where vision meets prayer, not salesmanship

i have been thinking a lot about vision and calling lately, and as it turns out, my erstwhile acquaintance randy bohlender has been pondering the same thing:

Vision (not) for sale
I've been thinking about vision lately....particularly the phrase we often hear about leaders 'selling the vision'.

I think it's bad terminology. Particularly for church planters.

If you're selling a vision, even if they buy it....they'll buy the next one that comes along if it seems to fit their consumer needs better. Your role as visionary becomes secondary to your role as Salesman of the Month.

When I have really grabbed on to a vision, it's been because someone articulated what I was already sensing. They weren't selling me on something, they were pointing out the opportunity that I had been feeling and then inviting me to go for it. I wasn't buying anything; I was realizing something that God had been doing in my spirit up until then.

Remember this next time you make your pitch. It just might be that God has been drawing them too...and your job is to point out the elephant of opportunity in the room. If they look you in the eyes and say "I can see it....", you have gained a partner in the journey.


...this - to me - is a prayer and intercession issue; if the leadership (whatever form that takes) is seeking the Lord, finding what the Lord has for them, then while they grab it and go for it , they invite people to join them, then - i believe - the Lord has likely planted that in our faith community as well and the people will respond

...while we were praying and interceding and asking the Lord for it. thus, if we are hearing from the Lord, acting on what He has for us, He sows the vision in the hearts of the people.

[caveat: of course, as in any group setting, communication is key. when you communicate the vision, that seed planted by the Lord will respond in the people's heart...thus we still need to communicate well, and follow-thru by inviting the people into the lastest adventure aling the journey of faith]

[caveat-deux: it is also connected to the level of the 'vision'; some ministry-visions will only be for a few people within concentric circle settings within a community; while a vision for the whole local faith community is larger, and so on...]