In my book "Survival Skills," I suggest seven skills pastors must master on the new millennial church. In my articles for Church Central this year, I will cover five of the seven. This month: the qualities of an effective vision. (See previous article: Seven Principles of Leadership)

Many years ago Charlton Heston was interviewed on the Merv Griffin Show. This was at a time in Mr. Heston's life and career when he had gained much attention from his two mega-movies, The Ten Commandments and Ben Hur. In this interview, Merv Griffin asked a question that many of us had wanted to ask this big star of the religious screen. He asked, "Has your spiritual outlook changed any because of these two movies?" Charlton Heston thought for a moment and then offered, "Well, Merv, you can't walk barefoot down Mount Sinai and be the same person you were when you went up."

Throughout history, men and women have laid aside everything dear to them to follow the vision Christ has put into their hearts, a vision to make a difference in the world. What qualities make a vision so compelling that people are motivated by it, and the Kingdom is built because of it?

Vision must be rooted in God's will.

The first quality of an effective vision for God's people is that it must be based on what they believe God wants them to do. God's will isn't some extraterrestrial hide-and-seek. God wants you to know His plan. We call it the Great Commission. Spend time alone with that vision, dreaming, praying, seeking his guidance for utilizing it in the ministry He has entrusted to you.

Vision motivates people to action.

Effective vision motivates people to leave their comfort zone. Let's face it: leaders and people can get lazy. Many would opt for a "remote control" ministry that would allow them to remain in the lounge chair of the family room instead of riding a warhorse toward the battlefield. It should break our hearts to see what God sees - lonely, lost people in search of truth. Likewise, it should challenge our hearts to realize that He wants us to be a part of the plan to reach those people.

Vision paints a picture of the future.

Vision appeals simultaneously to logic and feeling. A vision generates feeling of hope for a future accomplishment. Jesus gathered His disciples around him and pointed to people coming toward Him, "Look unto the fields . . ." He was saying, "Look at the possibilities for bringing hope to the hopeless!"

Vision generates enthusiasm and openness to change.

Vision always produces change. God may love us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to have us stay that way! "Vision is initiated by God, is desired by his people and is conveyed through the Holy Spirit. God communicates his vision only to those who have persisted in knowing him intimately, for his vision is a sacred part of unfolding his eternal plan." (ii.) 

Vision must be practical.

Vision is both achievable and believable. The end result may not come according to our timing. Only God can determine when we're ready to handle it. But when casting vision to followers, the leader must make sure they can see the desired result and believe it can be accomplished in God's time.

Vision must be clear enough to guide decision-making.

George Barna writes, "Vision is tangible to the beholder. Although it is just a concept or perspective of a nonexistent reality, vision exists within the mind of a visionary so clearly that it may be thought of as a living image. Such a vision motivates and directs ministry, filters information, serves as a catalyst in decision making and measures progress." (iii.)

Vision focuses resources in a common direction.

Ministering in a post-modern world is not easy and is very different. Using a basketball analogy, it's as if we're playing basketball, but the rules have changed mid-season. Let's imagine that we've studied all the past strategies for winning a basketball championship. But suddenly we're confronted with the following new rules:

• A player may only dribble the ball three times before passing.
• A player is allowed 5 seconds in the lane.
• Shots made while the player is blindfolded earn 5 points.

I think we'd all say, "Wait a minute! I wasn't trained to coach with these rules!" Those same words may be expressed by pastors in this new millennium.

Vision will outlive the visionary.

If a vision is truly from the Lord, it will not fade if the "vision-caster" is taken home to be with the Lord, or moves on to another ministry. The Apostle Paul's vision was clear and distinct: "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation," Romans 15:20.