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The Audacity of Vision
By jason | May 5, 2008
I just finished Aubrey Malphurs’ book Being Leaders. In his last chapter he talks about the leader setting direction and vision for the church. He concludes his chapters with Rick Warren’s statement of vision from his very first sermon at Saddleback…holy freakin’ cow.
I have to post it in full (170-171):
It is the dream of a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated, and the confused can find love, acceptance, help, hope, forgiveness, guidance, and encouragement.
It is the dream of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with the hudreds of thousands of residents in south Orange County.
It is the dream of welcoming 20,000 members into the fellowship of our church family-loving, learning, laughing, and living in harmony together.
It is the dream of developing people to spiritual maturity through Bible studies, small groups, seminars, retreats, and a Bible school for our members.
It is the dream of equipping every believer for a significant ministry by helping them discover the gifts and talents God gave them.
It is the dream of sending out hundreds of career missionaries and church workers all around the world and empowering every member for a personal life mission in the world. It is the dream of sending members by the thousands on short-term mission projects to every continent. It is the dream of starting at least one new daughter church every year.
It is the dream of at least fifty acres of land, on which will be built a regional church for south Orange County-with beautiful, yet simple, facilities including a worship center seating thousands, a counseling and prayer center, classrooms for Bible studies and training lay ministers, and a recreation area. Al of this will be designed to minister to the total person-spiritually, emotionally, physically, and socially-and set in a peaceful, inspiring garden landscape.
I stand before you today and state in confident assurance that these dreams will become reality. Why? Because they are inspired by God!
Vision is audacious and risky and inspiring.
Topics: Leadership |