It is hard to believe in less than three months, I would have served a year as your pastor. The majority of the Plaza congregation sees me only during Sunday morning worship. Since arriving an enormous amount of my time was spent in church meetings, discussing church concerns (which I see as opportunities), shortfalls of the budget, and expectations of the Plaza Church during these transitioning years ahead. These may be important, but they are not as important as our most valuable asset, which are people.       

            Many of you attended the meeting when we unveiled our five year vision plan. One of the most misunderstood tasks of the church today is that vision and mission are related but distinct. Mission is a general statement of ministry objectives; it is philosophic. Vision is a specific, detailed statement of direction and uniqueness; it is strategic. I have come to believe that an effective and compelling vision in the twenty-first century is probably good for about five years. Then the process of re-visioning must occur. Sometimes this re-visioning is part of an intentional reassessing. More often than not, however, it is the result of ministries that just are not working, especially ones that once did.

            Vision is always needs-based. The needs that the vision addresses, however, are not those of the ones already there. So vision is externally focused. But this external focus is what creates mission. God blesses the church mission, not the congregation of the status quo. But, when God lifts up a vision for ministry beyond us, then our deepest needs are met. Continue to pray for the Plaza Vision!