DEVELOPINGMission, Vision, Core Values

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…teaching them” Matt 28:19-20

MissionWhat BUSINESS we’re in.

What are we trying to accomplish?

VisionWhere we’re BOUND

What will it look, sound, and feel like while we are

accomplishing our Mission?

Faith

What we BELIEVE

To what foundational, immutable doctrines do we

hold fast while we are accomplishing our Mission?

Values

How we BEHAVE

What kind of people are we going to be while we are accomplishing our

Mission?

Two Important Issues:

1.Importance“What matters is not the leader’s charisma. What matters is

the leader’s mission. Therefore, the first job of the leader is to think through and define the mission of the

institution.”Peter F. Drucker, Managing the Non-Profit Organization, p. 3

2.Is it Memorable?“Once we know something, we find it hard to imagine what it was like not to

know it. Our knowledge has cursed us. It becomes difficult for us to share our knowledge with others, because we can’t readily re-create the mind of others.”... Elizabeth Newton

What is the Church’s Mission?

What’s the church supposed to be doing?

Answer: The Great Commission

(Matt. 28:19-20).

How do you develop a memorable Mission Statement?

1.Keep it Simple!What is at the core of the mission? Boil it down.

Dallas Theological Seminary:

“The mission of Dallas Seminary as a professional, graduate level school is to prepare men and women for ministry as godly servant leaders in the body of Christ worldwide. By blending instruction in the Scriptures from our doctrinal perspective with training in ministry skills, the Seminary seeks to produce graduates who do the work of evangelism, edify believers, and equip other by proclaiming and applying God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Should be:

“We exist to prepare men and women for ministry as godly servant leaders in the body of Christ worldwide.”

2. Make it achievable.

Examples:

“To win 10,000 people to Christ...”

Problem:

“Only 7,500 people liv within a reasonable, drivable distance.”

3. Make it emotional.

4. Your Mission should be Measurable.

Can it be used to measure success?

Examples:

“Making people more spiritual.”

“Lead a life-transformation movement, one life at a time.”

Five keys to making a memorable Mission Statement.

It makes people pay attention.

1.It is easily understand.

2.It is something believable .

3.It is something that people care about.

• It is something everyone can be a part of.

How Do you Develop a Mission Statement?

1. Determine the church’s mission.– It’s the Great Commission (Mt. 28:19-20).– (It must be at the core of the statement.)

2. Articulate the mission in writing.– Write it down on paper.– (If you can’t, you don’t have one.)

3. Personalize your mission.– Use language your people can understand & is

biblically accurate.

1. (Avoid unfamiliar biblical terms.)

4. Word-smith the mission.• The words must be simple, powerful,

memorable.

5. Keep the mission short & memorable.• How short?• Short enough to fit on a T-shirt!

Communicating the MissionCommunicating the Mission

➡Your lifeYour life➡Framed documentFramed document➡SloganSlogan➡Wallet-size cardsWallet-size cards➡T-shirtT-shirt➡Performance AppraisalPerformance Appraisal➡LogoLogo➡SongSong

Examples of Mission StatementsExamples of Mission Statements

To make and mature fully To make and mature fully functioning followers of functioning followers of

Christ... Christ... GinghamsburgGinghamsburg

To turn irreligious people To turn irreligious people into fully devoted followers into fully devoted followers

of Christ... of Christ... Willow CreekWillow Creek

Examples of Mission StatementsExamples of Mission Statements

To exalt Jesus Christ by:To exalt Jesus Christ by:Loving GodLoving GodLoving OthersLoving OthersServing the WorldServing the World

NorthPointe Church NorthPointe Church

Examples of Mission StatementsExamples of Mission Statements

General BaptistGeneral Baptist

““Making Disciples Making Disciples Developing leaders, Developing leaders,

growing healthy growing healthy churches..”churches..”

The Mission ChallengeThe Mission Challenge➡ That’s your job!!!!!That’s your job!!!!!➡ You’re the mission/vision You’re the mission/vision

communicator. OVER COMMUNICATE!communicator. OVER COMMUNICATE!➡ To keep everyone focused on the To keep everyone focused on the

ministry’s missionministry’s mission➡ At least once a week ask yourself, At least once a week ask yourself,

“How can I creatively focus their “How can I creatively focus their attention on our mission this week?”attention on our mission this week?”

