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I have said, and have often heard others exclaim those words when looking skyward or toward the horizon to observe an object. \u00a0I have also heard them when one is looking at a page in a magazine or book, hoping to capture a fleeting thought or concept. \u00a0In both cases, there is a desire to transfer what is \u201cexternal\u201d through our eyes and into our mind. \u00a0Aristotle is quoted as saying \u201cthe soul never thinks without a picture.\u201d \u00a0We long to visualize in our minds what it is being discussed. \u00a0A lack of clear vision — both individually and corporately — will always result in hesitancy, misunderstanding, and will impede decisive action and cooperation. \u00a0So, what is vision, really, and why is it so important to all of us?<\/p>\n
VISION \u2013 WHAT IS IT? <\/strong> VISION \u2013WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?<\/strong> Vision unites people toward a cause which makes them move. \u00a0Vision motivates leaders of all levels to step up and help move forward. \u00a0Vision prompts resources. \u00a0If your group has no vision, the resources will be reallocated to where the vision moves the heart to give. \u00a0Vision clarifies direction and calls for participation. \u00a0When the vision is clear, all the people in the boat put their paddle in the water and begin to row in one direction! \u00a0What a picture of partnership \u2013 all on the ship, straining together against the elements to move the vessel toward the lighthouse in the distance! \u00a0Sadly, many churches and organizations without vision paint an entirely different picture \u2013 that of a boat, adrift in the currents, with people frantically paddling in all different directions, or not rowing at all! \u00a0We have all experienced this reality at some time, and realize the frustration as well as the wasted energy and resources of dealing with the disagreement rather than addressing the problems with clear vision. \u00a0Vision creates energy to move and even initiates some strong faith, regardless of risk. \u00a0Vision gives assurance and confidence to members of a group to keep moving and stop their nearsighted self-focus.<\/p>\n BIBLICAL VISIONARIES<\/strong> In the New Testament, Jesus comes to fulfill a clearly articulated vision of ministry to the twelve disciples, the nation of Israel, as well as the world — which was prophesied from ages past. (Genesis 3:15 \u2013 to crush the serpent\u2019s head; Mark 10:45 \u2013 to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many; Luke 19:10 \u2013 to seek and to save the lost; John 1:17 \u2013 to bring grace and truth; John 15:16 \u2013 to choose the disciples to bear fruit that will last; John 17:4 \u2013 complete His work in disciple-making and bring God glory; John 19:30 \u2013 to pay \u201cin full\u201d \u00a0the penalty for sin; Phil. 2:5-11 \u2013 to humble Himself and be exalted by God for redemption and example for man.) \u00a0He daily did the Father\u2019s will and refused to be distracted from going village to village and town to town to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven. \u00a0The twelve disciples and others followed Jesus, hanging on his words and believing He truthfully told of a future house of his Father (John 14:1-7). \u00a0He was the greatest leader of all time and He daily created pictures in the minds of others which they could visualize and believe.<\/p>\n GODLY VISION<\/strong> I have said, and have often heard others exclaim those words when looking skyward or toward the horizon to observe an object. \u00a0I have also heard them when one is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"dipi_cpt_category":[],"class_list":["post-20761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-presidents-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nVision is a description of the preferred future that one believes God desires for their church, their family, their organization or their personal life. \u00a0It is always aimed at the future and is different from the mission. \u00a0The mission is a description of what the group is and why it exists \u2013 it is present and intellectual. \u00a0The vision identifies where the group is headed and what their mission looks like when wonderfully fulfilled in the future. \u00a0The vision isn\u2019t purely intellectual — it is emotional and motivational, based on prayer as well as seeking the leading of God about His will and desired progress. \u00a0Vision gets people excited, and expresses a moral obligation to change, move, and address a critical issue or problem within society, or the organization itself.<\/p>\n
\nI like to describe the vision as the \u201cdestination\u201d that the organization commits to arrive at in a specified time period, and how that will look at the time — if God has His way with a group. \u00a0It should be an image which everyone can picture and desire. \u00a0 It is vitally important, because people naturally want to move forward and progress. \u00a0People want to know where they\u2019re going. \u00a0They desire to join in on the journey! \u00a0If an organization does not point to a destination, they resort to \u201csurvival\u201d and trying to hold it as is\u2014which inherently never happens\u2014and leads to organizational demise. \u00a0A group which fails to give vision ends up in division, as each leader is left to create their own conflicting vision and pursue short-term success over the longer term vision. \u00a0Not having a vision becomes a sentence of division, argumentation, and fragmentation. \u00a0Having a vision, on the other hand, does the opposite.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bible is filled with examples of leaders prompted by God to move, transforming the people they led toward a desired picture of the future. \u00a0Think about Abram\u2014he moved his entire household from the land of Ur to Canaan\u2014a place he never actually visited! \u00a0He obeyed God and moved his family forward. \u00a0Then we remember David the shepherd boy. \u00a0 He was anointed the next King of Israel, yet waited patiently under the rule of Saul, holding his 600 plus men \u201cin check\u201d because of the vision of God, bringing about his eventual rise to the throne. \u00a0These men were visionary leaders who motivated others to see the future destination God planted in their hearts and minds. \u00a0They were greatly admired, and followed by very loyal people even amid trials and difficulties. \u00a0Their lives showed faith in God and their dedication to a greater vision which held promise for the future beyond their present circumstances.<\/p>\n
\nVision which is inspired by God can be recognized as that which will bring about great glory to God, progress of His Church, and eternal results. \u00a0These are also great measurements we can use to consider what we have for overall goals for our lives and for the churches, and organizations which we serve. Anything which falls short of these may simply be our personal ambition or selfish desires. \u00a0I greatly fear superimposing my desire for the world\u2019s \u201csuccess\u201d as a godly vision for my life, my family, and Grace Christian University. \u00a0We prayerfully, and many time patiently wait upon the Lord and talk with others to discern and seek God\u2019s voice as He leads. \u00a0This can be refined and vetted by other godly people whom God has put into our lives. \u00a0Nevertheless, sometimes God desires a boldness which demands the power of God to be actualized for a God-sized vision to be a reality. \u00a0We certainly have experienced this at Grace Christian University and give all glory to Him! \u00a0 May God bless you as move in response to His leading and for His glory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nKen B. Kemper<\/div>\nPresident<\/div>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"