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I found a really applicable illustration from Kenneth Boa on communication:

A man was struggling to get his washing machine through the front door of his home as his neighbor was walking past. The neighbor, being a good neighbor, stopped and asked if he could help. The man breathed a sigh of relief and said, “That would be great. I’ll get it from the inside and you get it from the outside. We should be able to handle this quickly.”

But after five minutes of continual struggle, they were both exhausted. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the neighbor said, “This thing is bigger than it looks. I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to get it into your house.”

“Into my house? I’m trying to get this thing out of my house!”

Have you ever been in a similar situation? You set things in motion and expended energy thinking everyone was on the same page, only to find that there was a huge breakdown in communication.

We always find it so easy to revert to the KISS principle: Keep It Simple Stupid. It’s easy to believe that others know what we are thinking or trying to accomplish. However, in the reality of leadership, if it were that simple anyone could do it!

Those with a vision from God to lead in greatness must understand that the road ahead is not the simple, straight path.  As clear as the vision is in our hearts and minds, we must understand that no one else will see it and live it the way that we do. We must continually communicate, or cast the vision for the sake of others. As Forest Gump said, “Simple is as simple does.” Sorry leaders, this isn’t simple. It takes forethought, strategy and a lot of effort. It will call upon all of your leadership skills, even some you may not know you have, in order to see the vision cast successfully.

In real estate they say that the 3 most important things in buying a property are location, location, location. I say that the three most important things to casting a vision are communication, communication, then some more communication. I don’t mean say a sentence 3 times so people remember it, but instead I say to say it 3 times, in 3 different ways, at 3 strategically different times so that others can be constantly reminded and so that the vision can continually be confirmed.

Remember, where there is no vision the people will perish. Have you effectively communicated the vision of your ministry clearly and plainly so that others can understand it and live it? Or, are you pushing the washing machine out the door and enlisting others to help, yet in the end finding that while you wanted the washing machine out of the house, everyone else thought you wanted it in the house?

Casting vision is a serious business. Be intentional and unashamed about it!

Often times we in leadership look to Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) as an indicator of how important vision is to the church:

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he )that keepeth the law, happy is he.

If there is no vision, people will perish. Wow, that impacts me very hard! First of all, if vision is this important it tells me that I must be reverential in how I handle the vision. If God is going to trust me to be his messenger for a particular vision, I must do my utmost in being faithful to seeing it carried out. If I do not, people will perish.

Of course, God is God and therefore he will have his way done upon the earth whether I cooperate or get distracted or mishandle the vision or whatever. I did not make the statement in order to lay a guilt trip on anyone. Instead, it is a clear sign that God holds the opposite to be true: He gives us the opportunity to deliver his vision to his people in order that they may not perish.

Let us constantly remember that the vision is of God, appointed to us for the right time, and intended for his people. The vision is not ours as leaders of the church, but it is God’s and he has graciously appointed us to see the vision carried out. The message and focus therefore must always be on God and seeing God’s people come to know Christ eternally. It is not about bringing attention to us, the church, or programs and agendas. God has a beautiful, amazing, awesome, unthinkable plan. He uses us because we are predestined to have the faith it takes to see big things of God realized in our human world. He created us to not give up easily and to not make it about us.

I pray that those called and ordained for the work of messengers appointed to set in motion a vision of God to see those in their communities not perish and come to know everlasting life alongside our Heavenly Father will believe in the anointing to be true to the vision and keep the focus on God and his people. May you be encouraged by the task and praise God for all that he is going to take you through for the sake of some to know eternal love and grace and mercy even though we as caretakers of the vision may not feel worthy or equipped to see it through. Trust in the Lord and his choices and be faithful to keeping the vision fresh in the minds of his people daily. Until the time of final peace and joy, I pray in the name of the precious Son Jesus, amen.

Once someone is struck by a vision from God and they have been able to write it out in a way that makes sense to others, then the real work of the vision begins. One of the things I believe is a huge shortcoming of the church is communication. It seems that some churches overly communicate in ways that are stifling and controlling, while other churches don’t communicate much at all. In order to see a vision become a reality, communication is critically important. It does require a balance though.

