big vision
The Other Guys: Are you jealous of them?
Last night a parent asked me, “Do you all do something social on Fridays for your teens like so and so’s church?” 6 years ago that question would...
I’ll never forget the first time I tried to introduce a new vision to my ministry team.
In 2005, I attended the Purpose Driven Youth Ministry Conference and was blown away by what I heard. Doug Fields, (author of Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, and Your First Two Years In Youth Ministry) talked about youth ministry that wasn’t just about filling seats but about life transformation—young people encountering Christ and sharing their faith with their peers. I left that conference on fire and came back ready to implement everything I had learned.
So, I sat down with my team and dumped all my new ideas on them. I expected them to catch the same fire I had. But instead of excitement, I got pushback.
People nitpicked my vision. They asked hard questions. And, honestly? I wasn’t prepared to answer them. I had thrown vision at them instead of bringing them into the process.
Craig Groeschel puts it this way:
“People don’t hate change. They hate the way we try to change them.”
That was my mistake—I had dumped change on my team instead of inviting them into the journey. And because of that, they resisted.
How to Get Buy-In for Your Vision
If you want people to own a vision, they have to discover it with you. Here’s how:
Start with WHY. Don’t just tell them what you want to do—help them see why it matters.
Paint a picture of the future. Help them imagine what success looks like. If you do this well, they’ll start to want it just as much as you do.
Make it a shared journey. Let them contribute and shape the vision. People are far more committed to something they helped create.
Using Narrative to Shape Vision
One of the most powerful exercises I use with my team is a Narrative Exercise that asks key questions:
- Who are the people in our mission field?
- What is the biggest challenge they face?
- What can we, as a ministry, do to help them?
- If we were successful, what would it look like in 2-3 years?
When my team answers these questions together, the vision isn’t just mine anymore—it’s ours.
If you want your team to buy into your vision, you can’t just tell them where to go. You have to help them see why it matters.
💡 Want to dream about youth ministry’s future with like-minded leaders? Join us at "Dreaming Youth Ministry’s Future" (Sept 29 - Oct 1, 2025). We’ll explore emerging trends, theological reflections, and practical ways to shape the future of ministry. Cost is just $150—learn more and register today!
