Does your ministry have a vision statement? Does everyone in your ministry know it? I’m a little embarrassed to admit that it took me quite a while to incorporate a vision statement for our ministry and it was only after being encouraged by our staff team that we crafted and implemented a vision statement for our ministry.
I always functioned knowing that there was a direction our ministry was going in and a philosophy for how we were accomplishing that, but the truth of the matter is I never did a good job communicating it. In order for your ministry to grow in its effectiveness and to make sure everyone is on the same page with its direction and purpose, it is essential to have a vision statement that guides your ministry holistically.
It’s easy to look up general vision statements online or to “borrow” one from a friend. But if you’re seeking to craft one of your own and make it relevant to what your ministry is seeking to accomplish, we need to think through how to develop a vision statement and what should it communicate.
1. It should incorporate the objectives of your ministry.
This is a key piece to a vision statement. When you’re seeking to guide and direct where your ministry is going, it should include how you’re attempting to get there. This doesn’t need to be broken down in detail about how it will be accomplished, but it should be specific enough that no one is left wondering. Our vision statement includes aspects of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment which is clearly stated, and how those are worked out and broken down in more detail in other places within our purpose and mission statements.
2. It should be succinct.
If you’re like me you may get a bit wordy sometimes. It happens to the best of us, and that can at times permeate into our communications. A vision statement isn’t meant to be wordy but instead to be succinct and clear in its stated objectives and goals. Look to keep your vision statement to simply one or two sentences and allow it to clearly communicate the focus and direction of your ministry.
3. It should embrace the vision of your church.
This is something that I have often seen held in tension with different churches. Many churches have a vision statement but it isn’t often that their statement is synonymous with the student ministry’s vision. This can be a problem because it shows that there isn’t unity or cohesion within the church. This could also contribute to students becoming disenfranchised with the broader church and potentially contribute to them walking away as they get older. Look for how your vision statement can foster unity in the church overall.
4. Communicate the goals and objectives of the ministry.
As stated previously, a vision statement should be succinct but it should also communicate the goals and objectives of your ministry. These should be stated in broad terms and then clarified in your mission and purpose statements. Think through what you’re looking to accomplish in the ministry, how this will come about, and why this is important and necessary.
Once you have identified those aspects, then you can work on shaping the statement using key words and phrases which you can unpack further in other places. If you are focused on the Great Commission, rather than writing that out word for word, simply say something like, “Advancing the Gospel in all spheres of our lives” or simply, “Advancing the Kingdom of God.”
5. It should generate buy-in and excitement.
This is something I believe can be overlooked when working on statements like these. We hyper-focus on word-smithing the statement and getting it just right, but when did we stop to think, “Does this make me excited?” And, “Will this generate buy-in?” When we ask these questions of ourselves it gives us insight into what our people will think as well.
So make sure your vision statement isn’t just a general one but one that is specific toward your ministry and will generate excitement and buy-in. Cast a vision that invites people along and helps them to see the goal(s). Make sure students know this is for them and that they matter. Allow for your leaders to see how they are involved. These aspects will not only help you create a stellar vision statement but will also ensure its success and longevity in your program.
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