When Pastor Nathan Hedt talks about leadership, there’s a quiet conviction in his voice formed through decades of ministry, deep roots in faith, and a growing belief in the power of coaching to transform how Christian leaders serve. That conviction recently led him to Arrow’s Coach Mastery course, where he’s been refining his skills and discovering fresh ways to empower others in their ministry journeys.
A longtime Lutheran pastor, Nathan has spent over 20 years in ministry and now serves as the College Pastor at a large Lutheran school in Melbourne. Alongside this, he’s also pioneering a new church plant, pursuing his passion for evangelism and community building.
A life serving Jesus has formed the foundation in Nathan’s story since childhood. Raised by Christian parents who worked with refugees in Africa, Nathan’s early years were shaped by Jesus, service, and a love for people from diverse backgrounds. “From the time I was about five, believe it or not, I wanted to be a pastor,” he says. “I’ve explored various avenues of other study, but it always kept coming back to that… I really want to share the good news of Jesus with people.”
Finding a Coaching Path That Aligns with Faith
When a colleague recommended Arrow’s Coach Mastery program, Nathan saw the perfect opportunity to deepen his existing skills in coaching. Having previously coached church planters in his denomination, the idea of refining those skills and potentially using them to support his ministry came at the right time.
Alongside the Coach Mastery course equipping its leaders with an International Coach Federation (ICF) accreditation, what Nathan finds most valuable is how Arrow integrates Christian foundations at every level. “we’ve talked about Jesus as a coach. We’ve talked about Jesus and ethics. We’ve talked about the role of the Holy Spirit,” he explains. “With a Christian foundation it adds so much depth and richness to the coaching… we’re not just trying to help a person be effective but actually be purposeful in living out who they are in God’s Kingdom.”
Through the 20-week course, Nathan found not just tools and frameworks, but a sense of spiritual depth and community. “Even though we’re on Zoom, you actually make a connection with people…I have really appreciated the wisdom and professionalism of the trainers and educators that we’ve had. It’s been a real blessing,” he says.
He laughs when recalling one key takeaway that’s literally stuck with him throughout the course; a quote he printed and blu-tacked to his wall from The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier:
“Tell less, ask more. Your advice is not as good as you think it is.”
“It’s so natural to slip into advice mode,” Nathan says. “But it’s so much more powerful to stay in the coaching mode… to draw out insight and self-awareness and self-understanding.”
Hope for the Next Generation of Christian Leaders
Nathan believes the church in Australia is standing on the edge of something significant. “I think we’re going to see a large number of young people, late Gen Y and Gen Z coming back to church, seeking a robust expression of Christianity” he says.
For that to happen, he believes leaders need to embrace humility, self-awareness, and a posture of mentorship. “Part of our role is to not be gatekeepers,” Nathan expresses. “We need to be encouragers, mentors, and guides”
It’s this hope that ties closely to Arrow’s vision: to shape and equip leaders that are led more by Jesus, lead more like Jesus and lead more to Jesus. Nathan believes that Arrow’s work in “nurturing the kind of shift or turn“ among younger leaders is going to be crucial in helping the church shift into this new season. Nathan says, “Young leaders, they don’t just want shiny, happy things. They want a genuine, discipleship and people walking alongside them, believing in them, and equipping them to lead.”
A Gift That Grows
For Nathan, when you invest in Christian leadership, you’re investing in a gift that grows. “Investing in Christian leadership is one of the most effective investments you can make in the Kingdom of God,” he says. “When you invest in one person you are also investing in a whole community around them.”
Nathan invites us to consider that “When a well-equipped leader gives responsibility away, you get second, third, and fourth generations of leadership that grow out of that… your gift actually multiplies, it goes beyond just that one person and has a much larger impact.”
Across the 20-week Coach Mastery course, Nathan has experienced a blend of wisdom, faith, and Chrsitian maturity. “It’s been a real pleasure to learn from people who have such a depth of experience. Who’ve been reflecting on Jesus and coaching for such a long time that there’s a real richness and wisdom that comes through.”
As he continues to pastor, plant, and coach, Nathan carries that same spirit of multiplication forward by faithfully investing in leaders who, in turn, will grow others.
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