Notes for a lecture on vision and mission, based on George Barna's The Power of Vision. Visit www.drpablojimenez.net

2. Introduction
The Church today desperate needs a
clear understanding of God’s
purpose for each individual
congregation.
Also, today both Pastors and lay
leaders are more aware than ever of
the importance of vision for ministry.

3. Rudiments

4. Main Idea
God has called you to a specific
ministry, and God wants to impart
ideas of what that ministry should be.
God’s vision is about maximizing
your God-given potential to bless God
and others through Christian ministry.

5. Our General Mission
0Every church has basically the same
general mission: to help people
fulfill the Great Commission (Mt.
28.16-20) and the Great
Commandment (Mt. 22.34-40)
through diverse ministries.

6. Beyond a Statement
However, affirming the general
mission of the church is not enough.
A Church needs a specific mission.
Furthermore, posting a two-line
mission statement in the weekly
program is not enough to revitalize a
congregation.

7. Suite
Ignoring God’s best ideas for a our
ministries is both an act of
disobedience (by rejecting God’s
will) and an act of strategic
ineptitude (by ignoring untapped
opportunities).

8. Definition
Vision for ministry is a clear
mental image of a preferable
future imparted by God.
It is based upon an accurate
understanding of God, self and
circumstances.

9. A Reason to Live
0Vision, then, provides a bold
reason for living. It is a badge of
purpose that the bearer wears
proudly and courageously.
0God’s Vision is always inspiring.

10. Our Objective
0Our objective is not to acquiesce to
a preordained future but to shape
the future.
0The vision is the means to define
the parameters within which the
future will emerge.

11. Statement & Slogan
0Your mission should be described in, at
least, two ways. First, in an easy to
memorize sentence (around 12 words).
0Second, in a slogan that captures the
essence of the larger statement. Vision is
specific, detailed, customized, distinctive
and unique to a given church.

12. A Philosophic Statement
0Your mission is essentially a
philosophic statement that undergirds
the heart of your ministry.
0Therefore, a Church should also produce
a larger document explaining the
biblical and theological foundations of
the mission statement.

13. Vision & Strategic Planning
0Vision is the centerpiece of
strategy. Strategy is the means to
effective church development.
0Effective development of the church
is the means to transform the
world with the message of the
Gospel.

14. The Future
0The future belongs to visionary
leaders.
0It is the power of God working
through churches led by visionaries
leaders that causes that image of
the future to become a reality.

15. Not a Done Deal
0Realize that the future is not something
that just happens; it is a reality that is
shaped by those strong enough to exert
control over their environment.
0The future is not a done deal waiting for
a response. The future belongs to God
and to visionary pastors driven to shape
it.

16. Visionary pastors
0Visionary pastors are leaders who have
surrendered their personal ambition.
0Their tendency of self-promotion has
been replaced by an urgent need to seek
God’s will. Vision is not an exercise in
promoting yourself, your dreams or
your needs.

17. Leading Without Vision
Many senior pastors do not have an
understanding of God’s vision for the
ministries they are trying to lead.
Consequently, their congregations have
little impact in their communities or in
the lives of their congregants.

18. Clear communication
0The vision is meant to be shared. That can
only happen when it is clear and available.
0Organizations that have efficient, clear,
reliable means of communication tend to be
successful.
0Those who have under-developed, imprecise
or otherwise restricted lines of
communication are more likely to experience
stagnation or decline.

19. Vision & Preaching
0The vision of a given Church can be
communicated through the regular
preaching and teaching program.
0Therefore, the contents of your
sermons should reflect the
substance of your vision.

20. A Standard
0The vision is also disseminated more
deeply when is not simply a statement of
a desired outcome but is integrated into
the ministry as a standard to be met.
For instance, one means of integration
would be to use it as the basis for
measuring or evaluating the success
of your programs.

21. How to evaluate
0When evaluating your
congregation, refer to your vision
& your strategic goals.
0 Do not use numbers & statistics as
the yardstick of success.

22. The End
0This lecture is, in
part, based on the
book by George
Barna, titled THE
POWER OF VISION,
which we
enthusiastically
recommend.