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The Power of Vision How You Can Capture and Apply God's Vision for Your Ministry

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To this point the, The Power of Vision is the best work I have read on the subject of vision for ministry. Barna does an outstanding job of defining vision and explaining its importance. Along the way he gives many valuable insights concerning the crafting and casting of vision for ministry.

Of the thousands of books written on the subject, Barna's is at the very top of the pack. This book powerfully, succintly, grippingly presents what a vision is, where it comes from, how to capture it, how to apply it, how to deal with myths and vision killers, and much more. If you want to be an effective minister, or an effective, purpose-filled human being, read this book, then read it again. Every seminary and every Church ought to present this book as a gift to graduating students or at ordination. The vision comes from the Lord, the resources come from the Lord it is impoosible to fail.

This book is an invaluable addition to any pastors library. Though brief, it gives a concise and pragmatic look at what vision is and how to implement it. Barna chips away at our misconceptions concerning vision and argues persuasively that it is the one indispensable ingredient for a growing church. Pastors who have a well-defined vision and who are able to articulate it to their congregations grow their churches, those without it do not.

The books greatest strength is Barnas lucid style. I appreciate his way of dealing with each objection that is raised to vision he destroys each with irrepressible logic. Barna disarms the reader whose preconceptions about vision would have torpedoed anything he was trying to communicate.

But the books greatest strength is also its greatest weakness; it left me hungering for more. Although I can understand why he wants us to go to extraordinary lengths to know yourself (pg. 80 ff) the series of forty-one essay questions that each pastor should ask himself is a little much. It would take an extraordinary person not to become lost in the process before discovering the end.

The book gave me hope. I have always known that the reason one church grows and another does not is because of pastoral leadership, rather than congregational indifference. What I did not know was why. Was it merely that some pastors have a natural charisma that others do not? Or was it something more fundamental, namely vision? It also helped me overcome the old enabler model of leadership I was taught in seminary. Vision comes from an inspired pastor and then trickles down from the top and not from committee consensus. It is an outstanding book.

The sociological studies of George Barna, such as User Friendly Churches, have been widely used for some time now. The Power of Vision: How You Can Capture and Apply God's Vision for Your Ministry (Ventura, CA: Regal Books, c. 1992), emphasizes the importance of vision--"where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18, KJV)--and ways to implement it.
Barna himself has been deeply impressed by the Willow Creek Community Church, whose pastor, Bill Hybels, certainly is a model for many who are conŽcerned with church growth (if not buildŽing a super-church of some sort). In Barna's opinŽion, Hybels's success is, to a large degree, the result of impleŽmenting a godly vision.
The research which Barna conducts is extensive and impressive. He certainly describes the conditions which seem to make for successful churches in modern America. "In evaluating churches that are growing and healthy as compared to those that are stagnant or in decline," he finds, "one of the key distinctions that emerges is the existence of true vision for ministry" (p. 12). Such visions must be clearly articulated by a congregation's leaders and sincerely embraced by their followers.
Unfortunately, Barna found, the importance of vision, widely recognized in the business world, is largely untaught in seminaries and ignored by "ChrŽistian intellectuals, theologians, teachers and authors" (p. 13). Thus he seeks, in this book, to provide pastors with a resource which may enable them to develop "the power of vision."
He builds his case by looking at examples, in the Bible and history, of visionary people--from St Paul to Mother Teresa, from Donald McGavran's church growth movement to Martin Luther King's civil rights movement. Clearly the leaders who've moved multitudes have been captivated by a vision.
Recognizing its importance, Barna then defines it: "Vision for ministry is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances" (p. 28). Fleshing out that vision begins with a pastor who is both enamored with the vision and surŽrendŽered to God's design and control of it. It then proceeds to a "vision statement," drafted and owned by the congregation, which provides a basis for the life and mission of the church.
It's important not to confuse vision with mission, however. "Mission is a general statement of ministry objectives; it is philosophic. Vision is a specific, detailed statement of direction and uniqueness; it is strategic" (p. 37). Various churches may have the same mission in a community --but they should have different visions, enabling them to truly cooperate with each other, fitting into their niche of the Kingdom. Thus a mission statement may emerge as a consensus involving the whole congregation. Vision statements ordinarily come from a visionary person, often (though not necessarily) the pastor, who senses God's guidance, a specific calling for a specific congregation in a specific time and place. "Grasping God's vision for the church's ministry is not a committee process" (p. 45).
Barna insists the vision may have nothing to do with numerical growth! "The absolute goal of vision for ministry is to glorify God. It is more important to have a church of committed followers of Christ than to have a church swelled with numbers of 'social Christians,' 'nominal Christians' or Christians who demonstrate no evidence of growth in their relationship with God. If the vision is truly from God, it is one that will push the church forward towards ends that satisfy Him rather than to meet standards that result from the world" (p. 51).
This means a leader must seek, above all, to capture God's vision for his congregation. This involves knowing yourself and your gifts. If you mind your divine design, if you're attentive to what God has enabled you to be and become, you'll better capture God's vision for you and your minitry. "One of the most revealing questions to ask is the identity of those matters about which you are passionate. What is it that, without fail, excites you in ministry" (p. 81). Chances are the vision God wants to give you will engage your pasŽsion!
God's vision comes from Him, so knowing Him is also important! To know Him we must get quiet long enough to hear Him! "The leaders of the American Christian church are generally people who feel they are successful only when they are active. God, however, seems to speak most clearly to Christian leaders when they are inactive; that is, when they have made a conscious effort to allow Him to lead the conversation and to impart wisdom in His own way, in His own timing" (p. 90).
Coming from God, we can expect a vision to have these nine characteristics: inspiring, change-oriented, challenging, empowering, long-term, customized, detailed, people-oriented, future-promising. Any vision lacking too many of the above must be suspect. But a healthy, God-given vision can make a difference, an eternal difference, in one's ministry. Barna also gives tips on communicating the vision to the congregation, enabling people to "own" it, and the marketing the vision in the comŽmunity so as to reach those who need it.
I find the book readable, persuasive, reasonably balanced in its appeal. It's a "how-to-do-it" book which insists on the unique ways God guides each pastor and church, that numerical growth is not necessarily God's only vision for churches. We're too tempted to either praise and imitate Bill Hybels or criticize and ignore him. In fact we might better seek to praise and learn from Hybels without feeling compelled imitate him. If our vision comes from God, it will be unique and specific, not a clone of some sort.

