The mission of the church is multi-dimensional and one of those dimensions is that the church ought to be a dream factory. We don't just want to develop leaders. We want to develop dreamers. Obviously, I'm talking about kingdom dreams that are conceived by the Holy Spirit. No one dreamed a bigger dream than Jesus: make disciples of all nations. We call it the Great Commission. I like to think of it as the Great Dream. To follow in the footsteps of Jesus is to dare to dream God-ordained and God-sized dreams.
Now let me make an important distinction because I think dreaming is two-dimensional.
When someone becomes part of NCC they become a shareholder in our corporate vision. They become part of something that is bigger than they are. They become a subplot in the story God is writing through National Community Church. But it's a two-way street. Too many churches are all about the corporate vision and fail to realize that we are also shareholders in the personal vision of each person who is part of our community. We become part of the story God is writing through them. Healthy churches are all about both corporate vision and personal vision.
I think our free market system of small groups is a great example of how you do both. If we're going to reach 10,000 people we need 1000 small groups. That is part of our long-term corporate vision. But the way you achieve corporate vision is by helping people achieve their personal vision. Our free market system allows our leaders to get a vision from God and go for it.
Bottom line: NCC is called to be a dream factory. We want to help people discover their God-ordained dreams. And we want to help them go after them with relentless faith. And as those personal visions become reality so will our corporate vision.
Now let me make an important distinction because I think dreaming is two-dimensional.
When someone becomes part of NCC they become a shareholder in our corporate vision. They become part of something that is bigger than they are. They become a subplot in the story God is writing through National Community Church. But it's a two-way street. Too many churches are all about the corporate vision and fail to realize that we are also shareholders in the personal vision of each person who is part of our community. We become part of the story God is writing through them. Healthy churches are all about both corporate vision and personal vision.
I think our free market system of small groups is a great example of how you do both. If we're going to reach 10,000 people we need 1000 small groups. That is part of our long-term corporate vision. But the way you achieve corporate vision is by helping people achieve their personal vision. Our free market system allows our leaders to get a vision from God and go for it.
Bottom line: NCC is called to be a dream factory. We want to help people discover their God-ordained dreams. And we want to help them go after them with relentless faith. And as those personal visions become reality so will our corporate vision.
6 Comments:
Mark-
so very well said. I think dreaming God-sized dreams is something that every church needs to fo, but very few actually do. I feel called to help churches do just that. I started a consulting company, Fish Out of Water, to teach churches innovation techniques and creative problem solving strategies to help them dream bigger.
As I travel down this path, you and NCC have been such a source of encouragement and inspiration for me. You are one of only a handful of pastors who talk about innovation and creativity. In fact, I first found your blog when I googled "church" and "innovation".
Thank you and God bless.
Daniel Ferry
Mark I cannot say enough of how you will be helping me pull off a huge & long waited introduction to this generation for what the church can be... "You have been reading my mail!" lol... thank you so much for sharing your continued fresh experiences... Grace & Peace Gary Garris ~ Grace & Mercy International
As a former pastor, I believe totally in your view or dream factory. When I served my last church as young adult pastor, it was this type of understanding that rejuvanated the young adults in a very traditional church. When I was asked to resign (new senior pastor wanted his old staff) the young adults was now a thriving ministry and very much a part of the whole church ministry. It really had nothing to do with me, all God. It had everything to do with believing in people and their God given dreams. Not just saying it, but showing it in tangible ways. Now I speak (part time/hobby!) as part of my dream Liquid Community. Thanks for you blog, really enjoy.
The idea that not only should members work for the goals of the church, but that the church should work for the goals fo the members -- this is a visionary and revolutionary concept that most churches don't get. Thank you for articulating it. I think this is why many congregations are lifeless and lukewarm - the church is not investing in their personal visions. I believe that one of the best ways to measure a church's success is to see how much it changes its members. If it doesn't make its members more encouraged, more able to overcome difficulties, more willing to reach out, more able to dream big dreams -- then it can't be a success. (Sorry for the old-school use of the terms "church" and "members" - couldn't think of an easy way to word it.) Anyways, thanks for such a great post!
I wholeheartedly agree. One of the most crucial elements of forging a new type of church that is relevant to the 21st century--and beyond--is enabling and empowering others in our midst to pursue their dreams. If it's only about one person's vision and everyone else plugging into that, then there is absolutely no creativity, originality, abundant living, or anything attractive at all except for having well-planned meetings.
Thanks Mark, it's encouraging to see that I'm not the only crazy one.
Hey Mark... these thoughts and this post is really helping us with some stuff we're working on at Granger this year. Thanks for your leadership and encouragement!
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