Church Vision

you're looking for a mission statement, no?

- no pun intended

ANY organization, profit or nonprofit, needs a good vision and/or mission statement, if it is to be effective. Good thing your church has a WRITER in the congregation!

Leadership generally develops the notion, but it has to be well written (concise, contagious) to really be effective. It has to reach the listener across a broad spectrum, from the critical ear to the casual lurker. From the fighter pilot to the janitor, as Tactical Air Command said in their vision: "everyone plays a role in the sortie rate."

There's a difference between a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement. A Mission Statement says what your mission is right now. Your Vision Statement says where you want to be in the future.

Roger J Carlson said:

There's a difference between a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement. A Mission Statement says what your mission is right now. Your Vision Statement says where you want to be in the future.

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The second question and answer in the Catholic catechism reads:
Q: "Why did God make you?"
A: "God made me to know Him, to Love Him and to serve Him in this world so that I may be happy with Him in the next."

How's that for a vision statement? And just think, there's no money involved!

C

[non-churchgoer putting in my $.02]

I have no idea if the Nazarene church across the street from me has either type of statement. What they do have is transparently obvious: legs and arms and cars to take Jesus to the neighborhood and the surrounding area. By that I mean there are always church members taking food to the hungry, clothes to the needy, visiting the sick, reaching out to the homeless, and connecting with the under-20 crowd. I see it practically every single day.

This is not a snarky question: Does a church need it in writing? The spirit of the pastor, his family, and the elders (I would guess) make it abundantly clear.

[going off to hide my unchurched self again ]

"pewpotatoes"

I have no intention of returning to any church, but if God ever puts His hands on my shoulders and SHOVES, that church is pretty much the only place I'd ever consider heading to. (Church gives me bad convent flashbacks. My twitchiness would scare the kiddies. )

A church definately needs a vision. It says "My people die for lack of vision" or words to that effect. (soz forgot where!)
A vision should be passed on to others. So that which ever way you cut the church the vision oozes out.
Ex: Joshua met with an angel (or Jesus depending on how you see it!!) He gave Josh the vision who then shared it with the elders/leaders of the tribes of Israel after which shared the vision to everyone.
SO everyone knew the vision and everyone took ownership of that vision. It became part of them.
Then they went out and took the land that God had promised them!!

Kev

Well after I found this thread I went a-huntin' on our church's website and this is what I discovered:

"Our mission is to actively seek the good of individuals and the welfare of the city by embracing the good news of God’s redemptive promise."

Which seems pretty broad. Good, but broad. We haven't been going there long, but we do appreciate their heart for the city and the community in which they gather.

callalily61 said:

[non-churchgoer putting in my $.02]


This is not a snarky question: Does a church need it in writing? The spirit of the pastor, his family, and the elders (I would guess) make it abundantly clear.

[going off to hide my unchurched self again ]

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You are 100% correct in my opinion. I believe an individual with a close walk with the Lord will be given a personal mission, a personal passion. For example, I know individuals who feel a strong ministry for the elderly or those who can't get out and about on their own. They take them meals, drive them to doctors appointments or parks or simply spend time with them. I know of another person who was once in prison and feels a strong sense of ministry for those who are in prison. Some people as individuals are real prayer warriors and you know they have the ear of God at all times. I personally see the church body as a melting pot of individual missions, collectively supporting one another with great preaching that nourishes the soul and prepares one for the week ahead, prayer that holds them up in whatever ministry God has given them, encouragement on a one-to-one basis when needed and financial support when needed. There is a reason why the church universal is referred to as a body of many parts that all grow up together. They don't all do the same thing, don't all serve the same function but they do support one another. I'll give you a small example of the kind of far-reaching effect this can have. One day my husband came to me and told me he felt we were to give our car to a lady in another church. We'd heard of her through his parents, knew she didn't have a car but visited a lot of shut-ins. We didn't even know if she could drive. My husband called his parents and asked about her only to find out that she and her pastor had been in prayer together in the previous weeks, praying for a car. My father-in-law paid for the first year of car insurance and she used that car for many years to do her visiting.
Linnea

III said:

Please tell me you made that phrase up. That's fantastic.

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Yes I did. WOW! You like it. COOL BEANS!!

I think Leonard Ravenhill said the following but I am not too sure! It was a long time ago when I heard it!!!

"The church today has vision, too much vision, TELEVISION."

Kevvers