What is the purpose of casting vision and making it known to others? I think Henry Blackaby said it best in Spiritual Leadership: Moving People to God’s Agenda when he wrote: “Graphs and charts can convey data and engage minds, but a story detailing God’s activity in the midst of a secular world can engage people’s hearts and gain their commitment.”

God gives us the vision, but he then calls upon us to communicate this vision to his people. It sounds easy enough, but it definitely takes a tremendous amount of humbleness, openness, sincerity, passion, desire, motivation, and several other things. Anyone can read something on a piece of paper and repeat it to others, but it takes a person called by God to see something through and be able to execute it with a passion so strong it’s as if his or her life depended on it. This is what separates visions from dreams. Dreams are wishful thinking, but visions are things that compel one to get it done.

One of the difficulties of communicating the vision is disappointment. It’s simply not for everyone, therefore we are going to hear things like, “That’s crazy and way too radical!” or “It’s been tried before and failed every time.” However, if we push through it, keep in prayer, and stay faithful to the mission of the vision, then we will have our vision and calling confirmed as we begin to engage people’s heart and gain their commitment.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t stop there either. We have to continually re-engage people’s hearts and regain their commitments. It’s an ongoing process, but one that we must appreciate if we are to see the lasting impact of a new move of God within our cities.

How good are we at conveying the story of God’s activity in the midst of the secular world? Maybe it’s time to get back to re-introducing people to God’s vision within your community/ministry and see his awesome power begin to be unleashed all over again.

Vision is something that is so critical in the life of a church planter. Without it, things will fizzle out and chaos will ensue. However, is just having a vision from God the only thing it takes to plant a church? As important as getting the vision is having the ability to cast that vision. This is the struggle many within the ministry have. They get a vision, but they just can’t get other people to get behind it and be sold out to it like they are.

It’s easy to think that if God gives someone a vision to lead his church in a city, that God will also send people to them that will have a heart for the same vision. Sounds easy enough, but it just never works out that way. Sure, people will come together and new ministries will form, but ultimately it takes someone that can explain the vision and keep the direction of the new ministry moving in conjunction with the vision.

I’ve read several books on vision and vision casting and sat in on many seminars about it. However, through it all, the one thing I look back to when I need to reinforce vision within me is Habakkuk 2:2. Just as Prophets in the Old Testament were given a revelation from God for his people, I think we as church planters are given a revelation to connect people far from him in ways that are relevant and meaningful. The revelation will be for a certain people, in a certain city/community, and for a certain time. The revelation is the vision.

Then the LORD replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.

Above is the NIV translation of Habakkuk 2:2. As the most-popular Bible translation of today, this is how we generally see it. The Hebrew word for revelation really means vision. Habbakuk is being instructed by God to write the vision down and make it plain on tablets. Unfortunately, just doing a surface scan of this verse doesn’t give it the impact it should have upon us. The focus isn’t so much on the vision in this verse. Instead, it is on what is done with the vision that matters here. For that, let me give a clearer understanding by referencing the Amplified Bible translation of Hab 2:2:

And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.

Is it starting to get a little clearer now? Habakkuk not only must write the vision down, but that vision must be written plainly on tablets so that everyone passing by may be able to read it and easily and quickly understand what it means.

It’s not just getting the vision, but it’s being able to make that vision so real and so plain that others can understand it and be impacted by it as if God gave it to them directly.

Whether it’s church planting or youth ministry or small group function or outreach event, if you feel God has expressed a vision for a ministry to you, can you take and write it out on a paper napkin and share it with others at the table in such a way that they get it and want to get behind it? Remember, the vision isn’t for us, it is for others and we are just the agents to share the vision with others and to see it carried out in God’s intended way. We are just the messengers as we in ministry already know Christ. Instead, we have been appointed to find a way for others to come to know Christ.

During the past few years there has been a lot of discussion about the emergent church. Now it seems that many have not been happy with the way the emergent church has moved to and have re-branded themselves as missional.

