I have such a new appreciation of the responsibility that leaders across the globe live out their lives with. Having influence is one thing, but compelling people to lay down their lives for the sake of a cause is another. Many leaders struggle with getting to the point that the vision and culture of whatever they lead is healthy and truly represents the pure form of what inspired it in the first place. Ideas are great and can even inspire people in a moment, but vision requires a higher form of communication and commitment.
A year ago I initiated Generation ONE as a local church. It's the ministry platform that is being birthed by myself and a few others. It represents a merge and planting of a new church in Rochester Hills, a school of ministry, and numerous global initiatives still in the research and development stages. I shared some vision about Gen ONE with some friends/acquaintances at lunch today and they totally get it. They didn't just agree that it was good, it resonated in their hearts. I could see it. I've shared these things numerous times and I'm finding that lately something is shifting. I'm either just getting really excellent at sharing my thoughts or my thoughts are just more impacting. I began to ask myself if anything has changed in the language that I use to communicate this vision and my answer was no. I asked myself if the adjustments made in the last year would account for a different response and the answer was no. So what's changed?There's a level of sacrifice and commitment that comes as the undergirding of vision.
You'll find that even the same words can be used to share both ideas and vision but way less is expected when our words are surrounded by the expectations of "sharing ideas". What it takes to see things change can be monumental responsibility at times and while most people have "good hearts", do they have good skills? Do they have wisdom, character and virtue? As a follower of Jesus, an important question is do they value His presence over all things? Can they manage the tension of risk and security? What priority does God's will have in their decision making process? These attributes being developed and matured become the source of vision being believable when communicated.
I understand more today than I did a year ago about what it's actually going to take to make these ideas truly manifest on earth. Not only have I begun to birth these things and take them on as commitments, but I continue to believe in the future of them as well which only requires increased responsibility. I believe there is a partnership that is available with Christ that allows us to steward the dreams and inspirations He's placed in us. While God initiates these things in the unseen place, it's our follow thru that allows them to manifest on earth. I Corinthians tells us that it's God who brings the increase, but we plant and water.
It's an unprecedented time through out the world. There's more insecurity for our futures than we've ever witnessed and it's demanding that those who can lead, do. Leaders have a hope that is greater than their current reality because they see from this unseen place. This hope, when centered on Jesus, is able to draw people not only into an encounter of believing something is possible, but also to compel them to lay down their life that progress would actually be produced from this inspiration.
So do your words just yield head nods? Are you sick of your ideas being overlooked? It's time to DO something. Your commitment, sacrifice and follow through to what is in your heart will begin to bring the impact with your words you are looking for. This will allow your vision to become a reality. The progress of vision takes time and great commitment, but when others hear your heart and you've given up everything to see God's best... they begin to see the best version of you, which is Him. He's hard to say no to.
