Short description
Will Mancini is an expert on a new kind of vision/strategic planning: the movement to make churches more missional, that is, moving them from an internal focus to an emphasis on participating in the culture and their community. Here, he shows you the tools necessary to transform vision and leadership into missional growth.
Long description
This book lets you discover the tools necessary to transform vision and leadership into missional growth. Will Mancini is an expert on a new kind of vision/strategic planning: the movement to make churches more missional, that is, moving them from an internal focus to an emphasis on participating in the culture and their community. His model for vision - casting and church growth has been tested with leaders in all kinds of congregations - mainline, evangelical, small, and large. In this book, he outlines a new model to help churches articulate strategy, become more missional, unpack the baggage of institutionalism, and live into their visions. Will Mancini (Houston, TX), a former pastor, is the founder of Auxano, a national consulting group that works with all kinds of traditional and emerging churches and ministries to help leaders do a more visionary form of strategic planning.
Review
Mancini (founder, Auxano consulting group) believes that all churches need not be megachurches like Willowcreek (IL) or Saddleback (CA). Here, he avoids a mere discussion of churches worthy of emulation and further crosses denominational lines, having himself worked alongside Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, and others. Mancini eschews the title consultant , preferring instead vision navigator . In short, he helps leaders focus on their own unique cultures and congregational fingerprints. Once churches grasp that they are one of a kind-much like galaxies, fossils, DNA, and sandbanks-they can then, Mancini writes, unleash their full potential. The book, complete with an appendix as well as logos and icons illustrating various churches' visionary thinking, is strengthened by numerous flow charts, diagrams, graphics, and pithy quotes. It has the potential to unseat Rick Warren's The Purpose-Driven Church in popularity. Yet academic libraries may want to pass on this title for its admitted lack of supporting empirical evidence. Public libraries, on the other hand, would be wise to purchase a copy. With a foreword by inspirational giant Max Lucado. -C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL (Library Journal, May 1, 2008)
Table of contents
- About Leadership Network.Foreword.Introduction.PART ONE: RECASTING VISION.1. Unoriginal Sin: Neglecting Uniqueness.2. The Fall of Strategic Planning: Obscuring the Essence.3. The Iniquity of Church Growth: Caging the Kingdom.4. Lost Congregations: How Churches Adapt to the Vision Vacuum.PART TWO: CLARIFYING VISION.5. The Good News of Clarity: Why Believe in Vision Today?.6. Clarity Pre-Evangelism: Softening Your Heart for Clarity.7. The Alpha and Omega of Clarity: The Ultimate Source of Vision.8. Hear the Cloud of Witnesses: Learning from Vision Legacies.9. Discover Your Kingdom Concept: How to Ascertain Vision.10. Take a Closer Look: Navigating Your Discovery Process.PART THREE: ARTICULATING VISION.11. See with New Eyes: Defining Your Vision Frame.12. Carry the Holy Orders: Mission as Missional Mandate.13. Feel the Common Heartbeat: Values as Missional Motives.14. Show Me the Way: Strategy as Missional Map.15. Talk the Walk: Measures as Missional Life Marks.16. Frame the Future: Preparing for a Vision Lifestyle.17. Speak with New Tongues: Articulating Vision Proper.PART FOUR: ADVANCING VISION.18. Wage War Against the Status Quo: From Articulation to Traction.19. Meet Long in the Upper Room: The Secret of Attunement.20. Transform the Future: Delivering Vision Daily.PARTING THOUGHTS.21. Resurrect Your Uniqueness: If You Copy Someone Else?s Vision, Who Will Accomplish Yours?.Appendix A Logos and Strategy Icon Examples.Appendix B Vision Path Examples.Notes.Bibliography.Acknowledgments.About the Author.Index.