Is the missional church just another form of the emergent church? To that I say, yes and no. Just as the emergent church has its various ways with no single unifying factor defining it, the missional church is not in complete agreement either. However, there is a big difference in the way I see the emergent and missional churches.

A key focus on emergent churches is the experience. What does one feel when in an emergent environment? How can the church become a sensory experience? I admit that I was taken with this style of church for a couple of years as it seems like a way to connect with those outside of the church and in opposition to “religion.” They weren’t connecting in the more-traditional or seeker sensitive church so why not give them a place to experience God through making it seem more real and less judgmental? It made sense to me until one day I was hit with something. What about the gospel? Was the emergent church bringing awareness to the gospel in a way that lives were being transformed or was it simply paving a way for people to have their needs met in a Christianity tailor made for the season of life?

I have nothing against those in the emergent church or those called by God to serve in that capacity. I don’t believe the emergent church to be leading people down the wrong path any more than I believe the purpose driven or seeker sensitive church is misleading. God’s vision for his church is bigger than any of us can imagine and the isn’t to do it in only one way; instead the key is to make the focus on God and to live in unity and love. If we do those two things God will take care of the rest.

With that said, how can the missional church be the same as the emergent church? Simply put, the missional church requires an experience. However, where the emergent is about creating an atmosphere that brings about an experience, the missional church is all about experiencing something because of what we put into it, not what is presented to us. Additionally, the missional church will connect with those that aren’t connecting with the traditional Sunday consumeristic experience. Those that aren’t looking for a church with programs that cater to their needs.

The more I prayed about leading an emergent church, the more I believe that I received clarity on the true nature behind God’s vision for the church he was calling me to. It wasn’t about engaging people in an experience so they could feel God’s presence and come to know him more. It was about being a real and relevant place that people wanted to engage in every day. A place where Jesus could be made known without someone having to purposefully step foot into a building on a Sunday. It was about having a meaning and a purpose that stretched well beyond the borders of modern Christianity. To spell it out, this was a place that no building or program could summarize. It’s a place that can only be found deep within the heart and soul of a person. This is what led me to come to find the missional church.

Every church has a vision and mission statement. However, most often the mission of a church is to grow and be healthy and to see others come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. The mission isn’t really a mission, but instead it is more like a mantra. We at XYZ Church want to disciple others and cause them to live out the Great Commission is basically what it comes down to. Is that bad? Absolutely not!

For me though, mission cannot be fulfilled unless it is a part of who one is. It is taking like-minded people and getting them united in a cause. In my case, the cause that should unite the church is loving God and loving others. We can show we love God by coming to a church building and lifting up our worship to him. We can show others that we love them by creating a great Christian children’s program for their family or teaching them how to be good stewards of their finances or how to stay married for life. For me though, I believe I can show God I love him by keeping his commands and I can show others I love them as Jesus loves them by going to them and not trying to attract them to me.

In my mind the missional church is about worshipping God through our daily lives and sharing the love of Christ with others in ways that have nothing to do with attracting people to a church building or connecting them with some great program. As Jesus did, we need to hit the streets and show the relevance of our faith in Christ and our genuine love for our fellow man. We should give sacrificially and engage in community and pray together and spend time studying and heeding God’s Word. In essence, to me, the missional church can simply be defined as a church that follows the model of the Acts chapter 2, first century church.

It can be a house church, mega church, internet church, college campus ministry…it cannot be defined by it’s look or it’s people. It can only be defined by Jesus and continuing his mission to see the kingdom of heaven upon earth. Jesus didn’t do things to draw people into his church. He went from town to town administering love and kindness and forgiveness to all that had eyes to see and ears to hear. He did not discriminate his message based on culture or profession or social status. His love was enough for all in 30 AD and it is still enough for all in 2008 AD. Why not go out and show the world that Jesus loves them and wants to use his people to share his love of them? Why must we call the world to come knocking on the door of our church instead? Jesus was about making those in the establishment feel uncomfortable, but at the same time he called upon his disciples to feel uncomfortable. Is a transformed life, dead to sin, going to matter much to a dying and hurting world if that transformation is only visible in a comfortable theater style seat with professional sounding music and polished speaker delivering a sermon on Sunday. A transformed life will be empowered through the Holy Spirit to speak eternal love into someone’s life if we go out and meet them where they are and not cast judgment on them. A transformed life will bring glory to God when lives outside of Sunday services are touched, yet no one mentions a church by name and uses it as propaganda. When we as Christ’s church offer to a free gift of bottled water to people because we want them to be hydrated and healthy, yet there is a big XYZ Church label on the bottle, is it really a free gift? Is it really about God’s love or the church’s love?

