An important question in church design is: what’s your church’s vision? We talk with church leaders and write about it frequently.
There’s a definition of the concept we like to give: “Your Church Vision is a clear, shared, and compelling picture of the preferred future to which God is calling the congregation.” Here’s more about what that means as well as a refresher for those church leaders who already have their church vision established.
What Makes a Church Vision Clear, Shared, and Compelling?
A church vision needs three elements to be successful. First, it needs to be clear. The church should have specific goals for their community that are understandable. These goals don’t have to be highly detailed, but they shouldn’t be abstract, either.
And yes, you need to repeat them often. A vision that isn’t shared won’t generate excitement. In fact, you need to share it repeatedly with leadership, with attendees, and with people who wonder what your church is about. The final element of a good church vision is that it must be compelling. If it doesn’t generate enthusiasm, people won’t buy in. You need attendees and guests to both respond, “Yeah, that’s exciting. I want to be part of what you’re doing!”
What is the Difference Between Church Vision and Mission?
It’s important to understand the difference between your vision and your mission. All churches have the same mission: to lead people to a closer relationship with Christ. What makes each church vision unique is a special blend of demographics, culture, spiritual gifts, and leadership experience. Each church will therefore have different ways of leading people closer to Christ, using those specific circumstances and gifts. God gives church leaders a precise vision and direction on exactly how you’re called to do that.
What Specific Ministries Will Happen in Your Church Building?
Out of your church vision will rise the ministries that touch people in your community with the love of Christ. These look different for every individual church, even if your church building is located on the same block. In a way, they’re like business strategies. Different businesses seek to attract different types of people with different needs in different ways. The same is true with the church.
Another way that each church vision brings about different ministries is that some are broad, while others are focused. In some cases, you might want to bring groups together under a common theme, while at other times, you might want to focus in on a certain demographic. This is one place where your church building has a role to play, because your facility can be an effective tool to draw in the people you’re seeking to engage. You can keep them connected when your church building is a place they want to return to, again, and again.
Having a well-thought-out church vision is just one of many things to think about when it comes to church design and construction. It’s why we share our free i3 webinars each year. Our 2023 list of webinars will be out next month, so keep an eye out for more information in the weeks ahead.