There is a movie with Jennifer Garner called Yes Day, where the parents decide that they are going to say Yes to everything their kids ask for during that day. They set parameters and then let the kids decide what they want to do. The parents can’t say No to the request. It’s a fun movie, full of comedy and silly antics as the kids get their parents to do things they never would otherwise do. On the more serious side of the movie, the parents realize that by giving their kids a Yes Day, they created beautiful moments and memories, they also learned more about their children, had meaningful conversations and created a stronger family dynamic. It was through a process of discernment that they realized they had not been giving their kids the attention they needed and learned the importance of building strong relationships with them. Not every process of discernment ends up in saying Yes, or in fun and crazy moments. But in leadership, it is crucial to know when a process of discernment is necessary so that you might end up saying Yes to certain goals, and No to others.
Once again, Nehemiah gives us a lesson in leadership and we can see this in the way that he responds and reacts to the news of the destruction and ruin of his beloved city of Jerusalem. The book of Nehemiah opens up with news from Jerusalem, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire. When I heard these things, I sat down and wept.” (Nehemiah 1:3-4)
Nehemiah was greatly disturbed by the news he had received of the state of Jerusalem. It brought him to tears. It is obvious that he had a great love for the city of Jerusalem and it caused him pain to know that it lay in ruins. How many of us, in our work with non-profits, are led to the organization, church or school, because of a great passion we have? We are drawn to the vision or mission because it responds to a great pain that is dear to us. Be it an organization that looks to eradicate homelessness, an organization that gives hope to children through education, or a church that seeks to share the gospel.
Nehemiah’s passion was the city of Jerusalem.
But Nehemiah didn’t just get up and return to Jerusalem at the very moment he received the devastating news. We can clearly see a process of discernment in his actions.
- Identify: Understand what is the problem or decision that needs to be made. For Nehemiah, the walls of Jerusalem are in ruin and he needed to discern what was his role in repairing the walls.
- Examine: Name the Emotions related to the problem or decision. Nehemiah was distraught and wept.
- Discern: Create space for discernment. Nehemiah made space to mourn, pray and fast. He took the time to needed to process not only the situation but also his response.
- Gather: Discuss with other to gain an external perspectives. Nehemiah sought the advice of the king, and shared with him his concerns. It was through sharing that he received confirmation of his desire to go to Jerusalem.
- Plan: Make a plan and be prepared. Nehemiah prepared and made a plan before returning to Jerusalem. He acquired the materials to start rebuilding the wall, and he requested letters of safe passage for his journey to Jerusalem.
The process of discernment can be as simple as reviewing the five steps through an informal process. This is advisable for individual decisions or to discern whether the problem needs a more formal process. However, a more robust process invites a deeper more thorough process when faced with tough or difficult problems or decisions.
This is where Shepherd Consulting can help! By inviting an external facilitator to walk your team through the process of discernment, we create a safe space for authentic and genuine discussion, we ask the hard questions, and we guide you through developing an action plan.
SHEPHERD'S SPOTLIGHT: Niños Tres Rios
One of the greatest privileges of Shepherd Consulting is watching God steadily expand the places where Shepherd Consulting is invited to serve. While much of our work continues across Canada with Christian schools, churches, charities, and ministries, this past year has also taken us farther afield including more locations in the US and through charities and ministries, a focus into Latin America.
One example is Niños Tres Rios (n3r.org) – in English "Children of the Three Rivers." It is a Washington State-based ministry whose work has faithfully impacted communities in El Salvador for many years. Their mission continues to flourish, but like many healthy organizations, they have recognized that long-term sustainability requires more than a compelling vision. It requires thoughtful leadership transition.
Their founder has faithfully served the ministry for decades and now desires to pass the torch in a way that strengthens, not disrupts, the organization's future. Just as importantly, they hope to remain meaningfully engaged, continuing to offer the wisdom, relationships, and experience that only a founder can provide. That is a delicate balance, and one increasingly faced by many Christian ministries as pioneering leaders approach retirement.
This is precisely the kind of work Shepherd Consulting loves to do.
Healthy succession is never about replacing people. It is about honouring the past while preparing the next generation to lead with confidence. Through governance assessments, strategic planning, leadership coaching, and board development, we help ministries mature in ways that preserve their mission while positioning them for decades of future Kingdom impact.
Whether serving organizations here in Canada or partnering with ministries like N3R that reach into Central America, we remain deeply grateful for the opportunity to help Christian organizations become healthier, stronger, and increasingly prepared for whatever God has next.
Alicia Hamming Navarrete brings over 20 years of international non-profit experience having spent 17 years working with a national organization in Managua, Nicaragua.
Alicia is fluent in Spanish and holds an MA in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in International Development from Eastern University, Harrisburg, PA, as well as being a certified Governance Coach for Non-Profits as well as achieving her Pro. Dir.
Alicia’s passion is working with non-profit organizations that are seeking to strengthen the effectiveness of their board of directors, develop clear and innovative strategic plans, and enhance their organizational capacity.
