“When we put our most remarkable human efforts in the hands of our miraculous God, things we can’t even imagine are possible.” —Jimmy Mellado, the Salvadoran-born, Harvard-educated President and CEO of Compassion International
The boldest vision of all time started with Jesus Himself. His goal was that the gospel would be taken “to the ends of the earth,” and that disciples would be made and multiplied in every tribe and nation (Matthew 28:19). And that was just for starters…before He left the scene He broke it down into incremental steps and provided them with a more targeted interim goal: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
“When we put our most remarkable human efforts in the hands of our miraculous God, things we can't even imagine are possible.” —Jimmy Mellado, President and CEO of Compassion International Share on X
Here at Dare 2 Share, we just came off our big-event on October 13th—Dare 2 Share LIVE. Ninety-five satellite sites joined us for our nationwide simulcast that inspired and equipped thousands of teenagers all across the country to get out and share the gospel. It was awesome! (Get it on your calendar for October 12, 2019!) But Dare 2 Share LIVE is only a stepping stone to our bigger, bolder vision as a ministry. Our bold vision is to see “Every teen everywhere hear the gospel from a friend!”
Gospel Advancing Value #5: A Bold Vision Focuses It
Do you have a Gospel Advancing bold vision for your own ministry, for your local community, for every part of your city and for the ends of the earth? Is that bold vision driving your youth ministry efforts across the street (your “Jerusalem” and “Judea”), across the tracks (your “Samaria”) and across the world?
It’s easy to get myopic about the four walls of your youth room and forget how big the community and world you live in actually are. Jesus is calling you to have a bold enough vision that you can make an impact far beyond your own walls.
Try This! ❯
Set aside some time this week to pray about and reflect on your ministry’s bold vision.
As you and your students get a heart for the lost teenagers across your city, your plans will reflect this broader vision. Your vision needs to be so big that God has to show up or you will never accomplish it. Your vision should be so big that other youth leaders need to be recruited to help accomplish it.
Pursuing a bold vision across the street, across the tracks and around the world will trigger miracles you never imagined. Lives will be changed, souls will be saved and tragic situations will be transformed. And your believing teenagers will never be the same because you invited them to join you in the pursuit of a bold vision for the glory of God that brought focus to your ministry efforts and impacted your calendar and programming.
3 Bold Vision Questions
Whether you already have a vision statement or you’re just starting down this road, here are three questions to ask as you pray first, and then craft or recraft your Gospel Advancing bold vision.
- Is it geographically specific? The goal Jesus laid out for His disciples started in Jerusalem, expanded to Judea and Samaria and ultimately to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Have you identified the specific geographic area where you and your teenagers will be primarily advancing the gospel? Your “Jerusalem”?
- Is it spiritually aggressive? Your bold vision should be so big that God must show up, your teenagers must speak up (and other youth leaders might need to be rounded up) if it is ever going to be truly accomplished. As you contemplate this dimension of your vision, consider Paul’s words to the Colossians:
“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:28-29).
- Is it truly measurable? Or another way to put this is: How will you know you’ve accomplished it? A well-crafted bold vision will allow you to clearly measure success this coming year. For example:
An Unmeasurable Vision: “To reach more teenagers for Christ.”
A Measurable Vision: “To mobilize my teenagers to have 1,000 Gospel conversations this year resulting in my group growing by 20% by next summer.”
As you prayerfully consider a bold vision for your ministry, keep Ephesians 3:20 in mind: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Then put your “remarkable human efforts in the hands of our miraculous God” and watch what happens!
