DEVELOPING A BIBLICAL VISION IN A RURAL CHURCH A BREAKOUT SESSION RENOVATE! 2014 ©2014 DR. JOHN R. KIMBALL

UNDERSTANDING DECISION MAKING IN A RURAL CONGREGATION Rural churches are usually driven by history They don’t want to take risks The Pastor should share vision & ideas with one leader at a time Decision making is usually emotional, subjective, popular, informal (outside of meetings) and family oriented. From Principles for Effective Rural Ministry (Part 1): Understanding Rural Culture, Pastoral Leadership & Preaching by Jason McConnell

UNDERSTANDING CHANGE IN A RURAL CONGREGATION Change happens from the bottom up through key people Lead toward change without surprising people (4 personalities) Often best to implement change through increments and trial periods (“experiments”) From Principles for Effective Rural Ministry (Part 1): Understanding Rural Culture, Pastoral Leadership & Preaching by Jason McConnell

UNDERSTANDING VISION IN A RURAL CONGREGATION If you had your vision before you knew your congregation, let it go Vision is from God, not from your own mind, a book or some other resource Vision is for that specific congregation – it cannot be transplanted Vision impacts that specific community – it cannot be mass produced Vision encompasses all four arenas of mission (Acts 1:8) Vision sees God’s Preferred Future, but is led by the people who are there – it must be doable Vision transforms existing systems. It does not do an “end run” around them. Vision is God-sized, but attainable over time 4

DISCERNING VISION Step 1: Prayer and Intercession Vision comes out of prayer and fasting (Acts 13) – specifically, intercessory prayer for your community 1.If your congregation is not regularly gathering for prayer and intercession, start there 2.God prepares the heart of the congregation as they pray 3.God releases resources for His vision because they pray 4.God calls laborers to fulfill His vision as fruit of their prayer (Luke 10:2) If you’re not birthing it from a congregational prayer movement, you’ve already lost If you’re not bathing it consistently in a congregational prayer movement, you’ll only get frustration

DISCERNING VISION Step 2: Knowing Your Community Vision matches your community Vision is clarified through prayer mapping/walking Vision can be very personal (know your neighbors and their needs) Vision gaps are filled in with research 1.Demographics 2.Police Information

DISCERNING VISION Step 3: Determining Key Community Needs (Those you are able to address for the Kingdom…) Step 4: Discovering Your Divine Design Church’s Corporate Personality Church’s Corporate Gift Mix Church’s Corporate Skill Set Church’s Corporate Ministry Passions Church’s Corporate Resources (Current & Potential) Step 5: Putting it All Together

COMMUNICATING VISION Communicating to the Leadership Team & Key People (not all “leaders” are on the official boards and committees!!!) Communicating from the bottom up through key people Communicating without surprising people (4 personalities) Communicating incrementally (“experiments”)

REVITALIZATION CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT A CLEAR VISION TO REACH YOUR COMMUNITY! IF YOU LEARN ONLY ONE THING…

FOR MORE INFORMATION… JOHN KIMBALL CCCC Director of Church Development & Lead Pastor of Palmwood Church Oviedo, Florida Contact Lauren at Phone: (321) PRAXIS CENTER FOR CHURCH DEVELOPMENT The Praxis Center for Church Development PO Box 4878 Manchester, NH Contact Jodie at Phone: (603) Fax: (603) Tell them you met John Kimball at Renovate 2014 in Orlando.