I don’t know how long the emergent church will continue or what the future holds for it. I love, pray for, and learn from many of my emergent church brothers such as Dan Kimball & Erwin McManus. However, I do know that the missional church isn’t something that came about as a way to try and make Christianity relevant in a post-Christian world. Missional church is just a modern expression of the first century church and it’s about time we got back to our roots of living life for the glory of God and believing that Christ will make this a better place the spirit of love he gives us through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit within us.

Craig Groeschel has been blogging this week about how to be original and not try to emulate other pastors. He posted a list of pastors with a notable trait and professed that he would never be like them in those areas (click here to see the list). I found it incredibly interesting as I would have commented on the exact same things. Two that stood out in particular were:

I’ll never be as funny as Perry Noble

I’ll never be as passionate as Steven Furtick

I’ve got to say that after following these two pastors and speaking to my church during the One Prayer series, I was feeling less-than-capable and a little dejected. I’m a passionate guy! I like to think I’m funny too. Somehow it just never translates into my preaching persona. Through prayer I’ve come to accept the gifts God has blessed me with to connect with the people he puts in my path. It’s all about me, because God created me to be the best me I can be. Not the best Craig Groeschel or Perry Noble or Steven Furtick, just the best at being all the Dave Ingland that God calls me to be.

In Craig’s post he ends with a question: What are the top three gifts/talents/abilities God has given you? My response would be:

1. Relevant- As an atheist for the first 37 years of my life, I can relate to anything someone would say about why they believe God does not exist or how Christians are hypocrites or the Bible is just some book no different than a fairy tale read in elementary school. I’ve all of it at some point and now know why I don’t think those things any more. Having been in their shoes, God uses me to be relevant so that they can see the transforming power of the salvation of God within me.
2. Conversational- I am not a bold and loud speaker when I deliver messages. I also don’t come across as being out of reach. God has given me the ability to break out of my shyness and to just talk to people where they are at and to engage them in thought and conversation. I don’t really feel like I am preaching on Sundays, but it is more like being in my living room and I am leading a discussion on a topic and asking for feedback. I definitely doubt I’ll ever be invited by Brian Houston to preach at Hillsong Australia like Perry Noble.
3. Visionary- I never want to settle for less than my best for God and I always want to be moving forward–this is something I am passionate about. Anyone can do something halfway, but if it only requires half of my ability, then anyone could do it. Anyone can do what is assigned to them today, but it takes vision to do something today in a way that it will affect tomorrow. I believe that God has placed me in a journey that causes me to help people realize their dreams through embracing hard work and seeing the bigger picture. Living the Christian life isn’t easy, but it causes us to fulfill that which God created us for–loving God, and loving others above ourselves. Even though we are not to emulate others, this is an area where I would say that I will never be as bold of a visionary as Craig Groeschel. Craig is amazing and when he finds what works he opens up his experiences so that others (like me) can learn through the LifeChuch.tv online resources, his blog, or through writing books.

What are the top three gifts/talents/abilities God has given you?

Taking on the leadership at my home church for a season as a final learning step before being sent to plant a missional church has been very challenging. I came with so many ideas, yet many of them don’t seem to relate to the immediate congregation. Trying to take a group of people that are accustomed to maybe one missions trip per year and no other real form of group outreach and try to instill a passion for sacrificing our time and resources to go make a difference in our local community has been slow in connecting with them. It’s not their fault, but at times I wonder if it is mine.

Am I being prepared for the future move to a new ministry that will start off as missional in its dna, or am I being asked to lead the current group of people that God has put me before while meeting them where they are at? It’s tough sometimes, but I’m trying to move a little slower and exhibit patience while trying not to be discouraged.

