Derek Crawford
For the context of this discussion, let me provide a quick introduction. My name is Derek Crawford, Executive Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, Iowa, a graduate of The Master’s Institute (MI) Class of 2021, and a member of the MI Alumni Board. Over the past several years, our church has had the privilege of hosting four MI interns—with me being one of them. I would have never guessed when I graduated five years ago that I would one day be serving as someone’s leadership coach. It’s kind of crazy to think about because what began as an opportunity to support future pastors has become one of the most transformative experiences for our interns, our congregation, and for me personally.
One of the greatest strengths of The Master’s Institute is its commitment to hands‑on formation. When an intern steps into the local church, they aren’t just learning about ministry — they’re living it. They preach, teach, lead worship, walk with people through real joys and real pain, and discover what it means to shepherd a community with humility and courage. Each intern who has come through Zion has grown in confidence, clarity, and character as they’ve learned to apply what MI teaches in the classroom to the crazy, unpredictable, Spirit‑led life of the church. Obviously, the process isn’t done perfectly, but the students are hopefully given a safe place to make mistakes and grow through them.
And those mistakes — or rather, the learning that comes from them — have led to an unexpected blessing: how much I have grown as a leadership coach. Coaching interns has stretched me beyond simply managing tasks, offering corrections, or giving instructions. It has taught me to slow down, ask deeper questions, and turn everyday moments into opportunities for formation.
One story stands out. An intern made a decision that I disagreed with, and my instinct was to step in quickly as “the boss” and correct it. But something nudged me to pause. Instead of reacting, I invited them into a conversation. We unpacked the decision, the assumptions behind it, the emotions that were triggered, and the pastoral implications. We looked at the situation from multiple viewpoints and considered the needs of everyone involved. It’s wild how what could have been a simple correction became a moment of growth — for both of us. That experience reshaped how I lead. Why not apply this approach to all my staff and any church conflict that might arise? It sounds simple, but leading is really about cultivating wisdom, character, and discernment in someone else. Coaching interns continues to make me a better pastor and a more patient leader.
For any church considering hosting a seminarian — or raising one up from within your own congregation — I want to encourage you to take the step. You don’t need a perfect system. You simply need a willingness to invest in someone’s calling. The Master’s Institute is forming leaders who love Jesus, love Scripture, and love the local church. Partnering with MI is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen the future of pastoral ministry.
I’m grateful for MI, grateful for the interns who have shaped our church, and grateful for the ways God continues to grow leaders — including me.