Vision Sunday, Part 2

In the previous post I shared some about Vision Sunday at Norwegian Settler's Church (NSC) this past Sunday. Living in Africa and working in the area with the highest prevalence of HIV in the world makes one really understands the importance of visionary leadership. One sees every day the truth of Proverbs 29:18 that "where there is no vision people perish" (KJV). Much of the struggles in Africa can be attributed to a crisis of leadership; leadership without vision.

Thankfully our church here in Africa (NSC) does have visionary leadership. On Sunday Pastor Trevor Downham shared his and the other church leadership's take on the vision of NSC. As described in the last post this vision for the church is based on a vision of God that results in a recognition of God's holiness (purity with a purpose). God is pure, we are not and God purposes to do something about it. Trevor described it as God having a burden. Specifically he described the burden of God as - "the lost". (Christian jargon for unclean people in an unclean world who have yet to receive a vision of a holy God.) I might just say God has a burden for dying people. (Understanding death to be a consequence of sin, and life being spiritual and eternal as well as physical and temporal.)

All this has been leading up to sharing with you the Vision of Norwegian Settler's Church:

Our Core Value: People

Our Priorities: (which translate into programs)

• Discipleship (learning to follow Christ)
• Teaching (learning to apply scripture)
• Children (when most people come to know Christ)
• Youth (our future church)
• Community (meaning outreach rather than a huddle)

Our Mission: Love God & Serve People

I like it. I want to be a part of it. Lord, help me live it.

Vision Sunday

Yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday in the US. But it was Vision Sunday at Norwegian Settler's Church (NSC), our home church here in South Africa. Trevor Downham, the senior pastor truly is a visionary leader. He is in large part the reason that the Genesis ministry and the Genesis Care Centre exist. Proverbs 29:18 says "where there is no vision, the people perish"(KJV). Because there is a man of vision in this place, people are living who would otherwise have died.

Yesterday Pastor Trevor presented NSC with his, and the other church leadership's vision for the church. One of the statements he made was that "you can only have a vision for God if you have a vision of God". He went on to look at what happens when someone receives a fresh vision of God.

There are many examples in the Bible of people getting a new or special vision of God. One of the best examples is Isaiah 6. Dr Del Tackett in Focus on the Family's The Truth Project describes 3 things that happen when Isaiah or anyone else has a clear vision of God. 1) They have a fresh understanding of who God is. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." 2) They have a fresh understanding of who they are. "Woe is me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips". And 3) They have a fresh understanding of their circumstances. "I live among a people of unclean lips".

In his message on Sunday Trevor emphasized a key attribute of God that is always prominent when one has a vision of God. This attribute is clearly preeminent in each of the three understandings that Dr. Tackett pointed out from Isaiah's vision. It is God's holiness. "Holy, holy holy". "Woe is me". "I live among a people of unclean lips". God is holy. I am not. There is a problem in the world.

There are 2 aspects of holiness that are demonstrated in Isaiah 6. One of them, purity is commonly thought of with holiness. God is pure. I am not. I live among people who are unclean(impure). But another aspect less often associated with holiness is evident as well and that is purpose. God in His holiness says "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" God in His holiness has a purpose and a plan. Things are not to stay as they are. Isaiah was made clean and I can be as well- "your guilt has been taken away and your sins atoned for" (Isaiah 6:7). God in His holiness sends one who can be about transformation in the world. He sent One. His holy purpose is being accomplished. He is still sending.

Here I am, send me.

(Check back in a day or two for part 2 - the NSC vision.)