The Importance of What We Do

Here are some thoughts that have been rattling around in my head this week:

1. There was a definite buzz this weekend

I could sense within the people in worship this past weekend that they were excited about the vision for 2006. There was an energy level present that if built upon will create momentum that we have not had here for some time.

2. The power of a clearly and passionately communicated vision

When people can see a preferred picture of the future that is compelling and exciting they will sign up. I have had many conversations with people who are pumped about this year.

3. Making the vision a reality

The first part of the vision is to reach our county through teens and children. There are 370,000 people and 211,000 of them are unchurched. Our vision is to reach 1% of those people - 2,110. The question becomes, who are we making relationships with that are not attending church right now? The challenge was that 100 people will bring one person each by the end of the year. Who are we praying for that doesn't know Jesus?

The second part of the vision is to reach our full giving potential. If the 400 giving units gave ten percent of the median income of our area, we would meet our budget and pay off our new building in 5 years. As leaders we must model the biblical call to give that ten percent.

4. Good to Great

A good friend of mine told me he recently read the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. He said he wished he hadn't read it because it gave voice to the leadership gap at his church. His level of expectation was raised by reading this book and he realized that they don't have what it takes to make the leap from good to great.

5. Importance of Excellence

Some people I have been praying for who are far from God went to church for the first time the first weekend of the year. They said the preaching was great, but the words on the screen never were in line with what the band was singing. They won't return because of a lack of commitment to excellence, they didn't express it that way, but that is what was behind their words. They said that the pastor apologized for the error, but it doesn't matter, the damage is done. I don't know if those people will ever try church again. Excellence is what may determine if people far from God will be open to what God wants to do in them and through them. It is critical.

The implication of these thoughts is that what we do as leaders has Kingdom realities.