Over the past few weeks I’ve been reading a classic book on “Church Growth” written by C. Peter Wagner called ‘Leading Your Church to Growth’. In it are many pearls of wisdom that are just as valid today as they were in the mid 80’s (YES! The book is already almost 30yrs old for those of you that may have studied it in Bible College or the like…)
As many of us approach the Mission Review & Planning stage I wonder how you have gone about setting your goals – The Author tells us to ask ourselves this question:
What do you think God wants your church to be five years from now?
And yes I know it is a question that many of us may struggle with as it is highly likely that we will be moved on before that – However the question is still vitally important!
If we as leaders within the local church have not looked at this question and ascertained what God’s vision is for our place, then we have missed the boat – Because ultimately it is not about us… “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
Some might argue that it’s not my role to set the vision it is the peoples – that is a cop out according to C. Peter Wagner. You have been given the mantle of leadership and you need to be acting on it, because as John Maxwell states in many of his books ‘everything rises and falls on Leadership’.
C. Peter Wagner goes on to say that ‘it is a sad day for many a church when… no more plans for expansion have been drawn.’
We as leaders need to be constantly looking to the possibilities of what could be because ‘The faith of the church is never larger than the vision of its pastor.’ (Rick Warren)
I pray that we as church leaders would catch on to what God would have in store for our churches and then believe by faith that through Him all things are possible and work towards the completion of those goals…
The life and times of Perry... 