Is your church looking to create a vision statement? Or maybe you want to cast a new vision and refresh your congregation. Our ultimate example of vision casting is Jesus Christ, and we can always go to the source for what our vision as a church should be. There are a few ways to go about writing your vision statement, and we want to help you succeed. From knowing your mission to actually writing your vision statement, we hope this article helps inspire you!
“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.” – Proverbs 29:18-19
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What is a Church Vision Statement?
A church vision statement is a written expression of any church’s ambition. It is a clear and concise declaration of the desired change resulting from the work they do.
Every church leader longs to impact the surrounding community and change the world. Your vision statement is a proclamation of that desire. Think of your church’s vision statement as an “elevator pitch” for your church. Crafting it as a fast and simple way to communicate with a stranger about your church in a way that piques their interest is a perfect approach.
Creating a vision for your church is the process of creating a clear, inspiring and compelling statement that outlines the future direction and impact of the church. It is a process that helps align the unique gifts and resources of your organization with God’s will, and wisely plan for how to best use these resources.
The overall vision should both reflect who you are as an organization, and set direction for where you are headed. It serves as a guidepost to help the church make better decisions, prioritize spending, and get everyone moving in a unified direction.
Mission
The mission is “God’s plan for all churches.” Church mission statements are transferable from congregation to congregation. Mission statements declare a high-level and general plan. It is a good beginning point, but it is insufficient by itself.
Macquarie Life Church has a great mission statement, “To bring others ‘Towards Christ’, as we show kindness to others, and share the message of the hope of Jesus.” Specifically, a church’s mission statement differs from a vision statement as it builds upon the overall mission of your church and what you will accomplish.
Vision
The vision is “God’s specific plan for a specific church at a specific time.” This definition communicates that this vision is usually not transferrable from congregation to congregation. The vision should consider the specific context of the church and the specific context of the church’s community.
The church Dwelling Place has a specific vision statement that can pertain only to them. “We exist to see Jesus treasured by multiplying faith-filled disciples through multiplying missional/maturing Gospel Communities throughout our area in Seattle and among unreached peoples.”
Using this definition of vision, it would be possible to have more than one vision. Typically it’s recommended that a church work on one vision at a time, but some churches feel comfortable focusing on two or three.
Strategy
Strategy is “a plan of action to achieve the church’s vision.” If you say you are going to pray for 5,000 homes in Texas without a plan, the vision will not become a reality.
The strategy of the church could become more focused and then be: “We will pray for 500 homes every month in 2024. To be clear, the church does not have to use an existing resource to accomplish its vision. The resource, however, can be helpful if it takes care of many of the details church members and leaders would have to do.
Tactics
Tactics are the steps, actions, timetables, and responsibilities someone carries out in the strategy. To be effective, tactics should include deadlines, persons assigned to carry out or be responsible for tasks, and all the other actions necessary to accomplish the strategy,
It’s usually not feasible to have a statement of tactics similar to the vision statement, the mission statement, and the strategy. There are far too many details to consolidate into a concise statement. Many leaders find it helpful, however, to create a visual representation of how the vision and strategy will be accomplished. The visual should include all the minute details of the tactics. Again, we often recommend using existing resources since most of the details are almost already done.
How to Write a Vision Statement
If you’re getting started with the process of crafting a church vision statement, follow the tips below to help guide you.
- Pray. Apart from God, we can do nothing.
- Consult your team. Consider having each leader write their own vision statement for the church, then bring those ideas together.
- Balance big dreams with precise language. Don’t hold back on your vision, but articulate it with specificity.
- Keep it short. The goal is to make it easy to memorize.
- Use the Great Commission as your guide.
Does a Church Need a Vision?
For any church, a strategic plan is not simply a projection-based exercise. It is a process that both begins and end with prayer. Ultimately, God is the one that gives vision. But we partner with God to take action toward accomplishing that vision. Our attitude in this process should always be to seek God’s will in all things and to pray that our hearts with be aligned with His.
We make space for God to move in and through our church. Creating a vision statement, then, not only aligns our actions with God’s will, it sets our church up for long-term health and helps ensure everyone is on the same page. Because having a vision to guide our ministry decisions, brings meaning, it sustains ministry, motivates those that are a part of our congregation, and energizes the growth of our organization.
Why is Vision so Important in the Church?
Having a vision is so important for the health and longevity of your church. Not only does it set direction and guide ministry decisions, it sustains ministry, motivates those who are a part of the congregation, brings meaning, and energizes the growth of your organization. We put together seven reasons why we believe vision casting is an essential part of a healthy, thriving church:
1. It Clarifies Purpose
Every church has a purpose beyond Sunday services. Casting a clear vision helps members understand that larger purpose. Where there is a lack of clarity, people begin asking questions about what the goal of our church is. With a vision, the answer becomes clear.
2. It Unites The Congregation
With a shared vision, the congregation becomes united in one purpose. Instead of multiple groups pulling in different directions, everyone moves forward with a common goal in mind, fostering unity and collective strength.
