As Director of Church Health and Revitalization, I am often asked the question, "Why does a church need vision?" This is sometimes spoken with genuine interest, at other times with obvious skepticism. The skeptic frequently adds, “God has already given his vision to the church in the Bible, and especially in the Great Commission.” For over 30 years Outreach Canada has been committed to helping churches find, renew or review their vision. It has been a core value for Outreach Canada since its beginning. So there had better be a good answer to the “Why vision?” question!
Three things. First, if churches are so clear about what God wants them to do, why are 85% of them in North America plateaued or in decline? (actually--15% growing may be generous). Most of them are very clear about the Great Commission and are also deeply committed to the authority of the Scriptures, yet admit they are not getting the job done. Why? Lack of clarity and commitment to the part they are to play in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Second, churches that have prayed to find the mind of God for their part in the Great Commission, and have carefully thought through what they need to do to fulfill it, are growing as they reach people for Christ and help people to Christian maturity. George Barna, in his book The Power of Vision, states, “In every one of the growing, healthy churches I have studied, a discernible link has been forged between the spiritual and numerical growth of those congregations and the existence, articulation and widespread ownership of God’s vision for ministry by the leaders and participants of the church. Conversely, visionless congregations fail to experience spiritual and numerical growth. Rarely in my research do I find such overt, black-and-white relationships.” (page 12).
Third, the Great Commission is the Mission of the church, not the vision. Words like mission, purpose, and vision are often used interchangeably, but even that lack of clarity creates confusion. Whatever term is used, there should be distinction between the big picture (the Great Commission or Mission) and the local church’s implementation of the Mission in their time and place (the vision). The Apostle Paul is a good example of this. Clearly he was deeply committed to the Great Commission but his vision, given by God, was to primarily evangelize the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). That vision caused him to plan his missionary journeys to larger cities to plant churches that would disseminate the gospel throughout the regions.
Outreach Canada’s Vision RenewalTM Coaches help all kinds of churches. My own current experience is an example. I am coaching a small church on the brink of extinction, but working to help give it one more opportunity to be viable and effective in their neighborhood. Another church is stable in numbers, sound in finances, and solid in doctrine, but they know they are not as effective as they should be. Yet another church has been growing rapidly over the last five years, but the leadership recognizes they need to clarify their vision to continue to be effective. In fact, the only churches we cannot help are those content with the status quo.
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