Vision to Reality 2015
Vision to Reality: Discerning Vision and Developing a Strategic Plan for Your Ministry (Friday, January 23, 2015)
The Vision to Reality Seminar features four 75-minute workshops that outline a process for helping you discern God’s vision for your ministry and to identify steps that will help you realize that vision. The day starts out with a look at what the Bible says about vision discernment and strategic planning. It’s imperative that we lay a strong theological foundation for the framework that we will explore in the other sessions. For the remainder of the day, we will explore in a very practical, hands-on kind of way a vision discernment and strategic planning approach that any group can use to clarify their direction. In fact, if you bring some of your ministry team to the training, you can work together and come away with an initial draft of a ministry direction plan.
Date: Friday, January 23 (9:00 am - 4:00 pm PDT)
Location: ACTS Seminaries (7600 Glover Road in Langley) and via live-streaming
Early Bird Registration (until January 9): Onsite registration - $45 (get from 5-20% off when two or more people from your church register), individual live-streaming - $35, church live-streaming - $140-540 (depending on worship service attendance)
Dr. Randy Wollf, the facilitator for the Vision to Reality Seminar, is the Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies and Practical Theology at ACTS Seminaries – Trinity Western University. Randy was a pastor, church planter and missionary for 20 years before taking up his current position four years ago. Randy has a passion for helping individuals, teams and organizations realize God’s vision for them.
Schedule - January 23
8:30 – 9:00 am - Registration
9:00 – 10:15 am – Session 1: What Does Scripture Say about Vision Discernment and Strategic Planning
In this session, we will gain a biblical perspective on vision discernment and strategic planning. How does God execute His vision and plans? How did biblical leaders discern God’s leading and take steps to bring that vision to reality? Strengthening our theology of vision and strategic planning is foundational as we construct a framework that God can use to deliver the results that will honour Him in a maximum way.
10:15 -10:45 am – Break
10:45 – 12:00 – Session 2: Selecting a Planning Model and Capturing a Sense of God’s Mission for Your Group
There are several different approaches to discerning vision and engaging in strategic planning. Some are very structured; others are more organic. In this session, we will look at some different approaches and discuss how churches and ministries can decide which approach is right for them. In addition, we will go through a practical exercise for discerning and articulating your group’s mission. This sense of mission is what gives focus to all of a group’s activities.
12:00 – 1:00 pm – Lunch
1:00 – 2:15 pm – Session 3: Scanning the Environment and Clarifying Core Values
Getting accurate information about your current ministry and the people you are attempting to serve is essential as you seek to discern strategic priorities. In this session, we will look at existing assessment tools and a process for designing your own assessments. In addition, we will discuss the importance of core values and how identifying them can provide key rallying points for your organizational members.
2:15 – 2:45 pm – Break
2:45 – 4:00 pm – Painting a Vision Picture of the Future and Laying Out Steps to Get There
In this final session, we will look at a process for discerning and expressing God’s vision for a ministry. Of course, a vision statement is pointless unless we create and implement a plan that helps us achieve that vision. As a key part of the session, we will identify the types of goals and action steps that can help move us in the direction that God wants us to go.