Envisioning healthy congregations
engaged in effective

Christian Ministry
locally AND globally.

Purpose! Passion! Vision!

How often we talk about having a vision for the future! In our churches, we seek to set in motion a plan that will allow us to develop and to grow both collectively and individually. We seek to be and to become the People of God, the Body of Christ. We are encouraged and challenged to grow spiritually and numerically.

As a member of The Congregational Ministries Council, I have been asked to share some thoughts on this topic. These are based in part on past experience, as well as by Dr. Callahan’s presentation at “The Small, Strong Church Conference” offered by our region. Let me begin by sharing from past experience. Several years ago, my husband and I were serving as pastors of a small church in New Jersey. We and a few key leaders of that congregation attended a workshop given by Dr. Lee Spitzer who is now Executive Minister in that region. At the time, Dr. Spitzer was the pastor of a church in our area. He presented a visioning concept that we were able to adapt and to implement. The process was as follows.

First, we invited each person in our church family to write a letter to their imaginary friend, “Chris Christian.” It was to be dated five years in the future. In the letter they were to describe the changes that had taken place in our church during the “past” five years. We asked them to dream dreams of what our church could become. It was a small church that had been in a pattern of decline for a number of years. After the letters were written and collected, we had an all-church “pot-luck dinner.” Following the meal, the letters were read aloud. Some were signed. Others were anonymous. Each one, it would appear, reflected the personality and passion of its author. Folks with a passion for evangelism envisioned a church with a widespread community outreach program through which countless individuals came to faith in Christ. Individuals with a passion for music envisioned a full orchestra and multiple choirs. Members with a passion for children and youth envisioned a new church wing with a gymnasium and facilities for our young people. This collective vision included great spiritual growth, increased opportunities for worship, deeper fellowship, and greater outreach.

After this, our Vision Committee met to take a second look at the letters to determine what primary themes ran through them. It was determined that there were five specific growth path areas that were to be developed in the next five years. Specific short term goals and objectives were established for the coming year that would foster growth in each. These were evaluated at the end of each year. At this point new goals and objectives were developed each in keeping with the vision. All of this was surrounded by prayer, prayer, and more prayer, as well as by a clear sense of our purpose as the body of Christ. People were encouraged to serve in the area/s in which they had the greatest passion.

We began (as Dr. Callahan suggested) in our areas of strength. Our goals reflected “small manageable steps.” At the end of the five year period, we saw growth in each of the areas. No, we did not have a new gymnasium, but we had more children using the present facilities. As a result, younger families were becoming involved in the life of our church. Did we have a have a full orchestra? No, but our music became more varied and alive. We started to worship Jesus at a deeper level. We experienced spiritual growth and numerical growth followed. There was a greater sense of discipleship with more individuals sharing their faith and becoming people of invitation. Using Dr. Callahan’s language, it appears that such a visioning program requires “Excellent Sprinters” and “Marathon Runners” working together so that God can make it happen. It requires faithful Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered disciples through whom God can work.

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