Syndicate
Related Websites
Our Sunday service is at 10:00 AM.
View Map | Learn More
Quantum Servanthood
Posted by Ed and Lois
By John O’Keefe ( at Ginkworld .net)
To be honest with you, I think we have spent too much time on “church vision statements;” after all, what do they truly mean? Most of the time, they are empty, hollow words with no action connected. I have found that for most people, a “vision statement” has been used to control others and not empower them. I know of Pastors who use the “God gave me a vision for this church” over the heads of people and subject them to their will. I think every church I have ever consulted for, visited, spoke at, walked past or saw in a phone book has some kind of vision statement. Yet, I would venture to say that 99% of the people in the church have no idea what that vision statement even is, and if they do they have no idea what it means or how to put it into action. Why?
Over the past few years that I have been interested in emerging “servanthood” I have been fascinated by the fact that Jesus never had a vision statement; yet every book I have ever read on modern church leadership sell the importance of a vision statement. Still, over time, the people caught on to his ministry, why? What did he do that was so different from what we do today? Simple, Jesus was visual, and not interested in a vision statement, he was interested in living a visual life. “Come and you will see?” are the words Jesus shares, not “read my vision statement, see what God has called me to do and if you can buy the vision you are welcomed to come along.” Jesus just said, “Come and see.”
When I was a kid my Father use to say, “do as I say, not as I do.” Being a visual learner this drove me crazy, because it just did not connect in the brain cells. In fact, I still did many of the things he did – no matter what he said, because I am a visual person – I will do as you do, not as you say. Visual “servants” keep this in mind. They know that people will do what they do, and act the way they act. Our words must equal our actions. For those of us who think in visual terms, “casting” vision simply means sharing, in story, the visual of the ministry. Brining to life that which God places in our hearts and giving voice to picture.