There's Nothing Like Vision

This past weekend at Willow, Sr. Pastor Bill Hybels launched a 4-week series where we’re laying out the vision for the next few years at our church.  I’ve been listening to Bill cast vision for over 30 years now, starting with the high school youth group he led at the church where I grew up.  Honestly, I sometimes wonder if I have room for any more vision, whether I’m going to get inspired and led in yet another direction – but then God uses him to stir my heart, and I see a clear picture of our future, and I’m all ready to sign up again for the next leg of the race!

There’s truly nothing like vision to move a community toward action, toward living out what God has in mind for that particular group of believers for bringing hope to this world.  Even the people in our ministry who have been with us the longest, those we think have heard it all, desperately need to be reminded of why we do what we do, why it’s worth the sacrifice, why we should stay faithful to the ongoing adventure.  I respect Bill for the attention he pays to just the right word pictures and choices, words that don’t sound tired but instead are bursting with energy and Spirit-led significance.  For any of us who lead a team or church of any size, attention must be paid to not only where we are headed, but how to describe that new direction in a compelling, God-honoring, creative way.  The Bible teaches that “without a vision, the people perish…”  When we get fuzzy and muddled about our purpose for existing, and what is the next challenge on the horizon, our spirits yawn and excitement dissipates.  May all of us who lead not succumb to the lazy meandering of ministry-as-usual, but instead, wrestle with God and our teams until our vision is clear, and then unapologetically communicate that vision with passion and clarity.

If you would like to view Bill Hybels vision message click here.

Comments

[Tony McCollum]

Nancy, I'm so excited to see that you've got a blog! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

This post on vision is outstanding. Vision-casting is such an important part of what a leader does but, as you say, it's easy to get lazy and lose both focus and clarity. May God help us to refocus and recast the vision in fresh and exciting ways!

[Doug]

Nobody lays it out like pastor Hybels! I've always left WC conferences not just looking to take the next hill, but to run through it.

Welcome to the blogosphere!!