Where Are You Going?
Three documents which can help establish
a clear direction for any team are:
- A Team Mission Statement
- A Team Vision Statement
- Team Success Criteria |

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A Team Mission Statement, which is a simple statements of purpose known by every member of
the team. It .......
| Provides a "reason for being".
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| Provides clarity and focus and makes choices.
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| Is clear and concise.
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| Is agreed by the wider organisation. |
Example : The Mission Appeal team
exists to raise funds for the mission work of the church in two Third World countries. By
holding special collections and appeals we will encourage those within and outside the
church family to regularly support such work.
A Team Vision Statement, which expresses the destination of the team in a way that builds
commitment to it. It .........
| Arises through prayer and has been bathed in prayer.
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| Creates a sense of desire and builds commitment.
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| Expresses God's challenge to the church.
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| Paints the ideal future.
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| Is an expression of faith and hope.
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| Is in line with the team's values. |
Example : By planting a new
neighbourhood church at the north end of our town, a number of families will come to
faith. Worship will be accessible and informal. We will have a practical concern for the
local community. A programme of nurture and teaching alongside a growing fellowship will
lead people into a deeper spiritual experience.
Team Success Criteria, which let you know when you have achieved what you set out to
do and are .........
| limited in number to those measures which will drive overall
success of the project.
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| specific and measurable - you know when they have been
achieved.
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| challenging, yet achievable. Meeting them gives a real
feeling of achievement. |
Example :
During the next twelve months, the Youth Group aims to :
- stage a weekend trip to Alton Towers
- raise £200 for the local handicapped trust
- lead worship in church once a quarter
- be cool enough to attract 10 new members.
Pause for
Thought : Does your team have a clear, written direction? If not, write down
your view of what the direction currently is, and share it with the team. If it has,
review whether team energy is currently in line with your stated aims. |
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