Simon Sinek is quoted saying “Vision is a destination. Strategy is a route.”
Oftentimes, when I’m asked by church leaders how I can go about equipping them to hurdle a roadblock, I ask what their strategy has been. More times than not, they are unable to give an answer. Most church leaders recoil even at the term strategy. This is why I enjoy Simon Sinek’s explanation of the difference between Vision and Strategy. Here are five reasons your church needs a missions strategy.
- Missions is a Discipleship Vehicle
Missions and compassionate service should be a vehicle of training disciples who make disciples. As we desire to see our congregations grow in their discipleship, an inviting vision for serving in the church, community and the world should aid on allowing your congregation to grow closer to Jesus. It wasn’t until I spent time in India with our missions partners did I understand the impact that raising $40,000 to build a training center actually had on the individuals in a small town in north east India. I was able to see how this concrete block building was being used to share the Gospel for the first time to ears that have never heard before. From that, I desired to grow closer to this redeeming and loving God that these individuals were just hearing about for the first time.
- Promotes prayer for the Nations
As leaders in our churches, we want our people to be well rounded believers. Sometimes this well rounded aspect of our faith is knowing that we are not the only believers on this earth. Having a strategy that moves our people closer to Jesus and to making disciples allows them to participate in the Global Church in a greater fashion. How can your church ensure that you are praying for your bothers and sisters in Christ from across the ocean? As you have your normal prayer services, be sure to think with a global Christian mindset and pray for the unreached as well as the believers under persecution in hostile countries.
- Identifies those that desire to serve locally and globally
We all want to see the church mobilized to make disciples who make disciples. A practical and effective route toward your vision should naturally bubble up those individuals and families that seek to serve locally or globally. People will see what your church is doing and desire to be a part of it. Just as Jesus sent out the 72 in Luke 10, they were instructed to seek out persons of peace. These individuals would be discovered as the disciples carried out the vision that Jesus gave them. In other words, the 72 were walking the route to the desired location and persons of peace came up.
The individuals that God is preparing to serve locally and globally will do the same as you carry out the vision for your church’s missions strategy. Wondering what to do with them? Feel free to reach out to Team Expansion. They would love to be able to aid you in training and equipping them to go.
- Aid in Reaching the Unreached
Still today there are 3 Billion pairs of ears that have never heard the name of Jesus. These individuals are referred to as the unreached. Many of these individuals are located in hostile countries to the Gospel. As followers of Jesus, we should be burdened that this number is so high! As you develop the vision for your church, how can you place your congregation into the picture as a part of the solution for reaching the unreached. An effective missions strategy should focus on the continued discipleship of reached nations as well as Gospel advancement among the unreached.
- The vision motivates your congregation to make disciples
I’ve talked before that vision is like a painting. If vision is what we see with our eyes, it is also something that can live and be trapped inside of our heads if we aren’t careful. In order to successfully mobilize our people from Sunday morning seats to local and global streets, we must construct our vision artwork. As a pastor, you most likely spend the most time painting your vision artwork with your words. On a Sunday when you are given 30-35 minutes to preach, you are constantly painting your vision artwork. An effective vision will paint the congregation into the vision artwork. This will allow your people to see themselves as part of the destination and feel a burden to physically be involved in fulfilling the vision.
Pastor, you don’t have to go it alone and pick up the paintbrush by yourself. I’d love to help in any way I can. Click the Let’s Connect tab in the upper right hand corner and fill out the dialogue box that comes up. Let’s create a compelling missions vision and strategy for your church that mobilizes your people from Sunday morning seats to local and global streets.
