| A Strategic Plan, a must have for every | | | | people. Words such as develop, equip, promote, |
| nonprofit, determines the overall direction and | | | | teach, produce, make, fulfill, solve, create are |
| goals of the organization. A Strategic Plan | | | | examples. |
| identifies where the organization wants to be at | | | | The mission statement of the Ocean City Baptist |
| some point in the future and how it is going to | | | | Church illustrates a Christian Church mission |
| get there. It addresses your organization's | | | | statement: |
| challenges and barriers, outlines a funding and | | | | As part of the body of Christ, the Ocean City |
| fundraising strategy, and analyzes internal | | | | Baptist Church will be obedient to Christ and |
| strengths and weaknesses. | | | | recognize His command to "…go and make |
| As part of your Strategic Plan, your ministry | | | | disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name |
| should define and establish a vision statement, | | | | of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and |
| mission statement, and statement of faith. | | | | teach them to obey everything I have |
| Every ministry needs to have a long-term vision | | | | commanded you." |
| of what they wish to accomplish, a mission for | | | | Evident in Ocean City Baptist Church's mission is a |
| how to get there, and faith principles of your core | | | | concise outline of its values and a clear strategy |
| beliefs guiding this vision and mission. You will also | | | | implemented to achieve its ultimate vision. |
| want to revisit these often to ensure that the | | | | Statement of Faith |
| organization is still on-track and to evaluate how | | | | A statement of faith explains your organization's |
| these core statements have changed over time. | | | | principles and beliefs. Similar to the mission and |
| These reminders of where you want to end up, | | | | vision, it generally seeks to inspire and motivate |
| how you'll get there, and what you believe, are | | | | staff or congregants and maintain their |
| vital to your organization's effectiveness and | | | | commitment and support. A worthwhile |
| efficiency. | | | | statement of faith makes it clear to those inside |
| Vision Statement | | | | and outside your ministry or church that you are |
| A vision statement tells those inside and outside | | | | committed to Christ and God. It also |
| your organization the end goal for its existence. | | | | underscores the value you place on your |
| In no more than two sentences, a vision | | | | relationship with your staff, congregation, and |
| statement delineates the specific long-term goal | | | | community. |
| of your ministry or church by explaining where | | | | The following is an example of a statement of |
| you are going or what you wish to accomplish. | | | | faith from the Bloomington Free Methodist Church: |
| What it doesn't do is explain how you'll reach your | | | | We strive to help people find Christ and live |
| vision. That's the job of your mission statement. | | | | Christ-like lives. We present a positive and |
| Whether you use your vision statement to | | | | practical message that can be applied to every |
| explain what you want your organization to | | | | life. |
| become or what you want it to achieve, you're | | | | We believe: |
| visualizing an ideal future. You need to put your | | | | That the Bible is the inspired word of God. |
| vision statement on a pedestal so that your | | | | That there is one God, internally existent in three |
| ministry staff or church members never lose | | | | persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God |
| sight of it. As a result, the decisions made by | | | | the Holy Spirit. |
| staff and church members are consistently aligned | | | | That Jesus Christ is the only Son of God, He was |
| with the vision. | | | | born of the Virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, and |
| A worthwhile vision statement inspires and | | | | He was crucified for our sins and rose again. |
| motivates your staff or congregants to take | | | | That the most important thing in the entire world |
| action and achieve goals. It challenges them to | | | | is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and |
| grow. | | | | faith. |
| The following example from the Andrews | | | | That the Holy Spirit cleanses the believer from all |
| Presbyterian Church illustrates a vision statement | | | | sin and is living within us enabling the believer to |
| meant to inspire and motivate: | | | | live the Christian life. |
| Andrews Presbyterian Church is committed to | | | | That a relationship with Christ comes only through |
| "Building The Relationship with the Lord Jesus | | | | God's grace not by man's effort and must be |
| Christ, in Andrews, the Church and the world, all | | | | received personally by repentance. |
| for the glory of God." | | | | That the local church exits to encourage growth |
| As demonstrated by Andrews Presbyterian | | | | in every believer. |
| Church, the goals set to reach the vision also | | | | That we should share Jesus Christ with our |
| need to inspire staff and congregants. The vision | | | | community and the world. |
| statement stresses the benefits of achieving the | | | | The Nicene Creed or the Apostle's Creed also |
| goal and does not get caught up in the uninspiring | | | | often serves as a statement of faith for a |
| details. | | | | ministry. |
| Does a long-term global ministry vision such as | | | | We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, |
| "To increase fundraising by 25 percent" inspire | | | | maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen |
| you? You're more likely to be inspired by a goal | | | | and unseen. |
| of raising enough funds to…send ten more | | | | We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son |
| missionaries to the field to spread the | | | | of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God |
| gospel…feed more hungry people…shelter | | | | from God, light from light, true God from true |
| more homeless people…alleviate misery caused | | | | God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the |
| by poverty…diminish suffering after natural | | | | Father; through him all things were made. |
| disasters. Each of these statements inspire | | | | For us and for our salvation he came down from |
| because they focus on the impact of the | | | | heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the |
| organization within the community served. Let | | | | Virgin Mary and became truly human. |
| your vision be lofty and inspiring by focusing on | | | | For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; |
| those you are serving. | | | | he suffered death and was buried. |
| Mission Statement | | | | On the third day he rose again in accordance with |
| Your mission statement builds on your vision | | | | the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is |
| statement. We already noted that a vision | | | | seated at the right hand of the Father. |
| statement is the leadership envisioning an ideal | | | | He will come again in glory to judge the living and |
| future. Alternately, a mission statement is | | | | the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. |
| management-oriented. Here you focus on the | | | | We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver |
| present and your strategies to reach your vision. | | | | of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the |
| While the vision statement serves as the end, the | | | | Son], who with the Father and the Son is |
| mission acts as the means. | | | | worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through |
| Some mission statements are brief (as short as | | | | the prophets. |
| one sentence) and specific; others are long, | | | | We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic |
| general, and involved. An effective mission | | | | Church. |
| statement describes the main purpose of your | | | | We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness |
| ministry or church. It explains what you do, why | | | | of sins. |
| you do it, and who your clients and constituencies | | | | We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the |
| are. Some also include ministry or church values | | | | life of the world to come. |
| and principles in the mission statement, but these | | | | Amen. |
| are better suited within separate values/principles | | | | Conclusion |
| statements. | | | | Evaluate your vision, mission, faith, and purpose |
| Like your vision statement, your mission | | | | statements with your staff and volunteer |
| statement ensures that the decisions you make | | | | leadership. It will keep you on-track and make |
| serve your organization's purpose. It also keeps | | | | your ministry or church a focused, organized and |
| your organization's board, staff, and members in | | | | efficient vehicle for Christ. |
| agreement. It also crystallizes your organization's | | | | Sources: Andrews Presbyterian Church |
| purpose to important stakeholders including | | | | Bill Birnbaum, CMC |
| funders, government regulators, and clients. | | | | Christian Mission Declarations |
| You should include action verbs in your mission | | | | Gary M. |
| statement because of their emotional effect on | | | | |