So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average…
Congregational vision is about expanding and deepening disciplemaking
By George Bullard Vision is not about promoting programs and using an attractional approach to engage in a spiritual and strategic journey. It is not about a focus on operational planning, and a primary focus on the management of the…
A lesson from the dying garden for the church
When I was a child, my dad worked for IBM. This meant that my formative years were spent in the well-groomed suburbs of Dallas, Miami and Atlanta. Such suburbs are filled with wonderful neighborhoods and plenty of new construction for…
When it comes to congregational vision, good enough is never good enough
By George Bullard Surely you have heard the expression throughout your life that something is “good enough for government work.” Or, you have heard its cousin, “close enough for government work.” When the typical person hears these phrases they think…
What are excellent vs. mediocre congregational visions?
By George Bullard Vision is not business as usual. It is not about average thinking. It does not involve doing a little better next year than you did last year. It is not about mediocrity. Vision is about excellence in…
A Star Wars outsider reflects on church
I have a confession to make. I have never seen any of the Star Wars movies. I know very little to nothing about them. I am officially an outsider when it comes to all things Star Wars. With all the…
Should congregations stay away from professionals when writing a vision statement?
By George Bullard Yes, and for very good reasons. There is nothing wrong with professionals. There’s no reason to criticize them. It is all about the dependency congregations develop with outside third-parties who help them craft their future vision. Because…
Just like the New Testament, congregational vision is experienced then written
By George Bullard Who knows for sure exactly how the Gospel according to Luke came to be written? I mean exactly. No one knows with absolute surety. But we can imagine. For me to imagine this, I read the first…
Are we finally witnessing the death of Christianity in America?
Several months ago a Pew Research study sparked what almost seem like shouts of glee from those who were eager to declare the impending death of Christianity in America. According to the report, Millennials are leaving the Church in droves…