Vision starts with purpose, not numbers.

In order for vision to be caught, owned, and carried by your church, there has to be an effective transfer of vision. That transfer takes place most effectively by first sharing the purpose behind the vision and how the vision is a solution to a problem.

Some pastors often start out by focusing on the goal instead (which many times are numbers). For example, “We want to grow by X amount”, or “We want to see X amount of people in small groups”, or “We want to raise x amount of dollars for this…” etc. By starting out with the goal, they think it’s the goal itself that will mobilize people to own it.

If you are trying to mobilize people they need to see how it relates to their purpose, and how the vision is a solution to a problem.

For example: Making disciples is a primary purpose of any church. Jesus gave us this mission in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). So, let’s say you’re trying to get more of your church into small groups to build disciples. It’s important to first emphasize that you’re not doing it just for numbers sake, but because you believe small groups are critical to making disciples. You can share how Jesus didn’t say just to reach the lost, but to make disciples, and how as the Church, that’s a part of our primary purpose. Then the numerical goal takes on much more meaning and power than just a number would.

Apply the same thing to any area of ministry or expansion and it will really help your people not just know the vision but own it.

Stovall

Celebration Church – Don’t forget, we are Framing The Future at our Wide Open service this Sunday Night, October 23rd. 6pm at our Midtown, Orange Park, St. John’s, Camden, and Hardee Locations. Don’t miss it!

You have probably heard this before, but I think it merits repeating: Don’t get a big venue for your first service. It’s always best to pack out a smaller room and increase to multiple services, than to start out with a half-empty room. If you have no other options than a larger venue, then consider using something like pipe and drape and right-size the room to where it can feel full.

A packed room always helps to build momentum and energy as you kick off your church. This is just one of many important elements to consider in order to have great services. (God is worthy of our very best – one of our primary goals should always be to have incredible weekend services!)

I believe pastors must be masters of atmosphere. The atmosphere of our services is so crucial to people experiencing the presence of God and having a great experience in church. Think through your atmosphere. Be intentional in making it attractive, accepting, life giving, expectant, joyful, energetic, creative, excellent, relevant, etc. And most importantly – make sure it is conducive to experiencing the presence of God and receiving the Word of God.

Stovall

The Bible is the living, inerrant Word of God, and we must always humbly approach it as such. We must let the Bible read us as we read it, allowing the Bible to set it’s own agenda – not approach it with our own set of theological bias.

When you have a theological bias, or predetermined filter with what you want the Bible to say, you submit God’s Word to your mind instead of submitting your mind to the Word of God.

When man submits God’s Word to his mind religion is the result.

When man submits his mind to God’s Word, faith, life and transformation are the result.

Stovall

As pastors, we’ve all experienced the pressures of growing our churches and ministries bigger and faster. It seems to be what is celebrated and rewarded most in the church world of the West. And most of us can probably relate to the frustration of working so hard, but not seeing the kind of growth we were hoping for in that particular season.  It’s during those seasons we are tempted to compare ourselves to our peers or others around us.  If we see their churches exploding or platforms expanding, and ours is not, it becomes difficult not to feel discouraged, frustrated or even jealous.

Pastor, when you obeyed the call to plant your church you did it out of a passion for Jesus and to see His kingdom expand, not for recognition or accolades.  You wanted to reach people for Christ and make disciples. You were thrilled when enough people showed up that the church could actually be self-supporting.  What has changed?  Don’t complicate things now. You are called, gifted and chosen to do what God has called you to do. You bring something to the body of Christ that no one else can bring or God would not have called you to do it.  Stay on fire for God, keep your vision hot, continue to pay the price for your church to grow and expand, and trust the results to God. Lean into your strengths, be faithful with what God has entrusted you with and he will give you more.

But here is how to stay free from that junk once and for all…CELEBRATE the success of others! 

We have to (even if it is by faith initially), get into a habit of genuinely celebrating others’ successes. So when you think about the church that’s growing faster than yours – celebrate them and their success. The guy you find yourself comparing yourself to – celebrate him. The church in your city that has lots of momentum right now- celebrate them!  Thank God for those people and those churches and the gifts and blessings they bring to the body of Christ.  Pray for them, publicly honor and speak highly of them.  If you’ve never done this, try it! Something so powerful takes place when you do this. The Holy Spirit frees you up and gives you the confidence in who God has called you to be.  Don’t compare, CELEBRATE!

Stovall

Checkout my new monthly leadership podcast, Breaking Barriers.

This podcast is released on the first Thursday of each month and is designed to help you as a leader, break barriers in making an impact for God.

In this month’s session, I talk about how managing our energy, and not just our time, is what produces the vital balance every leader wants and needs.

[Click here] to tune in.

Stovall