"Vision: Lost & Found" is the behind-the-scenes story of a church that grew from nothing to be labeled as the second most innovative church in the country--and then got stuck. Author Tim Stevens tells the story of Granger Community Church's journey through the ups and downs. You will feel their angst, but you will also smile as they celebrate significant moments along the way. You will read about the pain, the relational strain, the unbelievable mountain-top experiences, the struggle and the process that helped Granger discover a new vision that would literally redefine their church. It is not a story that is finished, either. Don't look for a nicely-wrapped ending with an "everyone lived happily ever after" conclusion. You will be encouraged by Stevens' candor and vulnerability as he unpacks a story still being written. Many churches are stuck. Some are stuck because of old ways of thinking; some because they can't figure a way out; others because they are happy not changing. "Vision: Lost & Found" will challenge your paradigms, inspire your heart, stretch your thinking and give you tangible tools to help your church take its next step.
Vision: Lost and Found
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"Vision: Lost & Found tells the story of a church daring to question long-held paradigms and imagine a new way to impact their community. Tim Stevens reveals the good, the bad and the ugly of their journey. Every church leader who reads this book will walk away thinking differently." -- Alan Hirsch, Author of The Forgotten Ways
"Anyone in leadership at a church going through a difficult transition can relate to Tim Stevens unblinking retelling of his gut-wrenching journey at one of the most recognizable churches in America." -- Geoff Surratt, Director of Exponential
"Whether your church is large or small, traditional or contemporary, 'Missional' or 'Attractional,' there are practical ideas and helpful strategies in Vision: Lost & Found that can help your church take its next steps to more powerfully and effectively reach people for Christ." --Joel Mikell, President, RSI Church Stewardship
"Church leaders today are addicted to product when real meaning is found through process. That's why Tim Stevens has just delivered a 'must read.' Honest and compelling, the story of Granger is one of the best snapshots of a visioning journey you will find." --Will Mancini, Founder of Auxano, Author of Church Unique
"With rare authenticity and genuine openness, Tim Stevens courageously writes about the good times of dramatic growth and the challenging times of economic struggle, decline and blurred vision. Every church leader needs this book because we have all been there or will be at some point." --Dave Ferguson, Pastor, Community Christian Church
"Anyone in leadership at a church going through a difficult transition can relate to Tim Stevens unblinking retelling of his gut-wrenching journey at one of the most recognizable churches in America." -- Geoff Surratt, Director of Exponential
"Whether your church is large or small, traditional or contemporary, 'Missional' or 'Attractional,' there are practical ideas and helpful strategies in Vision: Lost & Found that can help your church take its next steps to more powerfully and effectively reach people for Christ." --Joel Mikell, President, RSI Church Stewardship
"Church leaders today are addicted to product when real meaning is found through process. That's why Tim Stevens has just delivered a 'must read.' Honest and compelling, the story of Granger is one of the best snapshots of a visioning journey you will find." --Will Mancini, Founder of Auxano, Author of Church Unique
"With rare authenticity and genuine openness, Tim Stevens courageously writes about the good times of dramatic growth and the challenging times of economic struggle, decline and blurred vision. Every church leader needs this book because we have all been there or will be at some point." --Dave Ferguson, Pastor, Community Christian Church
About the Author
As a pastor at Granger Community Church since 1994, Tim Stevens' leadership has helped them connect with people who think church is irrelevant. He has done this through the creative blending of architecture, strategy and technology. He's acutely tuned in to pop culture and is instrumental in balancing operations, building creative teams and inspiring artists to brand each message series and sharpen the guest experience. Stevens has co-authored three books in the "Simply Strategic" series, is author of "Pop Goes the Church" and the brand new release, "Vision: Lost and Found". You can connect with Tim at LeadingSmart.com, on Twitter @timastevens, or at facebook.com/tstevens.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book by Tim Stevens describes the interesting direction which Granger Community Church has taken over the past few years. Granger has developed a reputation for finding innovative ways of attracting people to church, and as such it has become well known throughout the church world as an archetype of the "attractional" model of church. However, the church's new direction is something different.
Over the past decade US culture has been changing in a less-church-friendly way. Many people say that it is harder to get friends to agree to come to church. One estimate is that only 40% of people are ever likely to accept an invitation to go to a church; the other 60% are therefore unlikely ever to be reached by existing types of churches. The only way to reach the other 60% is by going to where they are and finding ways of intersecting the gospel with their lives: this is the "missional" model of church.
Granger's new vision is to become a church which is both attractional and missional. According to the vision statement, the number of people being the Church in their communities seven days a week will outnumber the number of casual Christians just going to church; the Granger campus and programs will be remodelled to help not just the congregation but also the greater community, with Jesus at the centre; and every follower of Jesus will be a reproducing follower of Jesus and every church will be a reproducing church.
