Mike Bonem
For the last 16 months, churches have had little appetite for visioning or strategic planning. This makes perfect sense. In the middle of a pandemic, the unspoken vision for many churches was survival and the time horizon for their “long range” plans was 14 days. But as we head into the fall, pastors and ministry leaders are beginning to think further ahead (even with increased covid concerns).
As you consider the future, what is the vision – your understanding of God’s preferred future – for your church or ministry? After all we’ve been through since March 2020, you may be thinking it’s time for a new vision. But you also know this can be a long, time-consuming process. So let me suggest an alternative – a vision reset.
Regardless of how carefully it has been crafted, a vision statement on its own is limited in its potency. The explanation – the meaning behind those carefully chosen words – is what brings a vision to life. So before you abandon your current vision, take a closer look to see if it can be animated with fresh meaning.
Consider this example. Many vision statements include a phrase about “loving people” or “loving others.” Our culture overuses the word “love” – we love a good hamburger, a shirt, our spouse, and God. Same verb, but surely not the same meaning. So “love” in your vision statement is an invitation to talk about the Christian understanding of sacrificial love – agape. You can also describe the “people” your church is called to love. Most churches unconsciously show more love to their members and others who are most like them. Just a quick glance at Jesus’ teaching shows a very different picture.
This example illustrates how an existing vision can be given new life by explaining key words. You may already be clear about the meaning, but is your congregation? A vision reset should be a public process. Discussions in leadership team meetings can bring key words of the vision into sharper focus. Sermons and articles can be used to communicate to the congregation.
The purpose of a vision reset is not just understanding – it is movement. The vision should lead people to participate in what God is doing in their congregation. The work of restating the vision will not magically produce high commitment, but it should clarify direction and invite engagement. As a vision is reset, the people in a church should have a much better idea of how they can “love others,” individually and collectively. As you head into the fall, how much momentum could be created by a vision reset in your church or ministry?
