A Legacy for Christian Coaches and Leaders

In this episode, Dr. Leelo Bush reflects on the power of conviction and courage, drawing inspiration from Charlie Kirk’s “Never Surrender” message. She parallels his example with the calling of Christian coaches, counselors, and leaders to live and teach boldly, even through difficult times and opposition. Dr. Bush shares practical coaching tools rooted in Scripture to help clients clarify convictions, transform grief into purpose, practice courage, and leave a Christ-centered legacy.

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What You’ll Learn

• Why courage and conviction are essential for Christian coaching and leadership
  
  

• Four tools to help clients grow: Conviction Clarifier, Grief-to-Purpose Mapping, Courage Role Play, and Legacy Letter
  
  

• How to guide others in transforming personal loss into Kingdom purpose
  
  

• How Scripture anchors resilience, authenticity, and boldness in coaching practice
  
  

• The importance of living with conviction and modeling Christlike courage
  
  

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Quotable Moments

• “One life lived with conviction can awaken a generation.”
  CHRISTIAN COACHING SCHOOL - SEA…
  
  

• “Grief becomes the soil for new growth.”
  CHRISTIAN COACHING SCHOOL - SEA…
  
  

• “Never surrender to fear, never surrender to grief, and never surrender your calling.”
  CHRISTIAN COACHING SCHOOL - SEA…
  
  

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Scriptures Mentioned

• Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and courageous…”
  
  
  

• 2 Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear…”
  
  
  

• Hebrews 12 – “Run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”

Resources

• PCCCA Courses: https://pccca.org/courses/
  
  

• Healing the Grieving Brain Guide: https://griefcoachu.com/healing/
  
  

• The Comprehensive Christian Coach Handbook (Dr. Leelo Bush): Amazon link
  
  

• Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe (Facebook group): facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe
  
  
  
  Full Transcript

Charlie Kirk once said, “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas, not run away from them, or try and silence them.”

Those words capture the heart of what I want to share with you today. This is more than a tribute to Charlie Kirk. It’s a conversation about how his message of courage and conviction can inspire us as Christian coaches, counselors, and ministry leaders.

This is today’s topic. Welcome to the Christian Coaching School podcast. I’m your host, Dr. Leelo Bush. I’m a master coach, author, curriculum creator, and the number one authority on Spirit-led Christian coaching. I’ve trained tens of thousands worldwide since 2003. And if you are ready to uplevel your skills, find greater fulfillment, and employ the most powerful coaching available to mankind—let’s go.

Welcome, friends. I’m Dr. Leelo Bush, your host. I pioneered Spirit-led Christian life coaching more than 20 years ago and wrote the first comprehensive Christian coaching handbook, now in its second edition. Through my academies and training programs, I have helped believers around the world discover how to coach and counsel with the wisdom of Scripture, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the tools of transformation that change lives. I’m honored to have you with me today.

Charlie poured his heart into building a movement to save America. He believed in young people. He believed in ordinary Americans. And he believed that even in our darkest hours, America was the beacon of goodness, freedom, and truth. And he gave his life for that.

Our task now is not only to protect what he built, but to grow it bigger, stronger, and bolder than anyone ever thought possible. And look around you—it’s happening. God took his one voice, and when the enemy came against him, multiplied it thousands and thousands of times greater.

As a first-generation American and daughter of parents who fled communism, faith, freedom, and opportunity are hallmarks to everything I do and believe in. Charlie lived his life with boldness. He was unafraid to step into the public square and declare what he believed to be true. His motto, as his family shared, was “Never surrender.” He knew what it meant to take the heat, to endure criticism, and to keep going.

Whether or not we agreed with him on every point, there was no denying that he embodied a spirit of courage that calls all of us higher. He leaves behind a legacy of boldness and impact, reminding us that one life lived with conviction can awaken a generation.

For me, his life echoes the same conviction that God placed in my heart years ago when He called me to pioneer Christian life coaching. I remember when the idea of Spirit-led coaching was new, even unrecognized. And when it emerged, there was opposition from the old guard who thought coaching this way was too spiritual, too radical. There was no roadmap but the one God gave me.

Yes, He gave me the vision, and I wrote the first Spirit-led Christian coaching textbook so that believers everywhere could have a biblical, Spirit-filled foundation for helping others. Since then, thousands have been trained, certified, and sent into the world as coaches and counselors who carry Christ’s love and transformation to countless lives.

That work continues today through many programs: Christian life coaching, Christian counseling, grief coaching, stress relief coaching, wellness, and so much more. These are all branches of the same tree that God planted in me.

At the conclusion of this episode, I encourage you to visit the Academy. I know you have many options when it comes to training, and yes, you can invest far more or far less than our tuition. But here’s the truth: you won’t find training of greater value anywhere, at any price.

