Equipping Leaders with Grace: 7 Questions with Coach Samuel Simanjuntak

In today’s fast-paced and pressure-filled ministry environment, leaders face a constant pull towards performance, burnout, and isolation. That is why Gospel Coaching matters. It is not just about helping pastors and leaders set goals or improve their skills. It is about helping them return to the core of their identity in Christ. Gospel-centred coaching goes beyond surface-level advice; it brings the unchanging truths of the gospel into the real, everyday struggles of ministry.

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Q1: How did you first get involved in gospel coaching, and what drew you to this kind of ministry?

Sam: I actually got into gospel coaching through City to City, almost by accident. It was not something I had on my radar. But as we began working with City to City, we quickly realised that coaching is a huge part of why the movement has been so effective in other countries. It is not just a support system; it is essential. At the time, we simply did not have enough trained coaches in our network, so out of necessity, I became one of the first. Later, when I attended the City to City Intensive in 2020, I experienced gospel coaching firsthand, even if just briefly. Around that time, I was transitioning my focus from church planting to helping build the church I now lead, Covenant City Church. So while my role shifted, that short experience with gospel coaching left a big impression on me.

Q2: In your experience, what difference does gospel coaching make in the life of a pastor or leader?

Sam: In my experience, gospel coaching creates a unique space where pastors, who often feel the pressure to maintain a certain “holy” image and keep some distance from their congregation, can finally be honest and open about their struggles. Many of the leaders I have coached have told me how freeing it is to share without fear of judgement or any “consequences”. It is not about being told what to do or following strict instructions, but about having a safe place to process what they are going through.

What stands out most is the shared understanding that these struggles are not just theirs alone. They quickly realise that others have faced similar challenges and that they are not failing in this journey. That realisation alone brings a lot of comfort and encouragement, helping them to carry on with renewed strength and grace.

Q3: What are some of the most common challenges you see leaders facing today, and how does the gospel speak into those areas?

Sam: A really common challenge I see is how new church planters try to convince their sending churches to embrace a new, more gospel-centred way of doing ministry and still get their support. Many come from established churches with set ways of doing things, so when they return with fresh ideas from City to City, they may face some pushback and have to carefully manage relationships. Walking them through these challenges is something I often help with.

Another big issue is marriage struggles. Church planting is such a demanding season, and spouses often feel the sacrifice deeply. I have to regularly remind planters that it is okay to slow down and prioritise their marriage. The church will be fine!

Q4: Can you share a story where you saw real transformation happen through the gospel coaching process?

Sam: I was recently coaching someone who came from a church with a lot of bureaucracy, where one leader makes all the decisions and everyone else just follows. Now, he is trying to introduce a system with more accountability and shared decision-making, but he was struggling because even how he communicated felt like he was trying to impose his will.

We worked through some practical steps, such as how to get buy-in from church members and elders so it feels like everyone is part of the process and not just the congregation. What stood out was his growing trust in the Holy Spirit working through everyone, not just him, and a shift to seeing the church as God’s work, not his own. He is also thinking more carefully about creating consistent, gospel-centred systems for the future. It has been very encouraging to witness this growth.

Q5: For someone considering becoming a gospel coach, what qualities or convictions do you think are most important?

Sam: I think the most important quality for a gospel coach is empathy, and right alongside that, the ability to really listen. I mean, really listen. That includes paying attention to what someone is saying, how often they say it, the words they repeat, and even what is left unsaid or hard for them to express. It is about noticing as much as possible.

For me personally, one of the harder parts was holding back from just jumping in with advice. It takes a lot of patience and care not to default to, “Here is what you should do.” Instead, gospel coaching is about coming alongside someone, not leading or directing them towards a task, but helping them become more grounded in what God is already doing in their life.

Q6: For a leader unsure about whether they need a gospel coach, what would your invitation be?

Sam: I would say it is really hard to deal with your blind spots on your own. You need someone who has both the role and the permission to come alongside you and speak into those deeper areas of your life. By “permission”, I mean someone you have invited in, and someone who has the trust and space to help you go beneath the surface and get to the heart issues behind those blind spots. Without that kind of relationship, it is easy to keep missing what is really going on.

Q7: Are there any books or other resources that have impacted you in your journey as a coach?

Recently, I found You Are What You Love by James K. A. Smith really helpful. It is not directly about gospel coaching, but it gave me good tools to help coachees think about habit formation and how to build systems and environments that reflect the values they want in their church.

Another book that really shaped me as a coach is Managing Leadership Anxiety by Steve Cuss. A lot of coachees come into sessions feeling anxious, and I have learned I need to first recognise my own anxiety, especially when I am feeling it for them, before I can help them process theirs in a healthy way.

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At its core, Gospel Coaching is not about techniques; it is about truth. It reminds leaders that their worth is not in what they do, but in what Christ has already done. In a world where ministry can quickly become performance-driven, gospel-centredness grounds us in grace. Whether you are a coach, a leader, or someone exploring this space, may these reflections lead you back to the freeing, restoring power of the gospel.