Rather, it was a drift… the good kind of slide.

He grew up around it, and suddenly just KNEW what his next step was…

There was no pressure to take over for his father. 

There were no “toss the fleece out” moments.

Rather, he suddenly knew. 

 

The church transitioned from father to son over an 18 month period when Jordan was just 33. And, no, it wasn’t perfect. 

The four who were there WITH his father (when he was the worship pastor) stayed onboard. They embraced the learning curve of figuring out how to lead together once the primary leader changed. 

 

A few things Jordan mentions— 

 

#1 = You don’t want to be the smartest guy in the room.  

A better team (as long as they’re the right people) is safer for you AND everyone else… 

 

#2 = You still must the confident in who you are. 

There ARE some things you’re great— and even the best— at. Know what those things are and what they’re not.

 

#3 = The mix of grace and truth. 

Most of us lean towards one side or the other. We prop on grace OR truth. But Jesus was full of BOTH.

Relationships require both. Sometimes, awkward conversations (re: courageous conversations) are required. 

In fact, as we say it around here, “Most leaders are actually 1 or 2 courageous conversations away from a breakthrough.”

 

#4 = Have a coach AND a counselor. 

Outside voices play specific (and much-needed roles) in your life. 

It’s important to have objective voices. The people with whom you work— and the support they offer— isn’t always objective. In fact, it really CAN’T be. 

Objectives voices help with things like— 

  • staffing
  • strategy
  • systems 

And, they can help with deeper things… the stuff that you can’t fit into any of the grids above.

Sometimes, we look around and realize there isn’t anything going on that should make us feel like we’re feeling…

… and that’s a trigger (a healthy warning) to get an outside voice.

 

#5 = Be transparent and vulnerable to a fault… with the right people.

You’ve got to have a place you can “dump” everything, so that it doesn’t stay inside of you. 

The Bible talks about confession— to each other— as the means we find healing (James 5:16). However, it’s important that we confess in the right way to the right person… 

 

#6 = Use ministry to build people— don’t use people to build ministry. 

You’ve got to love church (the people) more than you love “church growth.”

Embrace the call, not the growth… 

 


Links for this show

The Courageous Pastors Gathering = www.CourageousPastors.com/gathering 

Schedule a Strategy Session with a coach today = www.CourageousPastors.com/strategy 

Northwood Church, Gulfport, MS = https://northwood.church/ 

Jordan on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/jordanducote/ 

 

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