It’s a basic premise of leadership. Leaders don’t ask people to support their vision. They ask, “How can I help you reach your vision?”
Small Churches Are Especially Suited for This
I believe much of the emphasis on top-down vision-casting has been the result of our big-church leadership obsession.
It’s hard, if not impossible, for the pastor of a large number of people to design and implement ministries that allow for people to dream their own dreams. When a group reaches a certain size, it requires more singularity of focus—one vision, with the parts all fitting in to it. That’s not bad. But it’s not the only way to do it.
For a community of people to allow individual visions to thrive, then see God meld them together into an only-God-could-do-this moment, the group needs to be smaller. The pastor needs to be flexible. And the people need to be taught how to hear from God through his Word, so they can dream their own big dreams.
I’m not the first person to note that there were 120 believers worshiping together on the Day of Pentecost—that’s Small Church size. But when they allowed the Holy Spirit to use them in this way, they had seriously big impact.
A community of believers worshiping, dreaming and working together as guided by the Holy Spirit speaking to and through everyone—now that’s a vision worth writing down and running with.
That’s my vision for how to cast a vision. What’s yours?
So what do you think? What are your thoughts about vision-casting in the church? (Feel free to disagree with me. I’d be disappointed if someone didn’t.)