Note to self: Gotta quit giving attention to Satan’s voice during my idle times!

I believe with all my heart that we are called to be the church, rather than just simply go to church. We are to bring Christ to the world and show others how he is the same yesterday, today and forever. We are the body and therefore we need to go out and be active in the community or we will sit around and get fat and lazy.

Lord, cause me to continually seek the wisdom and patience that you require me to have in order to lead your people in your timing and not my own. Continue to call me to be an example (through my actions) and not just a voice. Keep reminding me that it is for your glory and not my agenda that I have been called into service for. You grow the kingdom, I don’t. Search my heart and know that it is my desire to be obedient to your will and to be in service to the kingdom of heaven as long as you ask me, it is my honor and I am not worthy, but you are and that is where I will put my faith.

I feel as if God spoke to me through a blog today. Sounds crazy, right? However, think about this. If God created everything and gave us the ability to utilize tremendous resources in the 21st century, why wouldn’t God use the internet to communicate to his people?

I follow several blogs that help challenge and stretch me as a leader. Today it was a post in Dave Ferguson’s blog that helped me regain a little more focus. Dave’s post was titled, “5 Leadership Lessons it Took A Long Time to Learn.” What do I want to take away from a blog post like that? Simple! I want to learn from Dave today before we even have our official launch service for Revolution Church Sacramento rather than learn way down the road after making unnecessary mistakes.

While sorting through some things in prayer last week, one of the things that weighed heavy on my mind was the issue of finances and how we are behind schedule in raising financial support for our church plant. I was trying to determine what negative impact this would have on our start. However, Dave clarified this for me in lesson #2 from his blog post, which is “Money Always Follows Vision.” As I feel pretty confident that God wants to do a new thing here in Sacramento that gets Christians (and non-Christians) into the community to display Christ’s love for those that need it I believe that God will make a way to fund this vision and I should just be faithful to the vision and not put my faith in money.

As a leader I will be the first to admit that I am not an expert. As much experience as I have in secular, corporate leadership I cannot claim leading a church of thousands on my resume as Pastor Dave Ferguson has done with Community Christian Church. Therefore, I choose to humble myself when possible to learn from experienced lead pastors like Dave Ferguson and seek God to find out how and when those lessons and principles can be applied into the ministry here in Sacramento. So, a big thanks to God for giving us the internet and thanks to Dave Ferguson and other pastors like him that take the time to share their valuable insight on their blogs in the hopes that it helps others like me avoid some of their mistakes

All I can say is WOW! Just read some news that totally blew me away. My friend Richie Merritt is planting a new church next year around the same time we are set to launch weekly services for Revolution Church Sacramento. Anyway, he told me of some amazing and unconventional things his pastor at Forefront Church (Rich’s home church) had been doing so I checked it out and started following his blog and ministry. His pastor’s name is Vince Antonucci and this guy is just off the hook crazy for people coming to know Jesus. So crazy that they launched a Monday night church in a bar in Virginia Beach, VA last year. That takes some faith! He was also part of the One Prayer series and shared a great word on his prayer for the church, which was, “Lord, Make Us Evangelistic.” There just isn’t enough that can be said about Vince and his work for the kingdom of heaven!

So, after 11 years at Forefront Church Vince announces that he is leaving his home to move to Las Vegas to start a church. Not just in Vegas, but on the Vegas Strip. This guy’s faith just keeps burning hotter and hotter. Again, all I can say is WOW!

I believe that the Lord uses others to help confirm things for me and this notice is another one of those things. I won’t go into detail as I’m still not clear on some things, but this announcement really spoke to me in a way that I believe God spoke to me through Vince’s announcement of planting a church in Vegas. Yeah, it’s crazy and yeah my level of faith is so minuscule compared to Vince’s, but when one loves God and loves others more than oneself there are just some things that one cannot run away from for very long if it’s God’s will.

