Aubrey Malphurs, Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century, Second Edition. Baker Books, 1999.
Referenced in: Strategies for Church Renewal – Leader-Directed Vision Casting
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Just as Malphurs’ Developing a Dynamic Mission for Your Ministry and Values-Driven Leadership provide comprehensive guidance on congregational mission and values, so this volume gives thorough instruction on vision. Alongside Malphurs’ Advanced Strategic Planning, these constitute an excellent library on this approach to church renewal from a pragmatic/church growth perspective. Aubrey Malphurs has written extensively on church leadership. He is a seasoned scholar-practitioner with considerable experience as a consultant and seminary professor.
While Malphurs bears a lot of similarities with other pragmatic/church growth-type authors on the subject (see Ministry Resource Guide), a few features elevate him above others. First, Malphurs excels in defining vision and distinguishing it from other closely-associated concepts such as mission (chapter 2). Second, while Malphurs does argue for the importance of a “point person” or single leader in the visioning process, he is careful to say not all will approach it in the same way. He affirms that Myers-Briggs intuitives are more easily visionary (common to most vision literature), but also shows how MBTI sensates may also perceive vision (p. 47). He provides a Visionary Audit to help assess whether one is an intuitive vs. sensate. Third, he shows the visionary leader how to involve other important contributors in the process. In this respect, Malphurs’ approach is less presumptuous about the role of one person, and suggests a process of listening and collecting information from key stakeholders who can provide unique insight. Fourth, provides one of the best methods one can find in crafting and refining vision statements and in insuring that the vision is truly tailor-made to the environment. The same is true about his suggestions on communicating, implementing, and preserving (i.e. overcoming obstacles to) the vision. Fifth, his Appendix B offers several helpful examples of well-crafted vision statements.
Although a little older, I still believe this is the best book on Leader-Directed Vision Casting written from a pragmatic/church growth perspective. See other resources of this genre in the Ministry Resource Guide.
From the Publisher
As one of the first vision books on the market, this books first edition was recognized as a groundbreaking resource. It was given a Christianity Today Your Church Recommended Resource award in 1993 and won favorable reviews:
“This book is the best one available for the church planter who wants to lead with vision and purpose.” Charles Worley, The Bookshelf
“An excellent resource. … A practical, useful help for the pastor who desires to move beyond a maintenance ministry and see his church grow.” Donald Dunavant, Mid-America Theological Journal
Now revised and updated, this second edition includes sample vision statements and additional graphics and visuals to enhance the books appeal. It also clarifies the difference between a vision and a mission statement and shows how vision relates to four key ministry concepts.
Pastors, church leaders, students, and laypeople who want to become purposeful strategists will benefit from this book. It moves beyond theory to offer practical steps for establishing a vision. Worksheets and end-of-chapter questions will help readers understand and implement the ideas presented in this book.
About the Author
Aubrey Malphurs (Th.M., Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) is president of Vision Ministries International and chairman of the Field Education Department at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor and church planter and is the author of numerous books in the areas of leadership, vision, and church ministry, including Ministry Nuts and Bolts: What They Don’t Teach Pastors in Seminary; Doing Church; and Developing a Dynamic Mission for Your Ministry.
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