Receiving God’s Vision For Your Church
God isn't intimidated by any problem in our churches, whether the challenges of rural churches, the struggles of urban society, false religions, a perceived irrelevance to Canadian culture, or even a past that outshines the present.
God has a plan for every church, one that makes tomorrow more effective than yesterday. I pastored a church that believed if they could reproduce the past, they could have a successful future. No banners on the walls proclaimed that vision, but it was embedded in the thinking of the congregation.
I learned that no church has a future unless its vision is bigger than its memories.
There are five keys necessary for churches to catch God’s vision.
5 Keys
1. See the pressing need for immediate and radical change.
Churches with a bright past and established mission, vision, and values can easily miss what God wants to do next. Ask Pastor McMillan at Cold Lake Community Church. That was their situation, but they were open to seeking God to hear how He would lead them to their next. They were inspired to build on what they had and accomplish a bigger vision than they ever dreamed possible.
God has a plan for your church, and the process of discovering that plan is what the Acts 2 Journey is all about.
2. A pastor and leaders who are willing to grow together and embrace change.
Change always starts with leadership. Churches seldom outgrow their leaders. Sustained growth is a function of wise, godly, and visionary leadership.
The Acts 2 process enhances the capacity of every church leader to respond to the direction God is revealing for the church.
3. God gives vision to a team of leaders.
As a pastor, you don’t have to shoulder the responsibility of praying, hearing, and discerning alone.
Leadership teams who engage in the Acts 2 process – working, praying, and dreaming through it together – will change churches. When you develop your understanding of God’s plan and purpose as a team, the chance of success skyrockets.
And the team-centred process doesn’t end with the leadership team; the entire church can catch the paradigm shift.
The future of the church belongs to a team of people who share a God-inspired vision for the church. Working as a team enables you to reach people for Jesus effectively.
4. It is critical to become outward-focused.
The most important number for your church isn’t how many people attend weekly but how many people in your neighbourhood, town, or city need Jesus. Ask Pastor Bill Meade at Streams in Red Deer about the uptick in salvations and water baptisms they saw in 2025.
5. Formulate God’s plan.
The plan doesn’t come from a book. It comes from praying together and asking the Holy Spirit what He wants to do IN and THROUGH you. Ask Pastor Judy Marchuk in Wainwright about bridges and what her team came up with in 2024.
We’ve seen fruit from ABNWT churches that are being vitalized through the Acts 2 process by making room for God, formulating a plan, shifting the culture, engaging the congregation, and fulfilling what God is calling them to change, start, and accomplish.
How about you?
How about 2026?
Reach out to coach@abnwt.com. We’d love to talk about your Acts 2 journey.
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.