It doesn’t matter if you create your mission statement first or your vision, as long as the two align. If you already have one of the two, use that as the starting point. If not, start with defining your mission. It tells your purpose (the why); your vision tells where you want to go (the where).
What’s a strategic plan?
To translate the mission and vision into practice, you need a strategic plan. This describes the how and when. It’s the more concrete plan to help you realize your vision. Strategic plans usually last about two to three years. You have to adapt them if circumstances change.
What’s an operational plan?
Then you can transform that strategic plan into an operational plan per year. This plan details your specific actions for that (church) year or season.
Prayer
Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of prayer to vision-casting. Your youth ministry mission and vision must be inspired by God. All the plans in the world cannot benefit your program if you don’t build on what God has planned for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). So take time to seek His will for your youth ministry. Pray and then pray some more.
All this may seem like a lot of work. But creating a youth ministry mission and vision ensures that the dreams you have for the future become reality, by the grace of God.
Do you have a youth ministry mission and vision? What tips do you recommend?
