true vision

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Here am I ... It’s all about the next part

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Page 1: True Vision

Here am I ...

It’s all about the next part

Page 2: True Vision

Christian Vocational Workers

• Two major categories

– Missionaries

• Cross cultural, linguistic and geographical

barriers

• Raise up indigenous pastors in the host

country/culture

– Pastors

• Lead churches in a homeland

• Raise up missionaries and pastors for the next

generation

Page 3: True Vision

Christian Vocational Workers

• Two major categories

– Missionaries

• Cross cultural, linguistic and geographical

barriers

• Raise up indigenous pastors in the host

country/culture

Page 4: True Vision

Missionary Workers

• Aging workforce

– Over 40% are over the age of 50

– Under 5% are under the age of 30

– 2/3 of the under 30 are candidates

attempting to raise support

Page 5: True Vision

Pastoral Workers

• 90% of pastors won't stay until retirement

• 89% of pastors have considered leaving the ministry

• 80% of seminary grads leave the ministry in the first 5 years

• 50% of pastors would leave the ministry if they had another

way to make a living

• 45% who have left senior ministry positions never return to

church related vocations

Page 6: True Vision

Reason for Leaving

• Conflict / Lack of Unity ... #1 reason

1. Leadership decisions

2. Finance disagreements

3. Change implementation

4. Staff issues

5. Building or renovation

Page 7: True Vision

Reasons for Not Re-engaging

1. A forced exit from a church

2. Frustration in multiple congregations

3. Chronic loneliness, isolation and

support systems

Page 8: True Vision

Reasons for Not Re-engaging

1. A forced exit from a church

2. Frustration in multiple congregations

3. Chronic loneliness, isolation and

support systems

Page 9: True Vision

“Dunbar’s Number” = 150

Page 10: True Vision

“Dunbar’s Number” = 150

Page 11: True Vision

“Dunbar’s Number” = 150

Page 12: True Vision

“Dunbar’s Number” = 150

Page 13: True Vision

Answers?

• Realistic Expectations

• Realistic Process

• Dynamic Participation

Page 14: True Vision

Christian Vocational Workers

• The Elephant in the room

• We will run out

of pastors and

missionaries

in 15 years if

something doesn’t

change

Page 15: True Vision

Christian Vocational Workers

• The Elephant in the room

• Does that matter?

Page 16: True Vision

Christian Vocational Workers

• The Elephant in the room

• Does that matter

to you?

Page 17: True Vision

Do What?

• Several things ...

Page 18: True Vision

Do What?

• Several things ...

– Pray ...

• Matthew 9:37-38 “Then he said to his disciples,

‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are

few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to

send out workers into his harvest field.’”

Page 19: True Vision

Do What?

• Several things ...

– Support ...

• 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “Remember this: Whoever

sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and

whoever sows generously will also reap

generously. Each of you should give what you

have decided in your heart to give, not

reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves

a cheerful giver.”

Page 20: True Vision

Do What?

• Several things ...

– Encourage ...

• 1 Corinthians 16:17-18 “I was glad when

Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived,

because they have supplied what was lacking

from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours

also. Such men deserve recognition.”

Page 21: True Vision

Do What?

• Several things ...

– Be Diligent ...

• 1 Timothy 4:15 “Be diligent in these matters;

give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone

may see your progress.”

Page 22: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• Isaiah 6:1-13 “1 In the year that King

Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and

exalted, seated on a throne; and the

train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with

six wings: With two wings they covered

their faces, with two they covered their

feet, and with two they were flying.

Page 23: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• 3 And they were calling to one another:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the

whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the

sound of their voices the doorposts and

thresholds shook and the temple was filled

with smoke.

Page 24: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I

am a man of unclean lips, and I live

among a people of unclean lips, and my

eyes have seen the King, the LORD

Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim

flew to me with a live coal in his hand,

which he had taken with tongs from the

altar.

Page 25: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• 7 With it he touched my mouth and said,

“See, this has touched your lips; your

guilt is taken away and your sin atoned

for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord

saying, “Whom shall I send? And who

will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I.

Send me!”

Page 26: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: ‘Be ever

hearing, but never understanding; be ever

seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the

heart of this people calloused; make their

ears dull and close their eyes.

Page 27: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far

away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the

land, it will again be laid waste.

But as the terebinth and oak leave

stumps when they are cut down, so the

holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

Page 28: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• Otherwise they might see with their

eyes, hear with their ears, understand

with their hearts and turn and be

healed.” 11 Then I said, “For how long,

Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities

lie ruined and without inhabitant,

until the houses are left deserted and the

fields ruined and ravaged,

Page 29: True Vision

Starting Point?

• Isaiah’s Story ...

• until the LORD has sent everyone far

away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the

land, it will again be laid waste.

But as the terebinth and oak leave

stumps when they are cut down, so the

holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

Page 30: True Vision

Your Story?

• “1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Page 31: True Vision

Your Story?

• 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I

am a man of unclean lips, and I live

among a people of unclean lips, and my

eyes have seen the King, the LORD

Almighty.”

Page 32: True Vision

Your Story?

• 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me

with a live coal in his hand, which he had

taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it

he touched my mouth and said, “See,

this has touched your lips; your guilt is

taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Page 33: True Vision

Your Story?

• 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord

saying, “Whom shall I send? And who

will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I.

Send me!”

Page 34: True Vision

Your Story?

• 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be

ever hearing, but never

understanding; be ever seeing, but

never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of

this people calloused; make their ears

dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they

might see with their eyes, hear with their

ears, understand with their hearts and

turn and be healed.”

Page 35: True Vision

Your Story?

• 11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken.13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

Page 36: True Vision

Your Story?

1. Get a Vision!

2. Get a Grip!

3. Get Cleansed!

4. Get Stirred!

5. Get Going!

6. Get Used to It!

Page 37: True Vision

Here am I ...

It’s about the next part