What Trumps Vision?
Hey Friends,
What trumps vision? “Without a vision the people perish.” We all know that vision verse, so what trumps vision? Leadership, that is what. Recently I played golf with Chris Hodges, the Senior Pastor of the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2008, his was the fastest-growing church in America. He is a great leader and is becoming a good friend.
We were talking about multi-site churches when I asked him how many locations they have a vision to plant. He rocked and shocked my world with this reply: “You’re asking the wrong question Chris;
NEVER LET YOUR VISION OUTPACE YOUR LEADERSHIP.”
As he began to elaborate, I told him that was crystal clear and needed no explanation. If we had a vision to plant ten locations and yet we had no leaders, they would all fail. It was a powerful point and a moment I will never forget. Thank you, Pastor Chris, for your insight and leadership. No wonder the Lord has blessed you to the point He has!
I know you have a vision. Do you have the leadership to accomplish what you believe the Lord is leading you to do??? You may not need to work on the vision, but the process by which you train, build, equip, and release leaders into the Kingdom of God. Do you have a plan? Where will you start?
The Kingdom must be built and God always uses a leader; it is where He starts. Every great move of God was led by a leader.
O Great God, we ask You for more leaders to transform our world for You.
Yours to count on,
Pastor Chris
4 Comments
Pastor Chris,
I find it remarkable that the senior staff seeks to train & build leaders, not just in the FPC staff & interns, but also the “laymen.” Looking at recent events, Faith Promise church has hired a high school principal to be your Pastor of Family Ministries and you’ve asked another “layman” to be the campus pastor of FPC’s first satellite church. I am grateful that God is calling “lay people” to be church leaders and that FPC is being open to the spirit’s leading on this.
Andy Kercher.
I think this quote is a wonderful piece of advice for leadership. It seems like vision can grow quickly, but without proper leadership it can hit a wall.
PC, when I was in the service as a manager I found a few resources valuable for my professional development. The books were, “Naval Leadership Voices of Experience” And “Leadership is an Art”.
Thanks Andy and that is great insight.