MAKING VISION STICK - EXPONENTIAL '08 NOTES

Making Vision Stick
Andy Stanley
April 22, 2008
Exponential ‘08

Andy Stanley is the founding and lead pastor of Northpoint Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is a gifted leader and communicator. Yesterday, he presented a "vintage" Stanley message at Exponential '08. He expands on these ideas in his small, yet significant book, Making Vision Stick. Anyone who leads in any area of life can benefit from reading this simple book.

Definition: vision is a mental picture of what could be (the dream) fueled by a passion for what should be… It always begins as a “burden.”


How To Make Vision Stick:

1. State It SIMPLY.

Question: What are you trying to accomplish? State it simply and memorably… Keep in min that “memorable is portable.”

Question: What is the vision for your local church?

Some Examples of SIMPLE Mission Statements:

Northpoint Church: …create a church that unchurched people love to attend…
ONE Campaign: …to make poverty history…
Barak Obama: …change… (Can you describe Hillary or McCain’s mission?)

All of these statements are memorable... Make your mission clear and compelling…

2. Cast It Convincingly

Example: Nehemiah rebuilding the broken down walls in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2)

Casting a convincing mission require at least three things:
• Define the problem: What problem does our vision address? What would go undone if our church ceased to exist?
• Offer the solution:
• Explain why and why now: What makes this the right time to pursue this vision. Answering the “why” and “why now” questions will ignite passion… Be very specific!

3. Repeat It Relentlessly

Vision leaks… You must repeat the vision regularly… Look at the attendance patterns in your church and allot high attendance “peak times” in your calendar to sharing vision.

4. Celebrate It Systematically

Find ways to celebrate your vision… When you “catch” someone living out the vision, celebrate that “win.” Share stories… Show pictures…

Good Practice: Ask your staff about ministry “wins” in their respective spheres of influence….

5. Embrace It Personally and Publicly

Share what you are doing to personally live out the vision… Share stories about your involvement in evangelism and small groups… People need to know that the leader has “bought in” to the vision and is personally living it out…