George Barna, The Power of Vision: Discover and Apply God’s Vision for Your Life and Ministry, Revised and Updated. Regal, 2009.
Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Leader-Directed Vision Casting
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is a modern classic on Leader-Directed Vision Casting for church leaders, revised and updated. Written in a very readable style, and based on Barna’s observations of successful church leaders, it covers the full range of issues related to vision, though on an elementary level. It defines vision and distinguishes it from other concepts such as mission. It dispels common myths about vision. It instructs leaders on how to captures God’s vision and recognize it over against lesser callings. It also discusses how to disseminate the vision through a “trickle-down effect.”
Like many authors on visionary leadership, Barna is strongly aligned with the idea that God gives vision to an individual who is especially attuned to him, and that leader works to discern and clarify God’s vision and then communicate it to those who follow. He also operates from the assumption that leaders who are godly and successful will be visionaries. This is probably an overstatement. Aside from this caveat, leaders who are gifted visionaries may appreciate Barna’s insight on the subject. It is easy to do a quick survey of the contents to assess whether one would benefit from this text.
Barna provides elementary exposure to visioning. Those interested in leader-directed vision casting see the Ministry Resource Guide on the subject.
From the Publisher
In The Power of Vision, George Barna invites church leaders to discover the power of God’s vision for ministry. Readers will learn: how God has shared His vision throughout history, how vision is different than mission, common practices and beliefs that inhibit true vision, practical steps toward practicing God’s unique vision for them and ways to share and promote congregational ownership of the vision. Barna’s word to all Christian leaders: Uncovering God’s vision for your ministry is not an option. As Barna clearly states, “To minister authentically and authoritatively, you must first clarify your vision, then embrace it and make it the focus of your life’s work and the heartbeat of your church.” Vision is the insight God provides to instruct and direct our paths, a reflection of what God wants to accomplish through us in building His kingdom. With this clear picture, from Him, of where you are headed, your chances of a successful journey are increased a thousandfold.
From the Back Cover
In this new edition of a modern classic, George Barna defines vision as the “clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” The writer of Proverbs adds that without this clear image of the future, people suffer—wandering in circles and in desperate need of a Godappointed leader to point the way forward. But how exactly do leaders catch the clear vision of God’s future? In The Power of Vision, Barna offers practical, proven tools for capturing, casting and implementing God’s vision for your ministry. Pointing to the examples of visionaries both ancient and modern, he uncovers patterns and principles that will help you understand, communicate and accomplish the unique vision God has in store for your life and church. In the process, you will gain insight into your own giftedness and motivations, get perspective on your ministry’s history and condition, and draw closer to the God who has chosen you to catch His vision.
About the Author
George Barna is the founder and directing leader of The Barna Group, a full service marketing research company in Ventura, California, that specializes in research for Christian ministries. George Barna is the best-selling author of books, such as Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions, Grow Your Church from the Outside In, The Frog in the Kettle and Boiling Point. He is also the publisher of The Barna Update, a free biweekly research report published online at www.barna.org.
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