The second step in the best vision clarity process for churches is helping your church name the horizon: the clear, compelling future God is calling you toward. Without it, even the best intentions stall out.
Have you ever tried following someone through fog? I remember one early morning hike up Quandary Peak in Colorado. We aimed to reach the tree line by sunrise, but the trail was covered in dense fog and mist. At times, visibility was so low that we had to link arms to stay on the path and guide each other forward.
You might hear a voice ahead or catch a glimpse of movement. But without clear direction, you hesitate. You slow your steps. You second-guess the path.
That’s exactly what happens when churches try to lead with an unclear or assumed vision.
Vision clarity is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
This step isn’t about clever slogans or abstract statements.
It’s about crafting a vivid picture of God’s preferred future for your church, a shared understanding your people can grasp, describe, and pursue together.
You’re not just asking, “What future actions should we take?”
You’re asking, “Where are we going? Why does it matter?”
Picture it like a storyline unfolding over time—starting where you are and stretching forward into the future God is calling you toward. That’s why, in the best vision clarity process for churches, we call this the Horizon Storyline (two components: short-term and long-range—storyline and horizon).
Think of your Mountaintop Vision as the high point on the map, something worth the climb. It’s not about perfection or arrival. It’s about direction. Mission, Values, Strategy, and Outcomes are about identity.
Think:
Your Mountaintop Vision will stir hearts and spark hope. The portrait will result in a WOW! It will feel real enough to pursue and bold enough to pray for.
Once the destination is named, pictured, and described, your church needs Milestones: visible markers of progress on the journey.
Milestones help:
They might look like:
The climb becomes doable when the path is broken into steps.
A truly vivid vision includes both heart and metrics, what people feel and what we can track.
🔹 Qualitative markers show up in transformative stories:
“I’ve never felt more connected to my faith.”
“My kids are excited to come to church again.”
“This community helped me heal.”
🔹 Quantitative markers show up in numbers:
Increased volunteer engagement, number of people engaging in conversations with neighbors, financial health, or percentage of members who are inviting others to join them in serving at church or in the commmunity…
You need both to lead with wisdom and unite a team. And, each member of your team, and your congregation, thinks differently. Their source of motivation is unique, too —some are energized by the measurable win, while others come alive imagining stories of restored families, deepened faith, and a neighborhood transformed by grace.
If your team can’t paint a picture or describe your church’s vision, they won’t be able to follow it, let alone run with it.
“If the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? ”
– 1 Corinthians 14:8 (Berean Standard Bible)
A vague vision invites passivity. A vivid vision fuels momentum.
When clarity is present:
Let’s make it practical.
Ask your team (or yourself):
If someone asked, “Where is your church headed in the next 3–5 years?”
Could you answer with clarity, confidence, and conviction in 2 minutes or less?
If not, don’t worry.
That’s not a failure, it’s a sign you’re ready for clarity.
Naming, picturing, and describing your Horizon is a sacred act of leadership.
It’s the second step in a tested process, the best vision clarity process for churches, that leads to shared ownership, sustained momentum, and Kingdom fruit.
📅 Want help getting started? Let’s talk.
I guide churches through the best vision clarity process for churches—with a Spirit-led and stakeholder-driven approach that lasts.
👉 Schedule your free Vision Discovery Call here
Let’s move forward—together.
