During a recent study of church consulting leaders, I was introduced to Will Mancini, clarity evangelist and founder of Auxano, a firm that guides churches in the area of vision. I got in touch with Will to learn more about his process and to share my passion for pursuing God’s vision for technology in church.
This year Auxano launched Vision co::Lab, a learning community of pastors and church leaders that meets one day a month over a six month period to focus on the process of defining and communicating vision.
Expressing interest in the Vision Pathway principles and coaching strategy for teaching them, the door opened for me to participate in the Houston co::Lab.
Five reasons I am looking forward to participating in this unique learning environment:
1. Remarkable concept. I was hooked after reading Will Mancini’s book Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture and Create Movement. The approach boils down to this: God has given every local church a unique DNA. During Vision co::Lab, we will learn what it takes to discover, develop and deliver what God has uniquely created each church to do.
2. Reputation of the coaching team. Auxano has guided hundreds of churches through the vision pathway & trained thousands of leaders, including the team at Oak Hills Church, San Antonio. Having gone through the process, Pastor’s Max Lucado and Steve Dye called the approach “the missing link to all the chatter regarding church strategy.” We will be learning from the best of the best.
3. Relationship with the participants. It is always an honor to meet and interact with men and women of God. Listening to stories of faith and hearing about ministry dreams will be inspirational and instructive. Through collaboration – ongoing dialogue, sharing knowledge and ideas – we will learn as a team how to apply a new visioning process to our individual mission assignments.
4. Recreating the role of technology in church. Thousands of churches are in position to adapt sophisticated communication technologies to The Great Commission mandate. The churches that do so will need to develop a “technology strategy” to be most effective. I recently wrote a blog post about the idea of Digital Missions initiatives. Churches will need to determine what technology tools fit and how to best align those tools with their vision. Through the thinking and processes behind Church Unique, I look forward to learning how to help churches develop a holistic approach for integrating technology into their central strategy.
5. Recognizable terrain. In the interest of total disclosure, Houston is my hometown. We have three daughters in the area and family throughout South Texas. I never pass up an opportunity to come home. I hear that familiar territory creates an environment more conducive to learning. That’s my story anyway. Being a native will also be useful to the group. When anyone mentions “Pico de Gallo” I’ll understand what’s being said.
“AH-HA” Moments
Speaking about a team pulling their unique vision together, Mancini says, “I wish you could see the delight on leaders’ faces, and hear the “ah-has” as a team crystallizes their Church Unique with stunning clarity. I am not sure there is a more exhilarating moment in leadership.”
Pursuing God’s vision for technology in church led to my taking this six month journey of discovery with the Auxano team and outstanding group of church leaders. As I reflect on how the opportunity came about; the privilege I will have in making new friends; and the possibilities of how God might work through these intersections in the future, I am humbled. And, having a pre-co::Lab “ah-ha” moment of my own.
Praying for everyone involved.