Church Unique

Written by church consultant Will Mancini expert on a new kind of visioning process to help churches develop a stunningly unique model of ministry that leads to redemptive movement. He guides churches away from an internal focus to emphasize participation in their community and surrounding culture. In this important book, Mancini offers an approach for rethinking what it means to lead with clarity as a visionary. Mancini explains that each church has a culture that reflects its particular values, thoughts, attitudes, and actions and shows how church leaders can unlock their church's individual DNA and unleash their congregation's one-of-a-kind potential.

About Leadership Network xvii Foreword xix Introduction xxi PART ONE Recasting Vision 1. Unoriginal Sin: Neglecting Uniqueness 5 2. The Fall of Strategic Planning: Obscuring the Essence 17 3. The Iniquity of Church Growth: Caging the Kingdom 27 4. Lost Congregations: How Churches Adapt to the Vision Vacuum 40 PART TWO Clarifying Vision 5. The Good News of Clarity: Why Believe in Vision Today? 51 6. Clarity Pre-Evangelism: Softening Your Heart for Clarity 61 7. The Alpha and Omega of Clarity: The Ultimate Source of Vision 69 8. Hear the Cloud of Witnesses: Learning from Vision Legacies 75 9. Discover Your Kingdom Concept: How to Ascertain Vision 83 10. Take a Closer Look: Navigating Your Discovery Process 99 PART THREE Articulating Vision 11. See with New Eyes: Defining Your Vision Frame 111 12. Carry the Holy Orders: Mission as Missional Mandate 119 13. Feel the Common Heartbeat: Values as Missional Motives 128 14. Show Me the Way: Strategy as Missional Map 136 15. Talk the Walk: Measures as Missional Life Marks 151 16. Frame the Future: Preparing for a Vision Lifestyle 164 17. Speak with New Tongues: Articulating Vision Proper 178 PART FOUR Advancing Vision 18. Wage War Against the Status Quo: From Articulation to Traction 197 19. Meet Long in the Upper Room: The Secret of Attunement 207 20. Transform the Future: Delivering Vision Daily Parting Thoughts 215 21. Resurrect Your Uniqueness: If You Copy Someone Else’s Vision, Who Will Accomplish Yours? 234 Appendix A Logos and Strategy Icon Examples 237 Appendix B Vision Path Examples 243 Notes 247 Bibliography 255 Acknowledgments 259 About the Author 261 Index 263