Bridge-the-Gap Life Coaching Services, LLC
      logoThe Rev. Sharon L. Vandegrift, M. Div., PCC
            484.234.0664 / sharon@btglifecoaching.com
 424 W. State St., Media, PA 19063
       www.btglifecoaching.com
Prayer for Renewal
Oh God, 

Who am I anyway?

Is it true that I am unique...gifted
...special? 
Does your Spirit yearn to move through me in
 a new way?
Do you have a vision for my future that I can't yet see?

Grant me the wisdom to follow your urging.
Give me the courage to explore the deep core of my being. 
Allow me to unveil the beauty of your belief in me.

Resources





 
Quote of the Month
"The authentic self is the soul made visible."

-Sarah Ban Breathnach
 

September, 2015

For the past few months I have had the privilege of leading a part-time church renewal project with a small, declining church. I have been amazed at how laying the groundwork for congregational transformation is similar to the foundational work necessary for re-designing our own personal lives. Our theme this month is: Renewal: Phase One.
Enjoy!                  ~Sharon
Renewal: Phase One
Small, declining churches often feel beaten-up and exhausted. Many have been told for decades that they are 'doing it all wrong'. Denominational leaders and pastors have come and gone and offered specific models for growth. The message was clear: 'If you do it this way you will grow'. The obvious, but not so noted reality, is that what works in one community often has no impact in another - and can even cause more decline. Templates for growth are offered with good intentions, but without a plan that honors the uniqueness of each situation the quest for empowered and fruitful ministry remains elusive.

Rather than pointing a finger at how a congregation is failing and assigning a generalized plan that will assumedly 'fix it', it is helpful to get to the core of a congregation's identity. That authentic core can then be used as the foundation of a re-imagined and transformed faith community. I have found that an essential question to be engaged in Renewal: Phase One is this:

"How can this congregation serve as a unique and distinctive presence of Christ in this community?"

The question is powerful because it assumes something special and unique about a congregation and is empowering in that it calls for deep searching for an authentic core.

All of this resonates with the personal work that has to be done when we are searching for renewal in our own lives. To find fulfillment it can be fruitful to explore the intersection between our passions, our skills and giftedness, and the needs of the larger community. The goal is not to follow a generalized  plan that makes us more like someone else or moves us up the professional ladder, but rather to discover who we are as individuals and how we might best participate in the world in ways that are creative, useful and loving. A basic empowering question can be:

"Who am I ... Really?"

I challenge you this month to ask this question of yourself again and again. I celebrate the insight you will gain!
Bridge-the-Gap offers individual life and leadership coaching as well as church renewal services. For your convenience, individual coaching is done via telephone. Contact me to design a personalized package that works for you and/or your church.

Sharon L. Vandegrift
Bridge-the-Gap Life Coaching Services, LLC
484.234.0664 / sharon@btglifecoaching.com
424 W. State St., Media, PA 19063
www.btglifecoaching.com