Developing

And Maintaining

A Vision

What is What is a Vision and how a Vision and how do you discover do you discover

a vision?a vision?

1. Is given to individuals, 1. Is given to individuals, but it is but it is birthedbirthed in the heart in the heart of God.of God.

“…“…if it lingers wait for it. It if it lingers wait for it. It will come…” Hab 2:3will come…” Hab 2:3

2. Vision begins with a 2. Vision begins with a concernconcern that eventually that eventually becomes a becomes a moral convictionmoral conviction..

Vision usually comes from a Vision usually comes from a dissatisfactiondissatisfaction with the status with the status

quo.quo.

And it happened when I heard And it happened when I heard these words, I sat down and wept. these words, I sat down and wept.

And I mourned for days, and And I mourned for days, and fasted, and prayed before the God fasted, and prayed before the God

of Heaven. of Heaven. Neh 1:4Neh 1:4

It moves from “It moves from “Could beCould be” to ” to ““Ought to beOught to be” in our heart.” in our heart.

3. Vision usually 3. Vision usually developsdevelops over time.over time.

❖ Vision will mature in us as we Vision will mature in us as we think through what we are doingthink through what we are doing

❖ We mature in preparation for the We mature in preparation for the vision.vision.

- Abraham - 25 yearsAbraham - 25 years

- Moses - 40 YearsMoses - 40 Years

- Joseph - 23 yearsJoseph - 23 years

Warning!!!Warning!!!

Don’t just Don’t just throw outthrow out a a vision to have one.vision to have one.

“Then the Lord said, “Write the vision down and make it plain on tablets so that those who read it may run with it.

For the vision awaits an appointed time…”

Habakkuk 2:2-3

“…if it lingers, wait for it. It will come…but the

righteous will live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:3-4

Lessons From Habakkuk

1. You must 1. You must writewrite your vision down. your vision down.

2. You must make it 2. You must make it plain plain to read.to read.

3. If you do, 3. If you do, peoplepeople can can runrun with it! with it!

4. In vision, 4. In vision, timingtiming is everything. is everything.

5. 5. WaitWait for your vision to for your vision to emergeemerge..

5-steps To Developing Vision

1. Begin by 1. Begin by listeninglistening to God. to God.

2. 2. ExposeExpose yourself to other visions. yourself to other visions.

3. 3. HangHang around with visionaries. around with visionaries.

4. 4. PerfectPerfect your vision as it emerges. your vision as it emerges.

5. 5. WriteWrite your vision down. your vision down.

What is the difference between Vision and Mission?What is the difference between Vision and Mission?

Mission Vision

Main Question

Definition

Application

Length

Purpose

Activity

Source

Development

What business? Where going?

Statement

Planning

Short

Informs

Doing

Head

Science - Taught

Story

Communicating

Long

Inspires

Sees

Heart

Art - Caught

Vision includes consensus, but God

almost always begins with an individual!

Understanding “Individual” vs “Shared” Vision

...is the picture of the future a person carries

around about themselves.”

“Individual” Vision

...is the picture of the future a group of people

carry around about themselves.”

“Shared” Vision

“After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16:10

Example of “Individual” vs “Shared” Vision

“…if it lingers, wait for it. It will come…”

Habakkuk 2:3-4

A Vision Description Is...

1. A clear picture of what the 1. A clear picture of what the church will look like in 3-5 years.church will look like in 3-5 years.

2. A mental image that motivates 2. A mental image that motivates and ignites passion.and ignites passion.

3. Describes how persons from the 3. Describes how persons from the MFG will be reached.MFG will be reached.

A Place To Begin...

1. A diary entry, e-mail, etc. 1. A diary entry, e-mail, etc.

2. Begin visualizing the future.2. Begin visualizing the future.

3. Answer the 20 questions.3. Answer the 20 questions.

4. Look through the eyes of someone 4. Look through the eyes of someone from your MFG.from your MFG.

The Bottom Line!

There is a direct relationship between the development and

practice of your vision description & having effective recruiting

conversations!

