Is Your Church's Vision Too Small? » MondayMorningInsight.com

Is Your Church’s Vision Too Small?

Posted on November 16, 2009
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(16) comments

Why do people love to give time, money, energy, and love to parachurch organizations when they don't give time, energy and love to their home church? Craig Groeschel suggests that it could be because the parachurch organization has a bigger vision than your church!

Craig says:

Almost daily, I hear great church members excited about their “outside the church” ministry. Instead of whining about why they don’t give, serve, or care about the ministry of the local church, I’ve made two commitments:

I’m going to cast such a compelling vision for the power of the local church that the vision would draw their hearts back to the local church.
I’m going to celebrate and embrace whatever they are doing to make a difference.

You can read more here...

QUESTION: Do you have people in your church that are more pumped about their favorite parachurch organization than about your church? What can you do to change that? And... do you need to?

Comments

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CS on Mon, November 16, 2009

“QUESTION: Do you have people in your church that are more pumped about their favorite parachurch organization than about your church? What can you do to change that? And… do you need to?”

At my last church, I got more excited about several parachurch ministries because (1) I saw the direct effects of what they were doing, (2) I was an active volunteer within those organizations, and (3) I knew that they were being better stewards with my money and resources than what my own church was doing. From my perspective, it had nothing to do with, “vision,” but instead doing the right things for the right reasons.

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CS
Pastor Chris on Mon, November 16, 2009

Sometimes the local church has too small a vision. But even at its best it has a very particular vision: serving the spiritual needs of a group of people and being welcoming to those who come to be served.

Sometimes our hearts are captured for a different, specific vision of ministry; with the very poor, the kid who can’t learn what’s being taught, the homeless family, our own especially needful parents or children. I think that the local church supports all of those ministries in general, particularly by supporting people who have been given a heart for very specific ministries or responsibilities. When I look around at folks whose hearts have been captured by another kind of ministry or responsibility, I am not only glad, I think it means that the local church has done its job of opening hearts.
Brian Hutchinson on Mon, November 16, 2009

I saw a TV personality telling me on the TV that I was to give to her ministry what belongs to my local church. I switched channels & watched football.
Mission Lawrence on Mon, November 16, 2009

I’m glad I saw this article. It raises a good point. I’m planting a church myself, and from the start we are creating a community wide “Mission” that serves someone/something besides ourselves.

I think he’s got a point here.
Peter Hamm on Mon, November 16, 2009

There are at least three parachurch ministries I know of led by people that go to our church, two missions groups that are doing AMAZING work in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, and a group that operates a transitional homeless shelter in our town. That’s some strong stuff, and we celebrate it!

That said, it’s important to cast a compelling vision for what your church can do and for you to do it responsibly.
Ronnie on Mon, November 16, 2009

I believe God could be the One who calls these parachurches into existence to “wake up” the local churches! I do praise God for some of these who are really doing wonderful Kingdom works but I am also disappointed with some who “convert” Christians to their own organisations!
Leonard on Tue, November 17, 2009

I worked 11 years for a para church organization. I never saw myself as anything other than the church. I brought my students to church, considered myself to be a part of the church and treated my ministry as an extension of the church.
Lori on Tue, November 17, 2009

My parents have been involved with a para-church organization for over 30 years. However they have also been equally committed to their home church. I took have been involved in another organization but never failed to serve at my home church.

That being said, I have to give Craig some kuddos for his second point. Unfortunately, in my experience, pastors did not support the involvement of our family or anyone else in anything outside of church. I think Pastor Chris is right - sometimes a particular kind or area of ministry is our passion and sometimes the most effective ministry meeting that need is outside the church.
Steven Crutchfield on Tue, November 17, 2009

The Church should definitely support other organizations that are doing great things in the community. I happen to believe it has EVERYTHING to do with Vision. If the leadership of the church paints the “right picture” about supporting and building community it will greatly benefit other organizations and most importantly the Kingdom of God and how people view “The Church”.
Michael Holmes on Tue, November 17, 2009

Todd,

Thank you for posting this. I found it to be great.

One thing I would say though: a lot of people place great emphasis on vision (as they should) but I would say equal emphasis should be placed on purpose.

