Vision Leakage

Vision Leakage has become the term that describes the challenge of maintaining a vision in a group of people, like a church, over an extended period of time. For example, the pastor shares his vision for the church in a sermon at the beginning of the New Year. How long does the vision stay fresh and relevant to the people of the church? Theorist estimate the limit is about twenty-eight days.
Recently the PennDel Ministry Network encouraged the churches in the district to participate in the One Day To Feed The World initiative by giving through Convoy of Hope to feed the hungry on this planet. An initial tally indicates just over $203,000 was given to this effort. Incredible! Pastors communicated and the people responded. How long will the individuals who responded so generously maintain the passion to reach out to the hurting of our world? Probably not very long. On the other hand, my nephew and his wife are in process of adopting a child from one of the nations of West Africa. Their commitment has already lasted for several months and the estimated time till they will receive the child is about another year. They have no one to push them toward the adoption and no outside motivation to make the adoption happen. Their vision of adopting a child does not have any leakage involved.
Both of these efforts, adopting a child and contributing to ODTFTW, are noble endeavors and actually are aimed at similar goals, i.e., taking care of those who have a need. The difference rests in the location of the vision. ODTFTW, while worthwhile, is not motivated internally in the vast majority of those who participated. Adopting a child is motivated by an internal determination to achieve the goal.
Vision casting will remain a critical part of leadership responsibility. However, there is no substitute for what the Holy Spirit can do in planting the passion in the hearts of individuals; the passion to accomplish what God has given as the vision for the church. What this means is that vision must be born in the heart of leadership from the heart of God to the hearts of the people. Ideas are fine, but vision must come from the heart of God or the church will never be able to overcome the vision leakage and maintain the vision for the church of Jesus Christ. It's time to get back on our knees and truly hear from God concerning His vision for the church, and in turn, praying for the vision to be caught by the people of God in order to achieve the purposes of the heart of God.