Developing a Vision Statement for the Luzo Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Jersey

Problem. The Luzo-Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Jersey had been working without a vision statement since its inception in the 1980s. As a result, the current departments of the church were not aligned with one another. Officials had spent money, time, and energy on programs and activities that would promote the departments individually, but they lacked a unified direction. The building needed to be demolished and rebuilt, the growth of the church was stagnated, and there were no intentional church growth planning. Methodology. The Luzo-Brazilian church worked toward the development of a shared vision. Shared vision is the result of a collaborative effort between the pastor, church leaders, and church members to find, through closeness with the Lord, His vision for the future of the church. Results. The development of a shared vision was effectively implemented. The shared vision proved to have a positive impact in the life of the church members and in the community as well. A five-year vision period was created, the church grew compared to the previous years without a vision and a new church was built. Conclusion. The shared vision for the church works because the members are seeking God’s guidance for the church that already belongs to God. God cares for the church more than anybody in this world; therefore, if the church members are committed to seek the Lord in prayer, confession, and obedience, God will reveal His will for the church and a vision will be born that will guide its future and it will bring Glory to the Author of the vision. It is a combined effort; all the church members should be involved in this process.