Why? Because a vision is usually birthed out an integrated. Purpose (who we are) comes before vision (where we’re going).

I would also say vision is important but visionaries die. But a ministry with a well integrated purpose can last well beyond the founder’s death.

Thanks again.
Josh Hatcher on Thu, November 19, 2009

My thoughts on vision….

Pastors… your job is to work with your leadership and seek God to ESTABLISH your vision then to clearly communicate it.

the other half of your job is to equip your people to do the work needed to complete that vision.

unfortunately, Pastors, most of you spend all your time being a “chaplain”... visiting all the sick people in the hospital, praying at the luncheon for the quilting club, and taking phone calls about grandma ethel’s ingrown toenail.

give that work to the PEOPLE to do, and make it CLEAR that it is the work of the people so you can do what you’re supposed to be doing. LEADING your church.

What’s that? All the old people will leave the church if I stop catering to them? Good. If they are so convinced that church is about getting their needs met, then they are standing in the way of what God wants to do. If they can’t get on board with the vision of the church, then they need to get out of the way.
Peter Hamm on Thu, November 19, 2009

Josh, harsh words, but there is something to it.

I want to also add that you might be surprised at how many of the “old folks” will embrace the kind of pastoring that you are mentioning. Many of them are on fire to reach the world for Christ and will recognize this kind of thing as positive.
handbags shop on Thu, November 19, 2009

I saw a TV personality telling me on the TV that I was to give to her ministry what belongs to my local church. I switched channels & watched football.
Josh Hatcher on Thu, November 19, 2009

Peter Hamm…

I’m not surprised at all. There are a remnant of true believers left among the “old folks”.

And I honestly believe that if pastors would DO THEIR JOBS and cast the vision, even MORE would get on board. I’ve been in churches where they DO have a population of older “churched” folks that “get it.” What a beautiful thing when someone with YEARS of experience can spend time mentoring believers and teaching them to fullfill the mission that Christ gave us!
and conversely, what a SHAME when they force their pastors to be content to lead the “frozen chozen” in their pious prayer meetings of “Us four and no more”

As for harsh words… Hope I didn’t step on too many toes… but if you run in the circles I run in, these words are actually quite mellow.

as for parachurch organizations…
when did we get the idea that there was a “parachurch” anyway?
isn’t “the church” the body of Christ?

Ekklessia in greek (church) refers to a group of people called out to a specific purpose, and when it’s referred to in reference to the “saints” it’s not typically referring to “a local church” in the sense that you all think of “a local church”... if it’s directed “locally” it’s directed to “the church at Ephesus”... which wasn’t a 5013c with a nice big “First BLANK Church of Ephesus” sign out front. It was groups of people that were spread all over the city that met in each other homes and in the town square….

While I do believe in tithing, and I do think we should give it to the group of believers that we fellowship with… I think we need to just refresh our entire mindset on what “church” is.

Anyway. Interesting discussion!
CS on Thu, November 19, 2009

Josh Hatcher:

“unfortunately, Pastors, most of you spend all your time being a “chaplain”... visiting all the sick people in the hospital, praying at the luncheon for the quilting club, and taking phone calls about grandma ethel’s ingrown toenail.”

Those are biblical duties of a pastor. James 5:14 says that the elders/pastors should visit the sick. They are also to be men of prayer, and caring for and tending to the flock. Even if it seems trivial at times.

Don’t get me wrong, there are things that should be passed onto the deacons, as described in Acts and 1 Timothy, but these sorts of things are biblically described as being the responsibility of the pastor.

“And I honestly believe that if pastors would DO THEIR JOBS and cast the vision, even MORE would get on board.”

Where does it say in the Bible that a pastor’s job is to, “cast vision?”

“as for parachurch organizations…
when did we get the idea that there was a “parachurch” anyway?
isn’t “the church” the body of Christ?”

Yes, that is true. All believers make up the invisible Church. And we all do work as a part of that church.

But, do you go to the local Christian organization to work with orphans to share communion? Do you go down to the ACLJ offices to get baptized? Do you have church discipline enacted while serving food to the homeless?

Those organizations carry on the work of Christ but are different from local churches where worship, teaching, preaching, and the ordinances of the church are practiced. Hence, why they are called, “parachurch organizations.”

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CS

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CS