In some ways Granger's new vision is like a reality show. Right at the start of its attempts to redefine itself, the church has put its vision out for public scrutiny. Now we get to watch and see whether it works out as planned. Can people who have become pew-sitters be converted into local missionaries? Can ordinary Christians find effective ways of carrying the gospel to the 60% who are not interested in attending church? Are the targets which have been set achievable?
Something does need to change in the North American church, and plenty of church leaders are grateful to Granger for leading the way in discovering whether "attractional and missional" is a good model to follow.
Over the past decade US culture has been changing in a less-church-friendly way. Many people say that it is harder to get friends to agree to come to church. One estimate is that only 40% of people are ever likely to accept an invitation to go to a church; the other 60% are therefore unlikely ever to be reached by existing types of churches. The only way to reach the other 60% is by going to where they are and finding ways of intersecting the gospel with their lives: this is the "missional" model of church.
Granger's new vision is to become a church which is both attractional and missional. According to the vision statement, the number of people being the Church in their communities seven days a week will outnumber the number of casual Christians just going to church; the Granger campus and programs will be remodelled to help not just the congregation but also the greater community, with Jesus at the centre; and every follower of Jesus will be a reproducing follower of Jesus and every church will be a reproducing church.
In some ways Granger's new vision is like a reality show. Right at the start of its attempts to redefine itself, the church has put its vision out for public scrutiny. Now we get to watch and see whether it works out as planned. Can people who have become pew-sitters be converted into local missionaries? Can ordinary Christians find effective ways of carrying the gospel to the 60% who are not interested in attending church? Are the targets which have been set achievable?
Something does need to change in the North American church, and plenty of church leaders are grateful to Granger for leading the way in discovering whether "attractional and missional" is a good model to follow.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was an unexpected experience. I went in expecting another book with some good leadership principles but instead found one of the most real, raw, helpful, challenging, encouraging and thought provoking books. Tim is a great story teller which is necessary because he tells the behind the scenes story of a nationally known mega-church's journey from success to decline and back to the road which will hopefully lead them to uncharted success.
You will not find another book about church vision with this much realness nor will you find a church with bigger vision. I went away from this book rethinking everything I am doing with my church...in a good way.
Tim's church's vision was not only huge (hard to detail in a review) but how much thought, planning, resources and buy-in was needed to pull it off was both inspiring and challenging. Most of the books about vision talk about vision statement style leadership. This book goes to a completely different level.
I would highly recommend this book to any Pastor or church leader. It's easy to read and so gut level honest you can't help but trust Tim.
You will not find another book about church vision with this much realness nor will you find a church with bigger vision. I went away from this book rethinking everything I am doing with my church...in a good way.
Tim's church's vision was not only huge (hard to detail in a review) but how much thought, planning, resources and buy-in was needed to pull it off was both inspiring and challenging. Most of the books about vision talk about vision statement style leadership. This book goes to a completely different level.
I would highly recommend this book to any Pastor or church leader. It's easy to read and so gut level honest you can't help but trust Tim.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Goals and priorities motivate people to do great things! I read this book in a little less than four hours. You should read this book now! Thanks Pastor Stevens!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Read for Leaders
Tim's recollection of leading alongside co-leaders and friends through the valleys and mountaintops of collaboration and visioneering is both inspiring and educational. Read more
Published 13 days ago by David A.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful Book
Very honest and helpful. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Read it alongside Center Church and Deep and Wide.
Published 25 days ago by Larry G. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
A great nuts and bolts approach from the trenches. Everyone who serves at a church will see their ministries in this book.
Published 2 months ago by Kyle
4.0 out of 5 stars
Who Knew a Story of Failure Could Be So Inspiring?
20 years of growth and success doesn't mean you're sitting pretty. Tim Stevens shares the story of how Granger Community Church got stuck and lost their vision. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kevin D. Hendricks
4.0 out of 5 stars
Case study on how to cast a new vision
This book will likely be read primarily by church leaders BUT the process Tim Stevens explains in detail is useful for any type of organization. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. Pryor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book for Leaders
Wow. What a fantastic book! Tim Stevens was able to capture in words so many things that have frustrated me about church in general- don't get me wrong, I love the way my church... Read more
Published 8 months ago by cjcrawford
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Story
I have to admit that as a leader, I am fascinated with the inside scoop on thriving churches. All it takes are a few conferences, book fairs and seminars to figure out it is fast... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Phyllis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read!
I just finished "Vision: Lost & Found" by Tim Stevens. This book is the powerful story of how the Granger Community Church "re-invented" itself to make a sustained and continuing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be a Mope-er, be a Hope-er!
At the core of Vision lays a message of hope. Through the sharing of the Granger story, church leaders and practitioners will find a portal into their own unique story that God is... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Don E. Love
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rare, helpful candor
"Vision: lost & found" is a RARE book. Tim Stevens has done the church community a big favor by writing it. Read more
Published 12 months ago by David Loveless