Why am I so confident? Since I pioneered Spirit-led Christian coaching in 2003 and literally wrote the book on it, we have never stopped refining, improving, and aligning our programs with the unchanging, infallible Word of God. The results speak for themselves.

Our students’ lives are transformed, and through them God’s power ripples outward, impacting families, communities, and nations for His glory. This is why so many of our graduates return again and again for more training. They know what we offer simply cannot be found anywhere else.

In addition, we are honored to provide financial support opportunities, including tuition assistance for veterans and the Kingdom Impact Scholarship Program. Remember: God calls us to be evenly yoked in our relationships, in business, and even more importantly, in who we choose to learn from. Select your training with the same discernment you would use to choose your church. It’s that important.

Visit PCCCA.org/courses. While you’re there, explore our programs. Pray for guidance, and when you’re ready, enroll with confidence knowing you have found the right place. Your calling to impact lives is too important to wait.

And when I reflect on Charlie Kirk’s “Never Surrender” message, I see a bridge between his example and what we are called to do in coaching and counseling. He showed what it looks like to stand firm in public life. We are called to help people stand firm in their personal lives in the face of grief, loss, confusion, or pressure to compromise their values.

Our role is to give clients the tools to find their courage, to clarify their convictions, and to live in a way that builds a legacy for Christ.

So let’s make this practical.

One tool you can use is something I call the Conviction Clarifier. Invite your client or group to write down three values they will not surrender no matter what. Ask them: if your life were on display, what would you want people to see about you? Then help them define behaviors that show those values and identify what it would look like to compromise them. When they put those convictions into clear words, it becomes a compass for their life.

Another tool is what I call the Grief-to-Purpose Mapping. All of us have experienced loss. Instead of letting grief silence us, we can let it fuel us. Ask your client: what did you lose, and what did you gain in strength or insight because of it? Then challenge them to map one concrete action that channels that new strength into serving others—maybe it’s writing a book, starting a group, or simply encouraging someone who is hurting. In this way, grief becomes the soil for new growth.

You can also practice what I call the Courage Role Play. Create a scenario where your client feels pressured to back down or stay silent. Play the role of that pressure. Then let them practice standing firm calmly and respectfully. Afterwards, debrief what felt strong and what felt shaky. This helps them prepare to live out their convictions in real life with grace and confidence.

And then one of my favorite exercises is the Legacy Letter. Invite your client to imagine writing a letter to a future grandchild, describing the kind of life they lived and the values they stood for. This draws their focus away from the stress of today and helps them live in a way that their future self and future generations will admire.

Scripture reinforces every one of these tools. Joshua 1:9 tells us, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Second Timothy 1:7 says, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.”

And Hebrews 12 reminds us to run with perseverance, fixing our eyes on Jesus, who endured opposition so that we would not grow weary. Those words anchor us as we encourage others to never surrender.

So the question is: who do we need to become? If our lives were held up as examples the way Charlie Kirk’s is now, what would people see? Would they see courage or compromise? Would they see faith or fear? Would they see a legacy that points to Christ, or a life that’s simply drifting along?

As Christian coaches, counselors, and leaders, we are called to embody courageous conviction, spiritual authenticity, resilience, rest, and legacy-minded living. That means we must walk the talk, so that when people look at us, they don’t just hear words—they see a life that demonstrates what is possible in Christ.

So here’s my challenge to you: define one conviction you will never surrender. Write it down. Share it with someone you trust. And then live it out this week in a tangible way. Help your clients and groups do the same. Teach them to clarify their convictions, to transform grief into purpose, to practice courage, and to think about the legacy they will leave.

As we close, let’s return once more to Charlie’s words:
“If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas, not run away from them, or try and silence them.”

Let’s take that to heart, not only in the public arena, but in the private battles of life—in the moments of grief, and in the coaching sessions where we help others rise to their calling.

Let’s pray.
Lord, we thank You for examples of courage that stir us to live more boldly. Teach us to never surrender to fear or compromise, but to stand firm in truth, to comfort those who mourn, and to raise up leaders who will impact the world for Your glory. May our lives be legacies that point to Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Until next time, remember this: never surrender to fear, never surrender to grief, and never surrender your calling. Live with conviction, coach with courage, and leave a legacy that will echo for generations.

Before you go, I want to personally invite you to join our private Facebook group, The Courageous Christian Coaching Tribe. This is where bold, Spirit-led coaches and aspiring coaches gather to grow, get equipped, and stay encouraged together. Inside you will find exclusive tips, training, supportive community, and the kind of Kingdom-minded conversations you just can’t find anywhere else.

If you’re feeling called to coach, or if you want to stay sharp in your calling, this is your place. Our group culture is each one, bring one—so invite a friend to join you. The more the merrier.

Just go to facebook.com/groups/courageouschristiancoachingtribe (no spaces). Or just tap the link in the show notes. But don’t wait, because the sooner you join, the sooner we can start pouring into you. And I will see you inside the Tribe.