Keeping the Vision Alive.

Keeping the vision alive
Rusty Ford



One of the things I have noticed about many successful churches is that they have a clear vision for the mission of their church. They know where they are going, why they are going there and how they are going to get there. Most of all not only do the leaders know this but so do the members of the church.

It is important not only to have a mission statement but it needs to be short, understandable and achievable. A mission statement is only valuable if it truly states the mission of the church; it is understood and believed in by the leadership and the members of the church and then put into action.
The important thing once you have it is not only to begin to act on it but to keep it fresh. By this I mean that it is not in the background. Leaders and people are regularly reminded of it. The ultimate goal is that this becomes the passion of your church.  

Reminding people of the vision is important. I have heard pastors talk of the Nehemiah Principle. This principle is based on the people forgetting the vision of building the wall after 28 days and Nehemiah having to remind the people of the vision.  With so much grabbing at our attention every day we need to be often reminded of things important in our lives this includes the vision of our church.

Early in my ministry I did an internship at Overlake Christian Church. At the time it was a congregation of around 4000. I never saw a written vision statement but everyone knew the vision of the church it was simple. We were going to win our community to Christ by leading people to Jesus, discipling  them and teaching them to lead others to Christ.

This may seam overly simplistic but everyone knew and understood it. The entire congregation was centered on these goals. Staff meetings were centered on how to better pursue the goals and every function of the church was evaluated as to how they fit into these goals. This vision was talked about from the pulpit, there were training conferences and hundreds of lay leaders equipped to participate and bring others into participating in the vision.

I am not saying that this should be the vision for your church. Our Father has a unique plan for all churches in the greater church. I am saying that once you have found that vision make it yours and keep it fresh and alive.