Benefits of Vision

• Dreaming big God's dreams are bigger than yours and will call for you to expand the size of your mental playing field
• Continuity A long-term significant vision ordained by God
• Direction and purpose A clear view of where you are headed that will stir people to action
• Increased interest and commitment of a lethargic laity Proactive rather than reactive
• Acceptance of change
• Rejecting opportunities
• Openness Discussion and exploration of new territory
• Encouragement Church knows it can make a difference in the world
• Confidence People feel good about themselves
• Loyalty People feel truly part of the church and have faith in the future prepared by God
• Efficiency Cannot afford to do ministry at a leisurely pace
• Productivity Opportunity for a greater harvest

(Adapted from Barna George, The Power of Vision, 107)

Qualities of Visionary Churches

• A sense of direction
• Excite­ment about the future
• A distinctiveness about ministry that energizes the congregation

(Adapted from George Barna, The Power of Vision, 33)

Cultivating Giving Champions

• Identify those with gift of giving
• Discover their passions/interests
• Make sure they understand Church’s giving goal
• Explain how close church is to goal
• Determine amount needed from donor
• Explain how gift will make a difference
• Make the “ask”
• Determine the timing of the gift

(Adapted from Aubrey Malphurs, Advanced Strategic Planning)

Why pastors are reluctant to deal with financial issues

• Insufficient knowledge, not taught in seminary
• Don’t want to offend people
• Concerned with self-image
• No expertise
• Don't want to be perceived as "greedy televangelist" types
• View their ministry as "spiritual" and above material matters
• Have other issues that are more important to them
• Don't feel a sense of urgency or real need for the funds
• Don't understand the relationship between ministry and money
• Feel that giving is personal and should be left to the individual

(Adapted from Aubrey Malpurs, Advanced Strategic Planning)

Spiritual Perspectives on Money

• Human value is not measured by monetary standards
• Money does not produce happiness
• Contentment is possible even in the face of financial need
• Poverty is no sign of spiritual failure
• Money is a gift of God
• Money is to be used in ways consistent with spiritual values
• The accumulation of wealth for purely private ends is inconsistent with the gospel
• God is the ultimate source of security in life
• It is possible to be existentially poor while being externally rich
• It is possible to be existentially rich while being externally poor

Being versus Having Modes of Existence

Having Mode of Existence

1. Focused on external possessions
2. Preoccupied with material things
3. High value placed on "What I Have"
4. Massive energy expended on acquiring stuff
5. Constantly making social comparisons that demean others and aggrandize self

Being Mode of Existence

1. Focused on internal values
2. Preoccupied with existential meaning
3. High value placed on "What I Am"
4. Energy expended on developing character
5. Social comparisons are characterized by generosity toward the other

(Material adapted from Erich Fromm, To Have or To Be?)

How to Raise Money

• Articulate a biblical theology of finances (OT/NT perspectives)
• Regularly cast the vision of the Church
• Implement comprehensive stewardship ministry

1. Sermons
2. Small groups
3. New member classes
4. Counseling, debt/personal budgets/career change
5. Ministry of deferred giving
6. Workshops/seminars
7. Capital funds giving
   

(Material adapted from Aubrey Malphurs, Advanced Strategic Planning. “Raising the Necessary Finances,” 255-278)

Common Vision Killers

1. Tradition The idea that God wouldn't want us to do anything different than in the past
2. Fear Lack of faith in God's ability to work through you for His purposes
3. Stereotypes False assumptions about actual reality
4. Complacency
5. Fatigue
6. Short-term thinking Spending resources for immediate solutions or results rather than building for the future
   
   (Adapted from Barna, The Power of Vision, 1992)

What is Vision?

• Vision is foresight with insight based on hindsight
• Vision is making the invisible visible
• Vision is a bridge from present to future
• Vision is a visual reality
• Vision is a portrait of things that do not yet exist
• Vision is an imagina­tive view of the future
• Vision is an articulated intention to do something significant and unique
• Vision is a new reality that improves that which exists today
• Vision is a significant and purposeful challenge
• Vision is God's view of what you could best be doing
• Vision is the antithesis of the status quo
  (Material adapted from Barna, The Power of Vision, 1992)

Biblical Theology of Finance

Positive dimensions of NT teaching on money

1. Money advances the kingdom of God on earth
2. Trust in God neutralizes the negative power of money
3. Money can be used to alleviate the plight of the poor

Negative dimensions of NT teaching on money

1. Money is a negative spiritual force (Money=Mammon)
2. Money leads one away from spiritual commitments
3. Money is a substitute for reliance upon God
4. Money is a means by which the wealthy exploit the poor