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Having A Vision For Your Ministry

It's called a vision. And this month I want to let you in on some practical ways that you can develop your vision for your Children's Ministry. Proverbs 29:18 says: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." The NIV says, "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint." Whoa! Pretty Down to earth, don't you think? What does it mean to cast off restraint? When something is restrained, in this case, it means that it is under control. To cast of restraint, simply means to become out of control… chaos if you will. Here is what I'm gathering from this verse. The people that you are ministering with and to need to know that there is a vision to continue doing what needs to be done. In other words, if you don't have a vision… Get one!

Vision is simply defined as a detailed picture you have in your mind that descriptively answers the five "W's" and one "H" of journalism… What, who, where, why, when and how. Does your vision answer and describe the above? Would you like it to? Would you like to take some time to develop the vision you already have? Well, here we!

Here's what I did. You don't have to do the same thing, but I would strongly recommend it. Go to an office supply store and buy the following things. A clear view 1" 3-ring binder, some three-hole punched legal pads, some three-hole punched divider tabs and then go home and get alone. Label each tab with the five "W's" and one "H" and put these in the 3-ring binder. Then on your computer or in your own handwriting make a cover sheet that simply says, "MY VISION". Put that in the front clear view part of the 3-ring binder. Now you're ready!

At the top of your first note book write in huge letters "What". Then proceed to write down exactly what your vision is going to accomplish. What things do you want to see accomplished? What style of ministry do you see yourself involved in? Contemporary, Seeker-sensitive, evangelistic, discipleship, music…etc. Go into as much detail as possible. Don't be scarred. No one else is going to look at your handwriting. What things do you see your ministry involved in? Go ahead and dream! Have fun seeing what God is showing to you.

Then comes the "Who" notebook. Begin to write out who you see yourself ministering to. Be specific. What are the looks on their faces? Where do they live? Go ahead and dream some more. Then write out who you see working with you in this ministry. What will they be doing?

Move on to the "Where" notebook. "Where," as in the "Where is this ministry headed?" What areas will you dive into on your way? Where do you want to see you workers going in their lives? Where does your family fit into this ministry? Where will you find the people you're going to minister to/with? Where is your vision headed?

Why are you doing what you're doing? "Why", is simply your purpose. Give a mission statement for why you are going to accomplish your goals and standards. Be specific. Lay down the reason and then put it before you and do it.

When do you want these different events, dreams and goals to take place. Draw out a simple timetable. What needs to be done first? Allow God to direct your path as to when these things should be accomplished.

How? How are you going to accomplish these dreams? How will you train your workers? How will you develop policies and procedures? How does your staff assist you. Write it down. Don't be scared to dream and cast out farther than you can comprehend and then bring it in to a reality.

I always leave the legal pad in the notebook so I have extra pages to give more detail as the vision continues. Make sure that you are willing to rough draft an outline of the vision that you have just described so that you can present it and explain it to your people. Give them the vision and motivate them toward it!

Take some this New Year and develop your vision so you can move ahead in the plans that God is giving to you.