Denver Seminary

Vision/purpose is what gives energy to ministry. It give direction: what we are doing and why we are doing it. It is indispensable.

Here is a wonderful and moving video about the transformation that took place in the lives of refugees from Uganda when they had a vision for giving.

           The Grace of Giving in Uganda

What the video does not show is how they organized to receive what was given (such as the crippled woman’s only chicken) and funneled it to the right place. It does not tell how the workers were organized to do the work. But these things happened.

My last post focused upon effective structure—not because it is the most important, but because it is how ministry gets done. Organizing can be done ad hoc in the moment or planned well ahead. It can be simple or complex, effective or ineffective. Even if we meet someone for a cup of coffee we set a date and time.

In our Doctor of Ministry program we seek to be holistic. Vision without organizing to carry it out accomplishes nothing. Organization without a vision/purpose goes nowhere and discourages. Both are needed. And people with each gift, guided by the Holy Spirit, are needed.

What do you think?