Article by Dr. Jon Rohr

Consider the vision that your Church casts…Is it compelling?  Is it only one dimensional? Recently, I encountered Richard Adams and he has caused me to rethink the vital issue of vision. Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”  But just what does it mean to have a life-giving vision?

According to Adams, vision has three key components; Direction, Destination, and Design.  Most pastors and leaders, indeed most Churches focus primarily on Destination.  Vision as Destination is easy to see and explain.  It can be put into concrete terms like increasing attendance by 30% this year, or added 3 new small groups.
So we do those things, then what?  Do we need a new vision? Have we finished all the Church is called to do?

No, that is why vision as Direction is the first component.  Direction recognizes that we are on the journey of a lifetime, not just a weekend getaway.  Our walk with Jesus is a journey from where we are to where He wants us to be.  For each person and particularly each Church, that journey will lead down different paths.
Destinations are simply the most obvious stepping stones along the way.  For example a vision to reach the lost would probably mean filling your Church pews on Sunday morning, but it doesn’t stop there.  Winning the lost is a direction; filling the pews is a destination.

Design?  Well, Design is simply your plan to reach each Destination.  And once you reach one Destination, you go back to Direction to look for the next step. And if you have been wise, your Design will  prepare you to jump off for the next Destination.

So what does this mean for Church leaders?  Work harder on Direction than on Destination, and always build a design that will help you  continue to move forward.  For Church members, look for a Church that has both concrete vision and a solid sense of direction.  Be ready for the journey of a lifetime; it will have many checkpoints along the way, but in the end, our compass should always point squarely at the Savior… He is our ultimate destination.