After graduating from Baptist Bible College, my first full-time ministry was in Orlando, FL. While there, I learned a lot about Walt Disney. There is a story told that when Disney’s Epcot Center opened in 1982, sixteen years after his death, Walt’s wife Lillian cut the ribbon during the opening ceremony. When she was called up to the podium, one of the executives said to her, “Mrs. Disney, I wish Walt could have seen this.” She replied, “He did.” There is no doubt, Walt Disney was a man with a vision.
Few things get people more excited than painting a picture of what could and should be. Click To TweetMuch more important than having a vision for entertainment, as Walt Disney had, is a church leader having a vision for their ministry. Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, famously said, “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” There are many definitions of vision. Perhaps my favorite, regarding ministry, is “a clear, challenging picture of the future of the ministry, as you believe it can and should be.”
A few reasons why a church leader needs to understand vision:
- Vision provides energy
Few things get people more excited than painting a picture of what could and should be.
- Vision creates cause
The right vision creates meaning in people’s lives, providing them with a cause and giving them a sense of divine purpose.
- Vision protects unity
The reason many churches struggle with unity is a lack of a compelling vision. People want to be a part of something larger than themselves. This happens with a compelling vision and rallies people around the same cause.
Lastly, vision does not happen without leaders. Vision is one task the leader cannot delegate. Church leaders must own the vision God has given them for their ministry. One of their most important tasks is to communicate that vision clearly.
Lastly, vision does not happen without leaders. Vision is one task the leader cannot delegate. Click To Tweet