It has been interesting over that past several decades as the church in America has become more and more influenced by corporate strategies. I was recently recommended a book by someone entitled "Leading Change". This title is catchy to many pastors who have a "vision" for what they want their church to be and what they want their church to do. So I bought a copy. Great book. But it was about leading change in a secular company or in a business. This book does have value. And it is widely read among many pastors. But I wonder if we have become too corporate in the manner in which we approach church.
What is the goal of a corporation? To preserve, advance, and to ensure the success of the corporation. Is this the goal of the church? To simply make it better? Better programs, better staff, better location, better facilities...etc, etc.
I believe that we must return to a new type of vision...a vision for people. A vision for individuals. A vision for what can happen in the personal lives of people. And what is the vision we have for people...."to make disciples". This is why I love our Missional Vision. It is a people vision, not a church vision. We want to see people WORSHIP and love God, not simply have a great worship service. We want to see people CONNECT with other believers, not simply increase our church membership. We want to see people GROW and be shaped into the image of Jesus, not simply attend a Bible study and get Bible smart. To see people SERVE God, not simply place them in a leadership role.
After all, have we really succeeded if we have a good church but have not made any disciples?
A missional vision is a people vision. Not a corporate vision. Not a church vision. A vision for what we want to see happen in the lives of un-churched people all over "...Wakefield and beyond."
"OUR MISSION IS TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF UN-CHURCHED PEOPLE IN WAKEFIELD AND BEYOND"
Lets be missional.
