Stepping out in Vision

The Implementation and Dissemination of Vision 

I speak a lot about Vision, for me it is the starting point of everything that we do. Whether we are in business or in church, without a clear defined vision we are directionless. It is vision that defines who and what we do. Not only that but how we do what we do.

I have also stated on more than one occasion that Ministry builds people but it is Leadership that builds churches. I believe that a church can only grow to between 120 and 150 on the ministry of a single person. But with a right understanding of leadership and how leadership functions, evolves and develops that same person can grow their church to way beyond this number. Church is not just about the ability to pastor. It is about influencing people to your cause and beliefs and culture. It is the engaging and building of relationship. It is the creation of organisation and structure.

I am not saying that there is a magic formula that if followed will result in massive and spontaneous growth, because it is God who sets increase in the church. What we do either hinders that growth or facilitates it. However a strong culture, hard work and organisation and structure will help to produce an atmosphere that will encourage growth. Existing congregation members will embrace the vision and the direction that they are being taken. When they see God at work they will be encouraged to become more involved.

So how does a Senior Church Leader step out in vision? We have discussed many other things that are essential for vision but its implementation and dissemination need to be looked at in a little more detail.

The senior leader thinks and sees possibilities rather than barriers and problems. They have an attitude that is optimistic and full of faith. The vision they have is unique to them, copying another mega churches vision only has a short term result and life span. Their vision is based on prayer and time spent in God’s word. Leaders assume responsibility for the vision, they drive it forward, and it involves taking responsibility for both success and failures. Not everything that is tried will work. If a leader stops and is distracted by every failure then they are no longer leading but are reacting to events. They revert to the fall back position of re-establishing their ministry base rather than their leadership frame work. In other words they “bottle it”. True leaders do not give up and return to old ways.

Senior Leaders work hard sometimes as much as 80 hours a week if not more. They are seen to invest their time energy and money in the vision. Others are encouraged to do the same. As the church grows they in turn release others to more substantial roles in the church, they share with no reservations the ministry load.

The senior leader is constantly growing personally in both spiritual growth and personal development in order to see their capacity as larger than the church they already have. Foresight in expounding vision is vital. Great leaders can see the result and outcome of any given scenario and this helps them develop adapt and be flexible in what they do and say.

Vision is discussed and talked about at every opportunity. The leadership of a church are constantly speaking about it and everything they do is directed back to the vision and direction of the church and its culture. People are seen as potential leaders; they are identified early, motivated, trained and then released. Vision sets the agenda for the future direction of the church.

 Lastly let me revisit the Ministry versus Leadership issue. When a person takes over or establishes a church they are involved in substantial ministry, however as the church grows their time is spent more and more in developing leadership, structure the establishment of culture and practice. The problem arises when a person thinks because they are employed in a spiritual occupation that their time should be fully committed to ministry and the pursuit of the spiritual at the neglect of the practical aspects of church function. The graph below that I have adapted from Dr Ian Jagelman of the Jagelman Institute of Australia better represents the percentage of time spent between Ministry and Leadership. 

When the congregation size of a church is between 50 and 65 a Pastor spends about 90% of their time in Ministry matters and 10% in Leadership matters. As the church grows they will find that at about 135 mark it is about equal amounts. From then on as the church grows the senior leader finds themselves more involved with leadership decisions and less time in ministry. By the time a church gets to 500+ then 90% of time is spent in leadership direction and on 10% in ministry. Generally this last 10% is preaching.

The dissemination and implementation of a leader’s vision is all about fulfilment of one thing and one thing only and that is the making of disciples and the winning of the lost for the cause of Christ.