Vision

Vision, Mission, Values, Strategy, Goals, Ministry Philosophy

It seems to me there is a great deal of confusion with these terms, so when I read lot's of churches Vision Statements, they are often clear statements (which is the most important thing), but they are not Vision Statements, usually they are Mission Statements etc.

Maybe I have just misunderstood things - wouldn't be the first time, or maybe there really is confusion and for once I am actually on the right track!

Here's how I see it ....

Vision Statement

This is a Statement that paints a visual picture of what we want to see. These statements, though not necessarily, can be quite lengthy statements, a side of A4 or more, or maybe half a page or a paragraph or two. The key thing is, it paints a picture that people can see. It is the 'being able to see/imagine it' that makes it a vision statement. If you can't see it, it is not a Vision Statement (VS). So VS cannot be 'concepts' but must be concrete. Neither can they be 'tasks' but pictures. It is a picture that inspires by firing the imagination. A great example of a vision statement would be Martin Luther King's famous 'I Have A Dream!' 

In that statement he paints a magnificent and inspiring picture, a dream that all can dream. In fact he paints two vivid pictures, one being the status quo ...

"One hundred years later the negro still lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity ... the Negro is still languishing in the corners of Americas society and finds himself an exile in his own land."

And he paints a picture of "the dream" or you could just as easily say 'vision' ...

"I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day ... Little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boy and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers."

That is vision! A vision statement may have all sorts of inspiring detail, hence may be lengthy, but will often be summarised by a shorter statement. However, it is a real picture in full blown technicolor. Something that people see and dream about. It excites and motivates. It is what keeps you going when the going gets really tough. It is the dream!

An example of a  Bible vision would be Revelation 21, note the added emphasis ...

[21:1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. [2] And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. [3] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. [4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Another passage of scripture that could provide a 'vision' for a church is Acts 2 which provides an inspiring snap-shot of the early church...

[42] They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. [43] Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. [44] All the believers were together and had everything in common. [45] Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. [46] Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, [47] praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

In my next blog we'll look at 'what is a Mission Statement'.