3. It Inspires Action
When the people in your church understand the vision, they are more likely to get involved. Whether it’s joining a ministry, participating in community outreach, or giving generously, a compelling vision can motivate action.
4. It Guides Decision-Making
For the church leadership team, countless decisions arise daily. Having a well-defined vision offers a touchstone against which all decisions can be measured. Does a potential program or initiative align with the vision? If not, it might be worth reconsidering.
5. It Helps Overcome Obstacles
Every church faces challenges and will continue to. But with a clear vision, these challenges become surmountable obstacles rather than impassable roadblocks. The vision reminds everyone of the bigger picture and the higher calling.
6. It Encourages Generosity
When people have a vision to support, it builds trust in how the leaders of the church are stewarding the resources, and it gives people a reason to give. People are much more willing to support a cause when they know what that cause is and why it matters.
7. It Facilitates Growth
Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!” A church without a vision will stagnate. But with a vision, you provide a framework for growth, both spiritually and numerically.
32 Church Vision Statements
- Westover Hills (San Antonio, TX): A Place for Everyone.
- The Rock (San Diego, CA): Living out what we believe.
- City on a Hill (Melbourne, Australia): Knowing Jesus and Making Jesus Known.
- East 91st Street Christian Center (Indianapolis, IN): Helping people take next steps with Jesus.
- Brainerd Baptist (Chattanooga, TN): From the Scenic City to the World.
- Church of Christ the King (Brighton, England): Helping people find their way back to God.
- Christ Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ): A place where faith and real life intersect.
- HighPoint Church (Memphis, TN): We believe this is His vision for us.
- Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church (Ft Lauderdale, FL): A Gospel-centered church that equips culture shaping Christians.
- Missio Dei Church (Cincinnati, OH): We are a gospel-centered, city-focused, church community.
- Mars Hill (Grandville, MI): A Jesus people for the sake of the world.
- NewSpring Church (Anderson, SC): We exist to connect people to Jesus and each other.
- The Journey (St Louis, MO): Our city awakened to and transformed by the love of Jesus.
- Gateway Church (Southlake, TX): To see people saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving.
- Christ Fellowship (Miami, FL): We’re a multi-cultural church that seeks to make fully devoted followers of Christ.
- Austin Stone Community Church (Austin, TX): To love God, love the church, love the city, and love the nations.
- LifeChurch (Edmond, OK): To make a lasting difference in your life, in our community, and in the world.
- Hillsong (Sydney, Australia): Hillsong is a church that believes in Jesus, a church that loves God and people.
- Willow Creek (South Barrington, IL): To be a biblically functional community of believers so Christ’s redemptive purposes can be accomplished in the world.
- Perimeter Church (Johns Creek, GA): To make and deploy mature and equipped followers of Christ for the sake of Family, Community and Global Transformation.
- Glide (San Francisco, CA): GLIDE is a radically inclusive, just and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization.
- Gateway Scottsdale (Scottsdale, AZ): At Gateway, we are committed to helping every person believe in Jesus, belong to a family, become a disciple and build His kingdom.
- Glad Tidings (Omaha, NE): Good News is a church where anyone can be transformed by the story of Jesus. We are a multicultural Christian congregation that meets in the Aksarben area.
- Saddleback (Lake Forest, CA): To welcome the community with open arms. To train an army of people who are passionate about living out God’s purpose for their lives. To then give that army an outlet for sharing the love of Christ through outreach and missions.
- Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York, NY): The Redeemer family of churches and ministries exist to help build a great city for all people through a movement of the gospel that brings personal conversion, community formation, social justice, and cultural renewal to New York City and, through it, the world.
- Celebration Church (Jacksonville, FL): “Therefore go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you, always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
- FairHaven (Centerville, OH): We believe everyone needs the hope Jesus offers, so our passion is to help people find that hope and grow in a relationship with Him. We emphasize grace and acceptance, yet we’re equally passionate about truth, as we help people understand who Jesus is and how to take the next right step in their journey of faith.
- Biltmore Baptist (Arden, NC): “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
- The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX): We are a ministry founded on biblical principles. We serve in the spirit of excellence with integrity and compassion for our community, our nation, and our world. We have established a reputation for reaching the lost and broken and to minister and serve them with the utmost level of dignity and respect. We are recognized for our dedication to academic and spiritual excellence and mentoring and supporting spiritual leaders. Our environment inspires maximum participation, promotes personal satisfaction, and supports and molds effective leadership.
- Planetshakers (Melbourne, Australia): To bring Christ to their world because… “the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor, He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow to them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for morning, and a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. They will be called mighty oaks, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” – Isaiah 61:1-3
- Church of the Highlands (Birmingham, Alabama): We’re here to help people Know God, Find Freedom, Discover their Purpose, and Make a Difference.
- Elevation Church (Charlotte, North Carolina): See what God can do through you.
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