Three C's of Casting Vision

One of the hardest things about pastoring is casting vision and keeping the congregation focused on the right thing. In the church world, when the vision is not being properly cast, mission drift occurs. When mission drift occurs, the church no longer focuses on the main thing (reaching the unchurched, influencing the community, etc.) but instead becomes introverted and comfortable. As a pastor and leader YOU are responsible to cast the vision that God has given you (if you have no vision for your church...pray to receive one...or give the church to someone who has a vision).

Here are three things that are imperative in vision casting.

1) Consistency: My father-in-law, a former CEO, once told me, "Chad, if you want the people to understand the vision, you must tell the story, tell the story, and after that, tell the story again. In other words, as pastor, you must continually cast the vision in both staff and corporate settings. We have to remember that our congregation doesn't think the same way we do; we think "church" 24/7; the sheep don't. So, you have to constantly find different ways to tell the story over and over. Remember, vision cannot be taught, it must be caught.

2) Clarity: Often we "pastors" like to sound theological and intellectual when casting vision; yet these two things are enemies of vision casting. Think about how Jesus cast vision. When He cast the vision about the Kingdom, He did not delve into deep spiritual dynamics; instead He used things like fishing, mustard seeds, and purchasing land to show people the Kingdom; in other words, He used common things that everyone could relate to and could easily comprehend. Remember, the most powerful visions are those that are simplistic & plainly spoken.

3) Contagious: Lastly, we must remember that when vision is cast consistently and with clarity...it becomes contagious. There is nothing that builds crazy momentum and passion like people who understand where they're going as a church. I remember going on vacation as a kid. I could hardly sleep the night before we left! I had my clothes packed and ready to go! The week prior to our leaving, I would tell everyone I saw, "Hey, guess where we're going this weekend?" When a church can see a clear destination and realize THEY are going there...they get excited and they tell everyone around them where they're going...and suddenly there's a buzz in the church and community. Remember, the best growth tool for your church is word of mouth; get the church excited about where they're going and they'll invite others to come with them.

So...Cast vision with consistency, clarity, and watch excitement and passion become contagious in your church.