Visioning - The Foundational Step

By Lynn Noe, Aspen Group Customer Relations Coordinator

Vision is such a common word these days.  We all hear about having a clear vision.  And if asked, most church leaders would say they have a clear vision.  But isn’t it more than just a one or two line statement about your church?  By definition, vision is a vivid, imaginative anticipation of that which will be.  And isn’t that what we want for our church?  I reflected back this week on one church’s visioning experience.

College Park Church partnered with Aspen Group when they started on their journey to look at ministry expansion needs.  The groundbreaking services were held this past weekend and it was both a prayerful and a celebratory time.  It was also a time that confirmed why the foundational, first step in Aspen’s process was so important.

That foundational step was visioning.  College Park went even deeper into that process to gain core clarity in their vision, leadership team, and alignment with who they are as a ministry.  Each of the steps they took provided a solid basis for moving forward in the planning, designing, and now the building of their ministry expansion project. 

The importance of having complete alignment in culture, leadership, ministry, and facilities was evident when the church had a 99% affirmative vote to move forward on this project.

Joe Rice, Executive Pastor at College Park, said, “We wouldn’t be where we are with this expansion project if we hadn’t gone through the visioning process.  The value gained from visioning has helped direct us in these next steps and kept us aligned with the direction the Lord was leading.”

Maybe it’s a good time for you to take a look at your vision and ask yourself if it is clear, not just to you, but to those in your church.  Is it a vision that is compelling?  Does it inspire action?  We’d love a chance to hear about your vision - your vivid, imaginative anticipation of that which will be and would love to share some resources with you as you pursue alignment of culture, leadership, ministry, and facilities at your church.