Priest Vladislav Radujkovic, known in America as Father Vlad, has been working with people in their most difficult life moments for 25 years. But his deepest experience did not come from books – but from life.
As a father of two children with special needs, he started the “Guardians of Angels” program – a support space for parents carrying one of life’s heaviest experiences.
How did a priest come to be involved in Life Coaching?
-That field has not been news in the USA for a long time. It is just a different form of what a priest performs daily. Every priest is a Life Coach, but also much more than that. Or at least that is how it should be…
Is your approach to it different from others?
-My approach is a blend of Biblical truths, namely the timeless Words with which God addresses all generations of people, then the Orthodox traditional (Patristic) view of life, which is realistic and neither negates nor idealizes real life problems. And, finally, my personal experience in 25 years of spiritual work with different structures of people. However, I am not a miracle worker who makes the problem disappear. I try to ease it – to create a space where a parent can say: “I can’t do it anymore…” – and be understood and accepted.
You have a lot of personal experience for this program, as a father of two children with special needs.
-Yes, that is right. My spiritual work with people and my effort to be a good father to two children with special needs develop in parallel. Here, for a quarter of a century already. Now I want to share that experience of mine with those who are just going through the initial phases of fear, uncertainty, rejection… Or those who have been in it for a long time and are tired of everything. Or do not see a future. And they need someone who will lighten the burden they have been carrying for years. And all of that without the Word of God and purely spiritual guidelines – does not make much sense.
Is that the only program you offer within your activities?
-No, that is one of several. There is a program for men (The Kings Journey), a program for women (The Queens Path), and a program for youth (The Pathfinders). Through these programs, I try to confront the participants with the fact that everything already exists for them, that there is no need to wander through life, I just need to show them where those answers are located. To confront them with the reality of life’s problems and show them the hope and comfort that leads them through those problems. And to direct them so that what they have bravely done for themselves, they now share with the world in which they live.
Is there anything else in your programs that would be specific compared to similar programs?
-Certainly, there is. I will highlight the way of working as an advantage. Every session/meeting is done via the Zoom program, so no one has to leave their home Icon and comfortable environment, search for parking, be absent from obligations, etc. Given that I am, as a priest, under oath that details of confession are never and nowhere disclosed to the public, every participant of the group feels free to express everything on their soul. And if someone has a fear of the group, they are free to turn off the camera, and if necessary, the microphone. Also, the group itself of 5, 6, or 10 people maximum, gives encouragement and support to everyone for whom a moment seems too difficult. In this way, we create a circle of people who will continue to rise spiritually even outside of this program.
What are the most common questions your clients in these programs ask you?
-Through the programs, we talk about topics that many people carry: fatigue, loss of strength, disappointment, the burden of everyday life… those small things that exhaust a person. Those are just some of the many “small bites” that little by little tear away at the soul – until they chew us up completely. And so that they don’t spit us out, we need to protect ourselves and learn to deal with all of that while it’s not too late.
Is it already too late for many?
-Unfortunately, in a spiritual sense, there are more and more lost souls. Today, many people live under pressure – obligations are piling up, there is less and less time for oneself, and fear of the future is growing. That is why I designed these programs – as an attempt for a person to stop, gather themselves, and find a foothold.
How can people contact you for the programs you offer?
-The easiest way is through my internet presentation (www.charismavisual.com/charisma-life). There they can read in more detail about each program. Anyone who feels that they need this kind of support can reach out directly. There is always a way to personalize each program more, in accordance with the specific needs of the individual and the group.
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Author: Serbian Times Photo: Privatna arhiva