FROM THE DS ...
THE VALUE OF VISION

There is a great deal of emphasis placed on mission statements today. Organizations and corporations alike have mission statements. Following are a few examples:

• The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.

• The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

• Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings.

• At IBM, we strive to lead in the invention, development and manufacture of the industry’s most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, storage systems and microelectronics.

• The mission of Aultman Health Foundation is to lead our community to improved health.

These mission statements tell us about the organizations and corp-orations, but more importantly, they speak of the success they have enjoyed in their respective areas.  Mission statements are popular, but they are not new. They have been around for years and flow out of the heritage of our faith. In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament are the words, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV).

Jesus made it clear that we have a mission saying, “Go therefore and make disciples …” (Matthew 28:19) and  “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8) and the commandments to love. Long before organizations and corporations discovered the value of mission statements, we were given mission as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Mission statements help us understand why we exist, who we are to be, what we are to do and for whom do we exist.

I have developed my own personal mission statement. It defines what I see as my mission in life. It goes like this: “My mission is to lead, inspire and build up the local church to know Christ and make Christ known.” That was certainly my drive in the local church, and it continues to be my drive as a district superintendent.

I would encourage you to develop your own mission statement.
Furthermore, I believe that it is very important for each local church to create its own biblically based, personalized mission statement.

Following are some of the values of a clearly defined mission statement:
 

• It gives identity.
• It keeps focus.
• It gives direction and defines the future.
• It helps put priority on the use of resources.

A clearly defined mission statement will help a congregation stay true to the mission of all Christians. Out of a church’s mission statement can grow the ministry of the church.  A number of years ago I was asked to write an article sharing the success of the small membership congregation I was privileged to pastor. It only took me a moment to know what to write about. Any success we had was connected to a clearly stated mission statement that came from the scriptures. The mission statement was the compass for all we did. We had a reason to exist that was much bigger than self-survival or living in the past. We were leaning into the future, focused and heading in a clear direction. It provided us with a measure for what we did and chose not to do.

I would encourage each church to develop and use a clearly defined mission statement. After all, we are called to be people on a mission.

Grace and peace,
Kurt

Tuscarawas District

3500 Cleveland Ave. NW

Canton, Oh  44709

330 492-7817

tuscoffice@rrbiznet.com

Rev. Kurt Landerholm