This is so on point!! A compelling vision does send shockwaves through people. I have been thinking about what actually separates large ministries from their smaller counterparts…the answer I came up with: vision. This post is just a confirmation.

Thanks again!!

God help us all to be a church that is inseparably linked to a vision and mission we need God to accomplish!

I go into my week confident I’m on the winning team, no matter what the dominant media voices or the culture around me say.

We have Christ, we’re doing what he says do, and we’re going to nail this thing.

When people think of church, they think of a building and location. When they think of a parachurch ministry, they think of the ministry activities themselves.

Reminds me of the challenges we face regarding designated giving in the church. Everybody wants to give to help our children’s ministry, but no one wants to give for air conditioning repairs and roof maintenance…they say people give to their passions..so how do we create a healthy Body of Christ where the Foot and the parts with less honor get supported as sufficiently as the Eyes and those with greater honor?

One big difference between the two worlds that is starting to shift is in the area of governance. For years, groups like Campus Crusade, etc. could make decisions quickly and move at a speed the church could not. In many churches, you couldn’t get a “yes” to be able to respond to opportunities. But this is changing. Many missional church ministries today are reorganizing for speed and agility.

You know, folks wouldn’t have been turning to parachurch ministries if local churches were doing their job to meet needs - there would have been no reason to.

At the church I pastor (well, network of house churches, really) we give half of the tithe each week back to that house church location to meet needs in the community as they deem best. It is a great way for them to see how their tithe matters. Granted, without some of the overhead costs of more traditional churches they are better able to see where their tithe goes.

But I do think it is important that the church and her leaders praise the fact that church members are giving, whether it be to the church local or not. God is not confined to the addresses of what happens or is put on at church buildings.

What I’m seeing is a loss of love for Christ’s church. I’m not at all against parachurch ministries. In fact, I said that I’m going to celebrate more what they are doing. Our church and family personally supports many great parachurch ministries.

I’d like to see the Church rise to it’s calling.

You have no idea how much respect I have for you and your ministry. I believe that you are truly seeking God’s will, so I am sure you have thought of this, but have not heard it yet in the comments.

I really think that “casting a vision” has gotten way out of hand. (Please don’t think of this as criticism, it’s an admonition from someone much less experienced and less intelligent, so I could be wrong.)

The more I have studied the scriptures, the more I believe that God has already cast His vision for His church.

Jesus left the disciples with this admonition before he ascended:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, we must ask ourselves,

Are we baptizing people in the triune God?
Are we creating true disciples?
Are people following God’s laws as a result of the ministry?

So, with all the respect and Christian love I can send over a blog comment: The Church’s vision can never be too small or too large if it is a Biblical vision. It has been set two thousand years ago. Any attempt at improving on that vision has created frustratingly unbiblical members of churches.

Brother I could not disagree more with you about this post and that is such a rare thing! I usually love everything you post and the innovative ministry you guys do. Here’s my challenge - instead of circling the wagons and creating a new silo in the local church for Christians to launch from, why not challenge Christians to engage non-profits as missionaries, living as Christ did, a sent people?

If you cast vision for the people of LC.TV to live missionally, they could partner with Christ to redeem their culture instead of seeing the local church as the hub for ministry. In reality, our lives are the hub for ministry. Let’s build a bridge to organizations (both christian and non) that are already doing God’s word, partner where he is working, and leverage our churches two most valuable resources - our people and our finances.

Love you brother and respect you greatly!

Either way, discouraging people from serving at or giving to parachurch organizations is pretty shocking to me, coming from you.

In parachurch ministries, people can serve and minister in ways that are not present in local churches. People have schedules that allow them to serve in a parachurch, and may not allow them to serve in their church. Do churches have shelters, rehabs, domestic violence centers????

If you want a big vision, how about you encourage local churches to stop wasting money trying to develop ministries that someone else is already doing in the community, and go and partner with organizations that are on the front lines of outreach??

Wow…this one is just out there.

This is crazy. If you are describing Christs Church your nuts!
Is Lifechurch.tv going UNIVERSALIST?
YOU BETTER PREACH THE GOSPEL IN THIS ONE!
If you are inviting a other religions and non-christians into your local church you better preach the Gospel.
No wonder the attendance numbers are so big the Gospel is not being preached. Its really easy to stay in a church that has absolutely NO discipline and a bunch of blind leading the blind.
Your the next Hillsong Church, say hi to Word Faith Liberal Theology. Prove me wrong Craig, let me hear the Gospel proclaimed by so-called Christians of Lifechurch.tv. Most have no idea. See all the people drowning? You gonna let em drown?

I have worked on both sides of the fence, having my start in a powerful student ministry that worked in urban missions. Today I am the pastor of a fast growing church in our stream. Here is a thought: Maybe they are so excited about their ministry because they have been ignited locally. I believe that the local church is a base or a launching pad for ministry to a dying world. But the world is much bigger than our Jerusalem, as you already know.

What you and your team are doing is so powerful, that it is empowering and inspiring others (like me) to work in our own vineyard to the glory of God. If people are moving away from your local thing, God is positioning them for another need. You are fulfilling the great commission whether or not you are doing it intentionally. I have learned that my church is not my church, it belongs to God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Keep up the great work!