The Preacher's Post

Vision…what are you still seeing?

Earlier this year in February we had an important church meeting. It was a typical business meeting. It was fine. There were no issues or problems. No one made a protest or charged the pulpit. One thing that did happen is that our vision for the future was clearly shared. I reminded us that our vision is to see EBC become a church of ministry teams—one team per ministry.

It’s the same vision I have been casting, sharing, teaching, and preaching since February 2010.  I define a ministry team as a group of believers in Jesus who are like-minded, unified in purpose, mission, and vision and are advancing! As I reminded us of the vision I challenged each one of us to examine our own lives and walks with God and be willing to take the next step to help our vision be realized. Have you taken your next step? 

What is vision anyway?

Vision is an essential element of a person’s life, family, and it’s especially vital in a local church! Vision is a seeing word. Author Aubrey Malphur’s defines vision as: the clear and challenging picture of the future of our church as it can and must be. Vision is possible and vision is also urgent—it must be! In order for our church to not just survive but thrive in Christ we must have a vision. Proverbs says that without vision the people perish. I believe the opposite is also true: a church—group of believers in Christ WITH a vision can flourish! A church with a great commission Christ centered vision will flourish and become all that God wants them to be and do all that God wants them to do in their community and beyond! When we as an individual member-we who make up the church-get on board our vision becomes real!

Where does a vision come from?

Vision is the picture of the future of what our church will become! The pastor and people who are serious about knowing and fulfilling God’s will for them in their community and beyond is ready to receive a God sized vision! After much prayer and worship and even some fasting God revealed to me the vision. Now a vision is not just something exciting and needful for the church to accomplish. Vision is specific! God will show us specific things, whether they are goals or objectives that must be done so our church can accomplish its mission best. Now let me say that our mission is the same as what all Bible believing Christ following churches should be pursuing: help people become growing healthy disciples of Christ and fully engaged members of the church body. My responsibility as the pastor is to lead our church in fulfilling our mission! As cool and needful as a vision is there is no way that I can fulfill the vision and mission of our church alone.  That’s where each person at EBC comes in. Catch it! Communicate it! And help us fulfill it!

What is our vision?

Our vision is to improve the quality of ministry by building a church of ministry teams! That was it—team ministry! There is no I in team! The pastor cannot do it alone! Together we can do it! Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”

On February 13th 2010 I casted the vision to our church! Our business meeting turned into a vision night service! God really worked, blessed, and I believed moved in our hearts. Since that day I have continued to cast that vision, reminding specifically our men, and then every member and attendee, leading them to pray and help fulfill and spread our vision. Have you prayed about your part in fulfilling the mission and vision of our church?

How is our vision becoming a reality?

Now it’s great to have received a vision from God and His Word! It is very exciting to cast that vision to the people. But there is nothing like it when God’s people start catching the vision and you actually see the vision becoming a reality in the church! Right now God is allowing our church to build some ministry teams. So far we are developing a:

• Leadership team
• Music and media team
• Outreach team
• Hospitality team
• Youth team
• Maintenance team (Men of Acts)
• Kids Team
• More to come!

Now these teams are still forming and developing. Each one still needs work and more team members! But God is putting them together! The good news is that God has just started building these ministry teams and you can join one!

How can I get involved?

I am glad for the members of Emmanuel Baptist church who have agreed to serve Jesus on a ministry team! The good news is that there is an opening for you to be on a ministry team too. Are you on a ministry team? What areas of interest and experience do you have? What are you passionate about?  How has God gifted you to help us fulfill our mission of making disciples of Christ at EBC? Just let me know you are interested in serving on a team and I’ll help you get plugged in. The future of EBC can be bright and filled with God’s hand of blessing. But for that to happen we need to ask God to open our hearts and take a step toward Him! Our vision will become a reality only if our church members and attendees catch the vision and get active and involved and become a part of the “team!”

Since your arrival at EBC how has God used you to help us fulfill our mission and vision? Do you understand what our mission and vision is?  Will you take your next step towards being an active disciple of Christ and member of EBC?  If you’re a member of another church how has God used you or your church to form ministry teams to fulfill the mission and vision of the church?

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