Church Growth & Development Congress
Rev. Dr. Eleazar Merriweather, Exec. Director
Bishop Darryl B. Starnes, Administrative Board Chair
Vision Casting: Making Vision Stick
Bishop George D. Crenshaw, Facilitator Presiding Prelate Northeastern Episcopal District
The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
There are two components to receiving and casting a vision.
• Divine Sovereignty
• Human Responsibility
Component I. DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY
vision. Divine Sovereignty
God gives
the
The Process of Divine Sovereignty – Nehemiah Narrative
Burden for Jerusalem: Nehemiah, serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, hears about the broken walls of Jerusalem and is deeply grieved. He prays and fasts, seeking God's guidance.
Permission and Provision: Nehemiah boldly requests permission from the king to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The king grants it and provides resources and letters of safe passage.
The Process of Divine Sovereignty – Nehemiah Narrative (Cont.)
Rebuilding the Wall: Upon arrival, Nehemiah inspects the damage and rallies the people. Despite opposition and threats from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah, the people work with determination and rebuild the wall in just 52 days.
Spiritual Renewal: After the wall is completed, Ezra the scribe reads the Law to the people. This leads to national repentance, confession of sin, and a renewed covenant with God.
Reforms and Leadership: Nehemiah implements reforms to address social injustices, such as oppression of the poor, and ensures proper worship and temple service. He returns to Persia but later comes back to continue his leadership and reform efforts.
I. The Power of a Vision
• A vision is God revealing what God previously concealed.
• A vision is a future truth.
• Visions are usually revealed after a season of prayer.
Nehemiah 1:1
“The Words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah: In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa,”
Nehemiah 2:1
“In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before,…”
II. The Promise of Provision
NEHEMIAH 2:4 – “THE KING SAID TO ME, “WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?” THEN I PRAYED TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN, “
NEHEMIAH 2:7 – “I ALSO SAID TO HIM, “IF IT PLEASES THE KING, MAY I HAVE LETTERS TO THE GOVERNORS OF TRANS-EUPHRATES, SO THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE ME SAFE CONDUCT UNTIL I ARRIVE IN JUDAH?”
NEHEMIAH 2:8 – “AND MAY I HAVE A LETTER TO ASAPH, KEEPER OF THE ROYAL PARK, SO HE WILL GIVE ME TIMBER TO MAKE BEAMS FOR THE GATES OF THE CITADEL BY THE TEMPLE AND FOR THE CITY WALL AND FOR THE RESIDENCE I WILL OCCUPY?” AND BECAUSE THE GRACIOUS HAND OF MY GOD WAS ON ME, THE KING GRANTED MY REQUESTS.”
The Promise of Provision (Cont.)
Nehemiah 2:4 – "A whispered prayer can open royal doors." (Nehemiah prayed silently before asking the king —his quiet faith moved powerful hands.)
Nehemiah 2:7 – "God gives you favor where you least expect it." (Nehemiah asked for safe passage from foreign rulers—and received it without resistance.)
Nehemiah 2:8 – "God can turn a stranger’s hand into your supply line." (The king provided timber for the work—provision came from outside the covenant community.)
III. The Problem with Division
•Nehemiah 4:1 – “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews,”
•Nehemiah 4:2 – “. . .and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble --- burned as they are?””
•Nehemiah 4:3 – “Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building---even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!””
•Jude 1:4 – “For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
The Problem with Division (Cont.)
•Mockery Can Mask Malice Nehemiah 4:1–3 shows how opposition often starts with ridicule—
•Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the builders to undermine confidence.
•Division doesn't always roar; sometimes it chuckles.
→ Beware of those who smile while sowing seeds of doubt—criticism
•cloaked in charm is still sabotage. Smiling faces sometimes tell lies!
•Not Everyone Among You Is For You Jude 1:4 warns that certain individuals "have crept in unnoticed" to
•distort truth and disrupt unity.
→ Some people don’t oppose vision from the outside—
•they infiltrate it from within, blending in while working against it.
IV. The Necessity of Revision
Nehemiah 6:14 – “Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.”
Nehemiah 6:15 – “So the wall was completed on the twentyfifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.”
•Discernment Requires Revision
•Nehemiah had to revise his understanding of alliances—Tobiah, Sanballat, and even some prophets were working against him.
→ When motives shift, so must the method. Revision isn't retreat —it's realignment with purpose.
The Necessity of Revision (Cont.)
•Stay Focused, Stay Faithful
•Even after revising his strategy, Nehemiah never lost sight of the goal: completing the wall. He didn’t let fear or false prophecy derail the vision.
→ Revision doesn't mean the vision has failed; it means you're mature enough to adjust without losing sight of the mission.
•When the Enemy Comes Among Us, Return to God
•Nehemiah's prayer in verse 14 reveals his response to betrayal —he turned to God, not gossip. Revision here meant turning inward and upward, not outward.
→ Sometimes revision is spiritual: when the enemy slips in, we must slip into prayer—because only God can reveal hearts and restore unity.
Component II. HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY
Human Responsibility
What God expects from us in casting the vision.
When it comes to making your vision stick, remember YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE.
Four Reasons Why Increasing Adhesiveness to Vision is Crucial
• Prevents Mission Drift
• Enhances Engagement and Buy In
• Creates Clarity and Alignment
• Sustains Momentum and Growth
There are six things one may do to significantly increase the adhesiveness of the vision
I. STATE THE VISION
If people don’t understand the vision, they won’t follow it.
"A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power." –Rev. Leon Sullivan, civil rights leader and pastor
Overly lengthy vision statements are often forgotten.
• Simple
• Clear
• Memorable
A study by NCLS (North Country Library Systems) Research found that 43% of Church attenders are fully confident, and 36% are partly confident, that their local church can achieve its vision goals or direction.
II. CAST THE VISION CONVINCINGLY
"Give light and people will find the way." – Ella Baker, civil rights activist
People embrace vision when they see why it matters.
• Define the Problem
• Offer a Solution
• Present a Reason
A compelling vision is more than a statement – it’s a story.
III. REPEAT THE VISION REGULARLY
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Vision diminishes over time –regular repetition is essential.
Reiterate the vision in various formats: sermons, bulletins, meetings via media.
• Public Presentations
• Traditional Letter/Email
• Reminders
Regularly communicating the vision can enhance congregants’ confidence in achieving it. (North Country Library Services)
IV. CELEBRATE THE VISION SYSTEMATICALLY
"Without community, there is no liberation." – Audre Lorde, writer and civil rights activist
• Use Notes, Letters and Social Media to Celebrate
• Constantly Cast the Vision
• Success Breeds Success –
Bishop L. Hunter
What gets celebrated gets repeated.
Sharing success stories reinforces the vision’s credibility.
V. EMBRACE THE VISION
PERSONALLY
"Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge."
– Rev. Jeffery Tribble, pastor and educator
Leaders must embody the vision to inspire others.
Authenticity in leadership fosters trust and commitment.
• Job Defined
• Believing –vs- Living
• Provide Honesty
VI. VISION SLIPPAGE INDICATORS
“I want to build something that lasts longer than me.” –Jay-Z
• Projects, Products and Programs
• Requests, Stories, Complaints
• Lack of Understanding
Vision isn’t just about short-term success; it’s about creating something meaningful and sustainable. (Nehemiah and the Jerusalem Project)
What
are you building today that will last beyond your immediate efforts?
CLOSING THOUGHT
•Making vision stick is about clarity, consistency, and connection.
•If we want to build something that lasts, we must ensure people not only see the vision but believe in it and take-action.
•
•“What steps can you take today to ensure your vision outlives you?”