{"id":518,"date":"2019-02-16T01:45:55","date_gmt":"2019-02-16T06:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/my-campus\/?p=518"},"modified":"2020-09-18T21:44:07","modified_gmt":"2020-09-19T01:44:07","slug":"catching-and-casting-vision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/campus.cru.org\/my-campus\/catching-and-casting-vision\/","title":{"rendered":"Catching and Casting Vision"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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In August of 1964, under the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King delivered the speech of his lifetime and perhaps the speech of his generation \u2013 a speech that served as the seedbed of social change.<\/p>

\u201cI Have a Dream\u201d was a capsulated summary of the dream that a generation of African Americans felt in their hearts.<\/p>

Dr. King was a leader. \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d was his vision.<\/p>

What he saw was a better America \u2013 an America of equality and brotherhood. His dream has fueled a thousand other dreams and motivated others to take action. This is the power of vision.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What is Vision?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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From a Christian perspective, vision is the ability to clearly see and articulate where God wants us to go or what God wants us to do in a given situation. Vision is the bridge between present and future reality. As one man stated, \u201cIf you want to find a needle in a haystack it is almost impossible. Yet if you place a magnet on the edge of the haystack, the needles jump out.\u201d Vision is that magnet that attracts followers and resources.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Importance of Vision<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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There is a story of three bricklayers working on the same job, each of whom was asked the question, \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d The first responded, \u201cI\u2019m laying bricks.\u201d The second said, \u201cI\u2019m putting up a wall.\u201d The third responded, \u201cI\u2019m constructing a grand cathedral.\u201d<\/p>

All three were engaged in the same work, but only one had a vision for what he was really doing. To stay motivated, your leadership must embrace a personal vision of what God wants them to do on campus.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What a Clear Vision Accomplishes<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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What a Clear Vision Accomplishes<\/h3>

Haman Cross, pastor of Rosedale Baptist Church of Detroit, lists five things that a well-articulated vision accomplishes:<\/p>

  1. Recruitment<\/strong>: Vision beckons volunteers and resources. Movements with clear vision are much more likely to grow and attract visionary students than those that simply copy someone else\u2019s program. Like-minded people ask for the opportunity to be involved. Donors ask how they can help.<\/li>
  2. Retention:<\/strong> gets and keeps people on board.<\/li>
  3. Reminds<\/strong> us of the direction we\u2019ve agreed to pursue.<\/li>
  4. Re-evaluates<\/strong> the ministry\u2019s direction in light of the vision.<\/li>
  5. Relevance<\/strong>: forcing us to be on the cutting edge to be effective.<\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Characteristics of Vision<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Vision always refers to a future state or condition that does not presently exist. Vision shapes the future. You can determine what you will and will not do based on this vision. Vision gives you a sense of control and destiny.<\/p>

    Vision refers to a change for the better. If we seek to maintain the status quo, we will never see the need for vision.<\/p>

    True vision is energizing. Fulfilling God\u2019s vision may require sacrificial work, but when the work is a fulfillment of a vision it is somehow energizing. People don\u2019t want to be left out. True vision calls, summons and pulls us forward. It\u2019s \u201cthe magnet that attracts.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Cultivating and Creating the Vision<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Much of the process of developing the vision falls on the shoulders of the primary vision caster.<\/p>

    John Kotter in\u00a0A Force for Change<\/em>\u00a0<\/mark>charges leaders with three responsibilities:<\/p>

    1. Establish clear direction.<\/li>
    2. Communicate vision and secure commitment to move ahead.<\/li>
    3. Energize (motivate and inspire) people to overcome the obstacles that will surely arise.<\/li><\/ol>

      Teams are vital to the process of refining the vision but you as the team leader must begin the process. So what do you do?<\/p>

      1. Take time to think, read, study, listen, ask questions, pray and reflect.<\/strong>\u00a0Vision is the product of learning from the past, correctly assessing the present and seeing how the future could be different and better. Sometimes vision is the fruit of months of thinking and reflection. At other times it is that flash of brilliance that is right for your situation. Vision often arises from an unmet need or untapped opportunity as in the case of Nehemiah. Ask God to give you his vision for your campus.<\/li>
      2. Ask yourself, \u201cWhat am I really dissatisfied with?\u201d \u201cWhat needs to be done that is not being done?\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWhat are we uniquely positioned and equipped to do?\u201d \u201cWhat untapped opportunities lie before us?\u201d \u201cWhat is God doing around us?\u201d \u201cWhat are my dissatisfactions, desires, hopes and dreams for the future?\u201d<\/li>
      3. What passages from the Scriptures reflect what God wants you to do?<\/strong>\u00a0How can you personalize them?<\/li>
      4. Look over other vision statements churches<\/strong>, other Cru movements, or businesses. Read or view \u201cI Have a Dream.\u201d Which elements seem inspirational? Which parts tap into your dreams for the future?<\/li>
      5. Make it worthwhile<\/strong>. Daniel Burnam, the chief architect who rebuilt Chicago after the fire is credited with saying, \u201cMake no small plans for they have no ability to stir men\u2019s blood.\u201dThink of the scope of the vision that Jesus cast: \u201cPreach the gospel to all the nations,\u201d \u201cMake disciples of all the nations.\u201d To ask God for a God-sized vision fits well within the parameters of Ephesians 3:20 \u2013 \u201cNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine\u2026\u201d<\/li>
      6. Begin recording your vision in a journal<\/strong>\u00a0with dividers sectioned off into the specifics elements of the vision you want to develop. This simple tool allows you to record and modify the vision.<\/li><\/ol>

        Challenge the vision. Step away from it and let it bake for a while. Is it clear, energizing, visual, future-oriented, culturally relevant, realistic yet challenging, etc?<\/p>

        Revise and modify the vision with your team \u2013 those who will help with its implementation. The process takes time, is messy and difficult but is as necessary as the work itself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Summary<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Your ability to consistently cast the vision often comes down to the ability to concisely and clearly articulate the vision.<\/p>

        Your vision statement or vision summary is this expressive and vivid summary \u2013 the high watermark of what God wants to do in your ministry.<\/p>

        It consists of just a few words that enable people to see what you are about, where you are going and why it matters.<\/p>

        A good vision statement will have the ring of authenticity and carries with it a sense of \u201cWow!\u201d To be effective it must be:<\/p>

        1. Relevant.<\/li>
        2. Motivating.<\/li>
        3. Memorable.<\/li><\/ol>

          Vision statements that fall short usually have at least one of these elements missing. Here are a few sample vision statements for your consideration: \u201cBuilding a spiritual legacy.\u201d \u201cBuilding a community to reach a community.\u201d \u201cA great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.\u201d \u201cA place of ministry, a base of ministry.\u201d \u201cPutting the gospel within arm\u2019s reach of every student on the planet.\u201d \u201cWhatever it takes \u2013 wherever it takes us.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          The Singularity of True Vision<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          The strength of vision lies in its singularity. To have dual or multiple visions of what you are about and where you are going is to invite misalignment.<\/p>

          Another type of vision is false vision. False vision is someone else\u2019s vision that is imposed upon you but is never really embraced. Although you may mouth the words, you\u2019re not really inspired by it, impassioned with it, nor committed to it. False vision is dangerous in that it serves as a substitute for what God may really want you to do.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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          What Is Not Visionary<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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