If you are looking for the best book on what exactly a vision for ministry is and how to do it...YOU FOUND IT!! This was a required textbook for one of my seminary classes, and I absolutely loved reading it. No other book that I have read so far and I've read quite a few, really explains the "HOW-TO" of vision in your ministry and your life! We all need a vision and passion given to us by the Holy Spirit if we are going to be effective disciples of Christ. I highly recommend this book to all pastors, teachers and laymen.

George Barna has put out so many well needed books over the years. He is definitely a Teacher to the Body. When it comes to Vision he definitely has set the standard with this book.

Know that the beauty of this book is that it doesn't feel like he is talking above anyone's head while setting the standard.

He uses a chapter to address 20 common myths of Vision and then gives simple rebuttals for even the novice to understand. The beauty of this book is to see Barna handles an age long question of Vision and how gently but surely continues to take the reader deeper and deeper into the subject without even realizing it.

What Vision? What to know about Vision? Read this and you will walk away satisfied

In doing my D.Min degree focused on the subject of turnaround churches, I have read literally hundreds of books that tangentially discuss the importance of vision. Barna's The Power of Vision is among the first rank of works that actually explores the issue thoroughly. If you are searching for a book on the imperative and often elusive leadership dynamic of vision, then by all means buy this book!

In my humble opinion, "The Power of Vision" by George Barna is the best book I have read on getting God's vision for your ministry. While the book is heavily slanted towards the pastor or other church leader, every Christian would benefit from the title.

The title is around 180 pages and contains 13 chapters on various aspects of vision. My personal favorite was Chapter 13 on capturing God's personal vision for your life.

Among the points I found particularly enjoyable were:

1. Your God is a personal God and He wants a growing and personal relationship with you.
2. God seems to speak most clearly to Christians when they are inactive (not lazy, mind you, but being in a state of peace and quiet makes it easier to hear God's voice).
3. God loves to stretch His people and His vision for your ministry will do just that.
4. Aggressively seek to understand what it is that God is calling you to do.
5. The heart of God's vision for your life's ministry will be serving people.
6. As you seek God's vision for your life, remember that it will be a reflection of your unique characteristics and yearnings.
7. Let your vision move you into areas of outreach that may be uncomfortable for you.
8. Use your vision as the decision making filter that determines which opportunities you pursue and which ones you reject.

An excellent book and highly recommended. Read, enjoy, and be challenged!

This is an excellent book for those who are trying to lead churches in the 21st century. Well laid out and easy to follow. The only issue that I had with the book is that all the references and pronouns are for male pastors and male pronouns for God. It was disconcerting and a little abrasive at the end.

I wouold recommend this book highly. It offers valuable insights for the 21st century church.