We all know that people perish without a clear vision.

The recent TV hit show, Lost, has had a group on it attempting to escape the deadly island. In hopes of running across a shipping lane at random, this bamboo raft has experienced lots of problems (bear in mind I have caught only a few of the raft episodes, but the parallels between the raft and vision are striking). The main difficulties with the raft? No rudder and no sail. Other than that, it was a peachy raft in every way.

I ask you, as you look at the church you either lead, are on the staff of or are a member of – are you lacking a rudder (a clear, God-given sense of direction your team is convinced is from God himself) AND are you operating on sail power (is the wind of God’s Spirit empowering you forward in your journey, or are you being tossed about by forces that are randoming taking you to and fro in a frustrating manner?)

Leaders are called by God according to Paul to walk in a combination of character, spiritual gifting and longevity in the Jesus story. A common lack in “leadership” is the inability to communicate – as opposed to Paul’s clear call that leaders can “teach.” Without the ability to teach, that is, the ability to convert the heart of God into compelling words, a supposed leader will never serve effectively. That “leader” will never move in real spiritual authority. Clearly, spiritual authority moves through the gift of anointed teaching. Thus, a non-teaching leader is an oxymoron and in fact dead weight in the leadership circle of Jesus’ leadership team in any church.

How Long Until People Get The Vision?

Each group takes a unique amount of time to “get it.” Experience tells me that newcomers to faith in Jesus are faster to catch on to the biblical normal than those who are having to unlearn then re-learn something.

With the first group above, the vision for what Jesus wants to do with a given group is caught nearly instantly. A childlike heart has no resistance and is met with a 100% “Yes” attitude.

With the second group, it is impossible to guess how long a process it will take to re-learn the “new normal.” If a person is pliable and hungry for effectiveness – especially if they have gone through a tough time of late, they tend to be far more quick on the uptake. But in general, it requires a listener / learner between 15 and 25 strong mental-emotional engagements before the light goes on.

What Is the Role Of Leadership With Vision?

Leaders are the catalysts for vision in any spiritual organization. Therefore, when choosing leaders, the number one factor a senior leader is wise to use as a filter for searching out new leaders is simply this: “Who will be the best as ushering in change? Who are the best one among us who will help the others join up with enthusiasm, wisdom and… fun?!”

1. Clarify The Vision
Perhaps not surprisingly, very few churches have any concept of what their unique focus in ministry is all about. Each church has a one of a kind focus. There are no two churches who are or ever will be alike if we simply take the time to listen, clarify ourselves down to the point that we understand exactly, precisely what we are to be about (and thus what we are to say “No” to as well). Pastors come to me all the time asking me to help them clarify how they can explain to the church they are applying for how they will explain what they hope to bring to a given church.

Earth to Pastors…

That isn’t the way it works in the least! God is at work in each church to do something unique. Don’t get me wrong. In the vast vast majority no one has ever taken the trouble to sit down, to pray through, to discuss through, to LISTEN through what exactly Jesus has for this given church to be focused upon. To clarify – Pastors don’t do their thing to a given church. God is and has been at work at a given church (hopefully the believers there have been spiritual enough and have possessed the work ethic enough to discover what that focus is). If we are pastors who are walking in the Spirit we will recognize what Jesus has been doing in a given place and continue that great, good thing he has been doing… assuming we are a good match for that ongoing work.

2. Repeat the Vision
It behooves the leadership of a church to repeat continually in literally dozens (strike that – make that many dozens of ways!) the unique vision God has given to us.

How long does it take for a given group to forget the vision?

This is not a trick question. I know precisely how long it takes. I have been through this drill many times.

It takes a little less than two weeks… even though the given Senior Leader has been doing one heck of a job of capturing in many and creative ways where, how, when, what we are going toward.

Many times I have been gone for just two weekends, and while I have been gone, people trying to help do things that destroy the direction we are actually headed (from here on we will simply refer to them as “The Volunteers” – no knock on volunteers in ministry – in fact, many of the “Volunteers” I refer to are in fact paid staff…)

If you attend two or more week’s worth of weekend meetings at one of my churches you will discover something interesting: We repeat our focus together, not so different from the pledge of allegiance. It really is that important to remind ourselves as to why we are doing what we are doing.

3. Creatively Capture The People’s Vision Mentality
Use video, ever changing print graphics, PowerPoint, and of course your website to re-state what you are about and where you are going. People forget easily and quickly.

4. Continually Destroy Vision Killers
Without going into it in detail, there are hundreds of vision killers afoot in your midst. Most of them are either something based on

A. Human laziness, or

B. Human fear of change.

As teachers in the Church it is necessary for us to do as much as possible to adjust things along the way. We must anticipate human resistance in advance of what will be. Our role is to love people into change. As we love others, we will see them change in due time – hopefully sooner than later.