Section 15 - Developing a Mission

9. The Power of Vision10. Vision Has Its PriceCreate a summary of one of these chapters.Study chapter 5 in ASPStudy chapters 9-10 in Visioneering.Print an article on vision and strategic leadership to share with your learning team

Developing a mission

What we are supposed to be doing

Discovering the core values of a church is the 1st step of the planning process for your church / ministry.The 2nd step is developing an effective mission statement.Malphurs suggests Jesus thought this so important that after his resurrection but before the ascension he gave the church its mission.Matt 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:45-49, Acts 1:8This chapter is about developing an effective mission statement - describing the church’s port of destination.

“The development of an effective, biblical mission statement should be the goal of every church leader.” Malphurs

“The task of the leader is to define the mission” Warren Bennis

“What matters is not the leaders charisma. What matters is the leaders mission. Therefore the first task of the leader should be to think through and define the mission of the organisation” Peter Drucker

Mission answers the vital question: what are we supposed to be doing, or, where are we supposed to be going?People need to know the destination they are headed for.

Why a Mission is Important?It indicates the ministry’s direction.It formulates the ministry’s function.It focuses the ministry’s future.It provides a guideline for decision making.It inspires ministry unity.It shapes the strategy.It enhances ministry effectiveness.It ensures an enduring organization.It facilitates evaluation.

The importance of the mission

Why a Mission is Important?It indicates the ministry’s direction.It formulates the ministry’s function.It focuses the ministry’s future.It provides a guideline for decision making.It inspires ministry unity.It shapes the strategy.It enhances ministry effectiveness.It ensures an enduring organization.It facilitates evaluation.

Why a Mission is Important?It indicates the ministry’s direction.It formulates the ministry’s function.It focuses the ministry’s future.It provides a guideline for decision making.It inspires ministry unity.It shapes the strategy.It enhances ministry effectiveness.It ensures an enduring organization.It facilitates evaluation.

It indicates the ministry’s direction

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up somewhere else” Yogi BerraThe mission of a church answers the question “where are we going?”It directs us to the target, gives us a port to land at.Adam & Eve - Gen 1:28Moses, Joshua, David, Nehemiah all had a strong sense of direction - as did Jesus Mk 10:45 and Paul Acts 21:12-14, Rom 15:20

It formulates the ministry’s function

You won’t do well in ministry until you define what really matters.What are we supposed to be doing, what has God called us to perform?In affect you ask: What matters?Mission states your intent - and the people hear it and nod in agreement.A church must know what business it is in - and what function it performs.

It focuses the ministry’s future

A clear biblical mission serves to bring into focus the church’s ministry future. Conversely: no mission - no future.A future focus stops you living in the past. Php 3:12-14.

It provides a guideline for decision making

Leaders make decisions - it comes with the territory.Mission defines boundaries within which a church can work - it tells you when to say yes and when to say no.A shared mission protects you from all the “good works” that are not necessarily part of what the Lord has called you to.

It inspires ministry unity

God likes unity: Jn 17:20-23, Eph 4:3, Psalm 133Clear direction in mission gives unity and draws people together as a team or community.It says, “Let’s all pull together and we can achieve this”People working together can achieve great things.

It shapes the strategy

Mission tells us where we are going - strategy tells us how we will get there. So a strategy is only as good as the mission it directs, the mission has to be good and comes first.“Strategy determines what the key activities are in a given business. And strategy requires knowing what our business is and should be” Peter Drucker

It enhances ministry effectiveness

Understanding what the church wants to do makes you more effective in your efforts.Good performance starts with clear direction. People who know where they are going, go the extra mile.

It ensures an enduring organization

Every pastor should try to ensure ministry success after he has gone.A good biblical mission can ensure the church goes forward for a long time and has great success.

It facilitates evaluationKnowing what your mission is means you can tell if you are doing it or getting there. 2 Cor 13:5“The church that fails to evaluate its people and its effectiveness as a ministry in light of its mission does itself an injustice.otherwise how will the church know if it is fulfilling its mission?”Remember though: most organisations, and people, do not like living under scrutiny!

The definition of a mission

The Definition of a Mission

A mission is broad.

A mission is brief.

A mission is biblical.

A mission is a statement.

A mission is what the ministry is supposed to be doing.

What a mission is not

Although Malphurs spends some time drawing the distinction between purpose and mission this is [arguably] not really relevant to our programme - a sample of the argument is given below,Mission is not: Purpose - this answers the why questions, why are we here, why do we exist... Mission answers the what questions, what are we meant to be doing etc.See also the following slide summarising the issue

The Difference between Purpose and MissionThe Difference between Purpose and MissionThe Difference between Purpose and Mission

Purpose Mission

Question Why do we exist?

What are we supposed to be

doing?Scope Broad Narrow

Intent To glorify God To make disciples

Focus God Man

Use Internal and external

Internal

What a mission is

Mission is a broad, brief, biblical statement of what the ministry is supposed to be doing. There are 5 points to this definition:

1. Mission is broad

A good mission is broad, expansive, overarching - it covers all other goals, mandates etc of the ministry.Caution should be taken not to be too broad though - in that case you can lose the meaning and not communicate what the church will actually do.

Picture: broad-winged hawk

2. Mission is briefOne person suggests no more than 75 words - others allow more leeway. Biblical examples are usually one sentence:Moses’s mission was to lead God’s people, Israel, out of bondage in Egypt.David’s mission was to shepherd Israel and become their ruler. Nehemiah’s mission was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.It was suggested that the mission of a church should be able to fit on a T shirt.

3. Mission is biblicalThat is it is based on the Bible - we have to ask what does God say our mission is? Malphurs says it is summed up in the Great Commission - and he provides this chart to summarise it. Making and maturing disciples at home and around the world was, and always will be, the church’s mission.

4. Mission is a statement

This is simply a way of saying it must be communicated to the congregation. Just as the Gt Comm. was a verbal statement articulated by Jesus so we need a clear articulated mission statement.

5. A mission is what the ministry is supposed to be doingThe functional question - what should we be doing?Gt Comm - make disciplesMalphurs gives 4 questions to ask of any church - or their leaders.1. What is this church meant to be doing?2. What is this church doing?3. Why are you not doing what you are supposed to be doing?4. What will it take for you to change and do what you are supposed to be doing?

Question 1 asks people to think biblically2 asks them if they have missed Christ’s directive - are they retirement centres, community or youth centres etc.3 is very pointed - Malphurs suggests it can produce silence!4 asks about willingness to obey Christ