I was delighted to read William’s response to my last article, which referred to our “ambitious” church vision. I was even more delighted to read, William, that you pray for our church: thank you.
What is the significance of vision? I believe that God has prepared for each individual Christian disciple and church “good works” for us to walk in. These good works are not merely a random set of unconnected events and projects; rather, they cohere to form a strategic direction for our lives, as we serve God within His wider Kingdom. They come together to tell the story of our life’s service for Him. In Habakkuk 2:1-4 there is a very clear explanation of how we obtain a vision and what we are to do with the vision we receive. You will notice in verse one that vision comes as we intercede with God on behalf of His glory and on behalf of people for whom He has given us a burden; this intercession involves listening to God, so that when we hear from Him we become a messenger of – and part of – the answer to our prayers. This is how prayer can become prophetic. The vision obtained in this way will require great faith because the goal will always be something that we cannot achieve but which God can accomplish through us (and others). Verse two then provides some crucial divine counsel: write down the vision “I [God] reveal to you”, so that others can understand it. The co-operation of others is vital: the body of Christ – not just an individual – will work out the vision. In the next verse the vision is to be put in writing because it is not yet time for it to happen. Then the prophet is told that it will definitely happen, and sooner than he may think. Verse four contains the vision itself – that at an appointed time the evil will be judged and the righteous will “live”.
I have observed that those who bear fruit in the Kingdom tend to be men and women of vision: they have heard clearly from God and the passion or burden or goal they receive with the vision stays with them for the rest of their lives on this earth (or until the vision is fulfilled). Each Christian disciple should serve God’s vision for his or her life.
It was because of this belief that we sought God for His vision for Larne Christian Fellowship about fifteen years ago. Since then many have run with the vision and some have run from the vision! Our church vision is pinned to our main notice-board; it was used to design the architecture of our building and it is used regularly to review our activities and progress. It is sufficiently broad to embrace individual visions of church members but it is not so broad as to be vague. As I write, it will be used and explained and reviewed this coming Sunday morning in our church, so that the vision is always refreshed and vital. Every church I have helped to plant has a clear vision statement, looking forward from its earliest birth in the Spirit of God. A church without a vision stumbles around in the dark, half-heartedly copying other churches, for want of something better to do.
The short version of our vision reads: “We feel the call of God to grow as a healthy, caring local church; bringing Christ’s good news of full salvation to this and other nations. Our aim is to plant, and work with, other churches to extend God’s kingdom. We also feel the urgent need to train men and women for effective ministry; children of God who will rely on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit and who are skilled in developing God-given talents.”
You can see why I described our vision as “ambitious”! By the enabling grace and power of God we have accomplished something of every aspect of the vision. But there is much yet to do. Keep praying for us, for we are determined to obey God and glorify Him. The vision, in its fulness, will happen.
Brian Gingles