Pastoral coaching
For the pastor who needs a peer, not a program.
I work with pastors and ministry leaders through honest, direct engagements. Not a packaged curriculum. Not a personality assessment and a worksheet. A real conversation about where you’re stuck, what you’re building, and what it’s actually costing you.
Who this is for
You’re probably in one of these places.
You’re growing and it’s getting complicated
The church is bigger than it used to be and the old ways of leading aren’t working the same way. You need someone to think with, not another book to read.
You’re stuck and not sure why
Attendance is flat. Staff tension is real. The vision feels distant. You can feel something is off but you can’t name it clearly enough to fix it.
You’re isolated and carrying too much alone
Pastoral ministry is uniquely lonely. You can’t say everything to your board, your staff, or your congregation. You need someone outside your context who will be straight with you.
You’re making a significant transition
New call. Church plant. Staff restructure. Vision relaunch. High-stakes moments deserve more than guesswork and YouTube sermons about leadership.
What to expect
Direct. Honest. Grounded in the work.
I’m a working pastor, not a full-time consultant. I lead a congregation, preach weekly, manage staff, navigate boards, and do all the things you do. That means I’m not coaching from theory. I’m coaching from the same trench you’re standing in.
My approach is hybrid — part coach, part consultant depending on what the moment requires. Some sessions we’ll work through a specific challenge with questions. Others I’ll just tell you what I think. I’ll always be straight with you about which mode I’m in.
I work within an LCMS context but have coached leaders across a range of traditions. Confessional theology shapes how I think. It doesn’t limit who I can serve.
Derrick Hurst
Senior Pastor, Living Word Galena
Galena, Ohio
Coaching options
How we can work together
Three ways to engage, depending on where you are and what you need.
Clarity Session
$197
One 90-minute session
A single focused conversation. Bring your most pressing challenge — a decision you can’t make, a dynamic you can’t name, a situation you need an outside perspective on. We’ll work through it together and you’ll leave with clarity and a next step.
- 90-minute video call
- Pre-session intake form
- Follow-up summary & action steps
- No ongoing commitment required
Leadership Engagement
$997
3-month engagement
The real work happens here. A three-month engagement with bi-weekly sessions gives us enough runway to go beneath the surface — to work on the actual leadership challenges, not just the presenting symptoms. This is where things change.
- 6 bi-weekly 60-minute sessions
- Voxer or email access between sessions
- Pre-engagement assessment
- Session notes & action steps
- Resource recommendations
Ongoing Partnership
$397/mo
Monthly retainer
For the pastor who doesn’t want to stop after one engagement. A monthly retainer keeps the conversation going — a consistent outside voice in your leadership, available when things get hard, not just on a schedule.
- 2 sessions per month
- Voxer or email access
- Ongoing strategic input
- Cancel anytime with 30 days notice
Teams & groups
Working with your staff or leadership team
I also work with staff teams and leadership groups in customized engagements built around your specific context — your culture, your challenges, your next season. This isn’t an off-the-shelf workshop. It’s a conversation about what your team actually needs and how to get there together.
If you’re a church board, a staff team, or a cohort of leaders who want to work through something together, reach out and let’s talk about what that could look like.
Customized for your context
- Staff teams
- Church boards & elders
- Pastor cohorts
- Leadership retreats
- Vision & planning intensives
Not sure where to start?
Send me a note. Tell me a little about where you are and what you’re working on. We’ll figure out together whether and how I can help.