1. Write out & practice a succinct summary of your vision2. A clear story of what drives you…3. Include your divine call and communicate the passion you feel4. Testify about God already at work5. Know it well...anytime...anywhere!

From 30 seconds to 30 minutes...

How to Discover How to Discover and Articulate and Articulate

Your Core ValuesYour Core Values

What is a What is a Core Value?Core Value?

Personal Core Value Personal Core Value ExerciseExercise

1.1. Where do you spend your Where do you spend your time?time?

2.2. Where do you spend your Where do you spend your money?money?

Five Things that usually Five Things that usually guide the church.guide the church.

1.1. TraditionTradition – We’ve always done it that – We’ve always done it that way!way!

2.2. PersonalityPersonality – The Squeaky wheel gets – The Squeaky wheel gets the grease.the grease.

3.3. MoneyMoney – What can we afford to do? – What can we afford to do?4.4. ProgramsPrograms – Keep it alive even if it – Keep it alive even if it

doesn’t work.doesn’t work.5.5. BuildingsBuildings – Either the ministry drives – Either the ministry drives

the building or the building drives the the building or the building drives the ministry.ministry.

Why Are Values Why Are Values Important?Important?

1. They give a church a 1. They give a church a unique unique identityidentity in the ministry world. in the ministry world.

2. They help 2. They help possiblepossible participantsparticipants decide whether to join you.decide whether to join you.

3. They 3. They shape the charactershape the character and and formform the basis for every decision the basis for every decision that we make as a church.that we make as a church.

What Core Values What Core Values Are NotAre Not

What Core Values What Core Values Are NotAre Not

1.1. Core values are not a Core values are not a visionvision or or missionmission statement. statement.

• Vision - Where we are going? (preferred Vision - Where we are going? (preferred future)future)

• Mission - What business are we in?Mission - What business are we in?• Values - Why do we do what we doValues - Why do we do what we do??

1.1. Core values are not a Core values are not a visionvision or or missionmission statement. statement.

• Vision - Where we are going? (preferred Vision - Where we are going? (preferred future)future)

• Mission - What business are we in?Mission - What business are we in?• Values - Why do we do what we doValues - Why do we do what we do??

2.2. Core values are not Core values are not Strategies.Strategies.

– Strategy is a plan to accomplish the vision.Strategy is a plan to accomplish the vision.

3.3. Core values are not Core values are not doctrinal statements.doctrinal statements.- Theological beliefs, Angels, demons, god, trinity.- Theological beliefs, Angels, demons, god, trinity.

What is a Core Value?What is a Core Value?

1. Core Values are 1. Core Values are ConstantConstant– The are long lasting and thus The are long lasting and thus

change slowlychange slowly

2. Core values are 2. Core values are PassionatePassionate– They stir your emotionsThey stir your emotions

What is a Core Value?What is a Core Value?

3. Core Values are 3. Core Values are ministryministry beliefsbeliefs– They are philosophical ministry They are philosophical ministry

convictions you hold to be true.convictions you hold to be true.

4. Core values 4. Core values guideguide the church’s the church’s ministry decisions.ministry decisions.– worshipworship– small groupssmall groups– youth ministryyouth ministry– risk-takingrisk-taking

How does this work How does this work practically?practically?

Type of church

Traditional

Contemporary

Liturgical

Emergent

Value Pastor’s Role

People’s Role

Emphasis Media Result Trait

Maintain Status

quo

Relevancy

Symbols

Icons

Mystery

Chaplain

Creative

leader

Keeper of the sacred

Guru

Consumers

Participate

Worship

Followers

Comfort

Evangelism

Mystery

God is all

around

Family

Cutting

Edge

High church

LiberalLack of

absolutes

Candles dark

rooms

Respect for

historyNone

High

Tech

Experience

In-grown

Hymnal

pulpit

Why pay attention Why pay attention to values?to values?

1.1. Values may beValues may be SharedShared or or UnsharedUnshared. .

2.2. Values exists at aValues exists at a PersonalPersonal or or OrganizationalOrganizational level. level.

3.3. Values may beValues may be ActualActual or or AspirationalAspirational..