Vince, man you inspire me! Never stop reaching out to those that many in the church have ignored. God loves them as much as he loves Billy Graham and it takes crazy, sacrificial,radical, Jesus-loving guys like you to see people outside of the gates of heaven come to know that entrance is free and that there’s a lot of love waiting for them if they only say yes to Jesus’ offer of grace and forgiveness. Yes, Mr. Vince Antonucci, I love you for all that you do that glorifies our Lord and Savior and gives hope to the rest of us. I will be praying for you!

…the spirit of unity within the body of Christ will continue on! This series has touched me in unintelligible ways because it has shown me that God can do anything and will use anybody all for His glory and purpose. So many things are underneath the surface, but I know that God will bring my experiences to the forefront of my thoughts at the right time as He continues to use One Prayer to help us be a catalyst for change in Sacramento and for drawing people closer together.

With the conclusion of the One Prayer series yesterday (wanted to write this earlier–hence the title–but now it’s actually Monday), here are some of my thoughts:

• A ton of competition on the preaching this month with me concluding the One Prayer series after our church got to experience video teaching from Ed Young, Jr., Steven Furtick, and Perry Noble. Not to mention that I’ve got Gary Lamb of Revolution Church in Canton, GA on-deck for our mid-week core group gathering this week! I definitely wasn’t up to the task, but I believe God came alive in me and broke a spirit of intimidation today so I’m on my way Big Boys of Preaching!
• God sent us a church today to lead our worship time and to join in fellowship and they thought they were a small church until they met us! No matter what you think, there is always someone with less.
• Del Paso Union Baptist Church saved the day! Not only did they breathe life into our church like a holy tornado, but they were the most amazing, attentive, appreciative, joyful, and encouraging group of people I have ever had the honor and privilege of speaking to. They allowed me to get my “preaching shoes” on and let loose with a little heat in the name of love. I will never, ever forget your act of service for us as we were just starting out and God is gonna bless you to overflowing because your hearts (and actions) are in the right place!
• I found out there is a little fire burning within me that needed to be unleashed through some uplifting preaching. Lord, reign in me, reign in your fire, reign in me again, and again, and again…I need you and can’t do it without you.
• The revolution has begun, and some people are gonna wanna stop and get off. I’ll just have to trust the Lord and not be reactionary.
• As crazy as it seems to me, it was pretty evident that some in our church took a bit of a competitive spirit for some reason. I’ll need to seek God to find away to get that spirit cast out and sent away permanently as there is no place for it in Christ’s church, ever!
• I had no clue how much difference the house would feel when people received and responded to the preaching of the Word of the Lord. Wow, was I ever riding a wave of feeling fulfilled and with purpose today, even though the day started of less than desirable through my inability and ineffectual in the worship.
• So many words to describe the events today, but the one that keeps popping into my head and making me feel giddy is: F-U-N. Today was unbelievably fun and there was true joy in my heart for my God and for His people. I don’t think I would have ever imagined using the word fun to describe a church service, but it isn’t it supposed to be a celebration experience? No question, when it’s working on all cylinders it is indescribable joy in the finest hour.
• I love being around others that love God! I need to keep that kind of joy when I am around others that don’t love God. I love people that don’t love God and try to connect with many that do not share my faith, but I don’t always have the same joy when that love isn’t mutual to the Lord, and that must stop.
• Israel Houghton songs really speak to me and minister to my spirit in ways that no other songs can do. Praise you Lord for Israel and New Breed and their music!
• No matter what successes I witness, nor how affluent the community is that God puts me in, He always seems to be calling me back to my roots and never forgetting where I came from.   I feel like things will take me back full-circle and I will find myself right back where I started. If that’s the plan, I’m ready Lord! May your will be done regardless of where my human eyes want to take me.
• Lord, please send us some worshipers that want to pour their hearts and souls into loving you through songs and leading others to share in the blessing that comes only from worshiping you in spirit and truth. We are thirsty for some authentic worship that can be led by the King of King and the Lord of Lords and not through human means. No matter what, I praise you for all who surround me and pray that You will continue to cause us to grow together and become all that You plan us to be.
• If God is for us, who can be against us? Revolution Church Sacramento must be from God, by God, and for God…no if’s, and’s, or but’s. It’s GO time!