How Is Your Vision?

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

“And Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my borders…” (I Chronicles 4:10)

“To be a fellowship of New Beginnings where people have an opportunity to glorify God and cultivate a relationship with Him as faithful and obedient disciples of Jesus Christ who seek to lead others to a life of the same.” (Salem Baptist Church Vision Statement)

You know, not trying to familiarize God too much, but sometimes God can be just so cool. I really like His style of doing things. Things go along day after day, same old stuff, you kinda get into a rut then all of a sudden, WHAM! - that refreshing wind of God’s presence and revelation in your life comes along and changes your whole day.

I am so fortunate to be part of a church that has vision. A vision for reaching others for Christ, a vision to not be complacent with where we are, a vision to continue looking for new and better ways to worship, teach and disciple while never compromising the integrity of the Gospel.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

We took another step today by officially recognizing the need for an expansion in our Church Music Ministry. This came from a vision that began conception more than a year ago. As Jabez prayed many centuries ago, we needed to ‘expand our territory’ in this area; we prayed for God’s guidance, He led, we listened and our borders enlarged today for His Kingdom. Matt and Stephanie are now a part of our local fellowship and I pray for them as they follow God's leading into new areas of ministry and worship.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”

Around the same time, we also began to realize the vision of acquiring more land in order to minister to our church and community through recreation, sports and other leisure time activities. Through only the timing that God can provide, the land became available and has been purchased, so that in coming months we stand on the threshold of expanding our borders more than ever. A community ministry such as this will bring a whole new face to our fellowship and we will embrace the vision once again. A vision of ministry through sports, a vision of ministry through weekday community programs and a vision of reaching an un-churched population where they live and play and becoming a fellowship of new beginnings for them.

In a time when so many churches turn inward and ignore the vision, I thank God for being in a church that refuses to do that. I thank God for being in a church that prays without ceasing for God’s leadership in all we do. The borders and territories that surround the (universal) Church are only limited by ourselves. God has given us the world, yet so many churches limit themselves to a physical fence or survey post. God has a vision for His Church – and by that I mean the individuals, not the buildings. Begin looking for the vision He has for your life. Your borders may get blown away.

And that my friends, is the gospel according to Jimmy.

Be God’s!