The Power of Presence: From Striving to Surrender in Leadership

In a world constantly pushing for more, faster, and bigger, the concept of presence often gets lost in the noise. Yet, for Donald E. Coleman, President of The Center for Biblical Coaching and Leadership, it is the bedrock of transformational leadership and a life lived in alignment with divine purpose. His journey from a striving for-profit venture to a surrendered non-profit mission offers a powerful testament to the "Isaac Principle" – giving back the gift to the Giver so it can truly flourish.

Coleman’s story is one of profound transformation. He initially founded a for-profit coaching company, pouring his life into it, only to find it felt heavy, a constant striving. “I was a square peg trying to fit into a round hole,” he recounts. The turning point came when he allowed himself to be silent, to pause, and to listen. This intentional shift from striving to surrender led to the birth of The Center for Biblical Coaching and Leadership, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and organizations blend their personal and professional lives into a unified, purposeful journey.

The Discipline of Presence: Emptying to Be Filled

For Coleman, living out his faith in his daily leadership begins with presence. “I begin each and every day in presence,” he states. “It's the discipline of solitude and the discipline of silence.” This isn't a passive act, but an active emptying of self, allowing his cup to be filled by God. For years, his quiet time was filled with activities – reading, devotionals – a form of “being busy in my quiet time.” The revelation came when he learned to “become still in my quiet time where I go in and God is speaking to me. I don't use words anymore. I go in to just be in presence.”

This profound shift has enabled him to carry that presence throughout his day, allowing Christ to flow through him rather than relying on his own strength or performance. He likens it to cleaning a garage: taking out what isn't needed to make space for what is truly desired – peace, calm, and abundance. This daily rhythm of emptying and being filled allows him to show up differently, fully present in every interaction, unburdened by the distractions of email or future tasks.

Counter-Cultural Decisions: The Non-Profit Leap

Coleman’s decision to close his for-profit and launch a non-profit organization stands as a powerful example of faith guiding a decision seemingly counter to worldly business practices. He wrestled with the idea for a year, concerned about external perceptions. Yet, in presence, he realized, “it doesn't matter because they're gonna think no matter what.” This radical shift from receiving to giving, from striving for financial reward to seeking life-giving impact, was a direct outcome of his deepened communion with God.

His faith now plays the role, not a role, in every aspect of his life – his time, talent, and treasure. All his endeavors are rooted in relationship and the divine directive to explain and allow people to understand the divine love of Agape. This love, he emphasizes, is not human love, but a love “greater than all that we could ask, think or imagine,” motivating everything they do.

Communion, Community, Commissioning: The Order of Impact

When asked how to encourage other Christian business leaders, Coleman offers three profound words: Communion, Community, and Commissioning. He stresses that most people start with commissioning – the vision, the mission – getting the order wrong. True, lasting impact, he argues, begins with communion.

1. Communion: This is the starting point, the resting in God's presence, receiving divine love. It’s where the “Isaac Principle” comes into play: taking an idea, a gift, and giving it back to the Giver for its true purpose to be revealed. This is where the seed is planted and nurtured, allowing it to produce what God intends, not what we desire.
2. Community: Out of communion comes community – a gathering of people flowing in the same divine river, not just those with like-mindedness or similar goals. It’s a space where individuals, filled by God's presence, focus on who each person truly is, not what they do or what they can bring.
3. Commissioning: Only out of communion and community does true commissioning emerge. This is where our lives, our “cups,” are used to effect change that is already happening through God. It’s not about striving to make things happen, but about co-laboring with God, allowing the divine river to flow through us.

Coleman’s ultimate advice is to build your life around communion, not your schedule, calendar, or bottom line. Just as we don’t think about breathing, communion should become an unconscious, life-sustaining act. This profound shift, he believes, is where true joy, mystery, and adventure in life and business truly begin. It’s in the brokenness of communion that we lose ourselves and take on the form of Agape, realizing that nothing else truly matters when we know we are beloved by the Creator of the universe. This understanding, he concludes, changes everything.