Defining Your Mission and Vision

Episode 39: Defining Your Mission and Vision

The Busy Pastor Podcast is back! It’s been a while and we’ve been busy… with the right things! Today, Pastor Trent is joined by guest Pastor Taylor Knight to talk about defining your church’s mission and vision.

What are a Church’s Mission, Vision, and Values?

• The mission is the same for every church and does not change: The Great Commission – Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go and make disciples…”
• The vision is how you specifically try to accomplish the mission.
• The core values are the foundational beliefs that guide your church’s culture, decisions, and actions. The Biblical convictions that you to live by which shape your church’s identity.

What are the Vision and Values of Foothills Church?

• Vision: To develop mature disciples of Christ in relational environments.
• Values:

• • Jesus is life: It’s about sharing the Gospel. (Evangelism)
  • Jesus deserves our best: It’s about authentic worship. (Worship)
  • It’s not about me: It’s about serving others. (Serving)
  • Growth happens in relationships: It’s about relational environments. (Discipleship-Fellowship)
  • Generosity is a lifestyle: It’s about investing in the vision. (Giving)
  • The next generation matters: It’s about equipping the family. (Family)
  • You are sent: It’s about pursuing the vision (Mission)

How Do You Create Vision and Values?

• Start with prayer – Seek God’s guidance and wisdom.
• Study Scripture – Anchor your vision and values in Biblical principles.
• Talk to your people – What do they view as the church’s values?
• Know your community – Understand the specific needs around you
• Engage your leadership – What are your church’s unique strengths and opportunities?

Start by Realizing What You Already Value.

Quote: “We don’t select values; we understand them because they’re already inside of us. We are already doing these things.”

• Ask, what are the top 3-6 things that your church is really passionate about?
• What characterizes your church?
• Write down the behavior that flows from each value, then formulate a statement to communicate that idea.

• Make it memorable. If it’s not memorable, it will be hard for people to embrace it.
• Make it simple so that people can memorize it.
• Repeat it. Keep coming back to it again and again.
• Look at where you spend your budget and time to help identify what you really value.
• Distinguish between aspirational values and true values.

Quote: “You can create the vision statement, but the values have to come out of the people.”

How Does a Clear Mission and Vision Impact the Day-to-Day Decisions of a Church?

• Teaches your people to value Scripture: Values put complex ideas into simple phrases
• Brings alignment to the church: Clear values rule out options and people and serves as a filter for decision-making.

Quote: “When someone doesn’t align with the values that we have as a church, the best thing for them to do is to go find a church that does.”

• Holds us accountable to what God is calling us to.

What are some Mistakes Pastors Make when Defining and Implementing Their Mission?

• They overcomplicate it. If it’s too wordy or unclear, it won’t resonate.
• They fail to live it out. A mission is meaningless if it’s not modeled by the leadership.

Quote: “If you’re gonna put it up on the wall, you better live it out!”

How Do You Communicate Your Mission and Vision Effectively?

• Repetition – regularly weave them into all communication avenues.
• Storytelling –share testimonies that illustrate how lives have been changed.
• Visual reminders – statements on the wall and in materials.
• Sermon Series – let the values direct your sermon series.
• Staff & Volunteer Meetings – let the values guide what you talk about.

Quote: “It’s Immersive… you can’t get around it.”

• Your values are so important to you as a leader, to your team, your staff, your church, that you are immersed in them.

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