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After the Vision Statement, What Next?
Your church has agreed on a vision statement, maybe even core values. Now what?
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Lou Diaz Wheaton Evangelical Free Church When I came to WEFC in 1991, the church was celebrating its fortieth anniversary with the theme "A Vision Revisited, A Vision Renewed." During a Concert of Prayer, we had people contribute their vision ideas, and as leaders we compiled them into five "vision points":
Then we distributed a Vision Chart, with the five components as headings across the top. Underneath was a brief description and then blank space for people to write the specific way they would be willing to help fulfill that vision point for the next year. We asked everyone—from new members to charter members, to indicate how they would help—whether praying, giving, assisting, or leading a particular aspect. In eight years, the entire vision was fulfilled! Specific ministries emerged from the Vision Chart such as Stephen's Ministries, disciplemaking small groups, community impact efforts, a new worship center, and a church plant that's now reaching 240 seekers in a theater west of Wheaton. This team building, through a common focal point, the Vision Chart, made the invisible visible. Exposure to Creative OptionsGene Appel Central Christian Church Outreach was part of our vision. I invested the first two or three years in preaching through the themes of evangelism, finding lost people, and understanding God's passion for reaching those not yet in his kingdom. As the teacher, I set the agenda for establishing topics and priorities. I used these weekly opportunities to fertilize the congregation so it might adopt a variety of methods in the future. Even though I was familiar with Bill Hybels and Willow Creek and had led a seeker-oriented youth ministry before coming to Central, I did not initially consider transforming our church in that direction. Then I began taking staff and lay leaders to progressive church conferences (Willow Creek was one) to introduce them to new ways of ministry. This created an atmosphere of openness to fresh ideas that we would eventually modify to fit our church culture. Instead of sudden, cold-turkey change, we gradually pushed the envelope. Incremental adjustments allow you to test your congregation's tolerance for change. Small successes build credibility for you as a leader. We added a second morning service and Sunday school program, which was well received. In worship we introduced more contemporary music and added drums, which did not sit well, so we backed up. Later we introduced drums again, and now people can't imagine not using drums with congregational singing. So we take three steps forward, two steps back, but the net result is gradual progress toward the vision. |             |
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