The vision cycle for Christian organizations.

No organization without a vision can flourish and grow. A vision, which might be more of a dream as of today, is what will motivate and keep the organization and its team to move ahead in the midst of various challenges one faces.

Many a times, this vision, usually clarified at establishment of the institution or organization is more of a narrow vision. Narrow in terms the impact one wants to see happening, in terms of the model and even at times in terms of the scope of what one can or should do. This is based on the narrow understanding of issues before getting in to be involved in issues at the ground.

Health care institutions established by mission organizations are a good example to study. In many locations, Missionaries has a vision of disease control, and curative services, as an entry point to preaching the gospel, and this has to be supported by generous donations from their parent churches so that free charity care can be provided.

As one creates the structures to take forward the vision, we end up creating institutions and organizational structures, and slowly the focus of the vision shifts to an institutional vision. This is a phase when one makes sure that the institutions are sustainable by setting in systems for the same. This is a very important phase, but a dangerous one. Important in terms of making sure those institutions are sustainable but dangerous in terms of potential of losing the vision for which the organization or institution was established.

Many Christian health care institutions have gone this path. With missionaries leaving, and support winding up, institutions were forced to become self-sustaining and had to create various systems for the same. Many ended up closing down some ended up becoming well run institutions, but somewhere in the process of sustainability, losing the original vision, even if this original was a narrow one.

It is imperative, that a re-visiting of vision and purpose be carried out at this crucial juncture, so that the original vision is not forgotten, at the same time, understanding the current context the vision is re-casted to be made relevant, for the context. This is a point in the cycle of the organization where, one will move from having a narrow vision to a broader vision – a broader understanding of why the organization is kept by God in this generation.

Health care institutions who have gone through this exercise have redefined their role as facilitators of transformation of the communities which they are involved with, using the institutions as a hub around which this broader vision is rolled out.

But having a broader vision without this vision being a shared vision is a dangerous recipe for failure. In todays’ context of resource crunch, no institution can survive by itself. Holding of hands and partnering with other institutions and organizations are key if we have to see the broader vision being rolled out. Working with other stake holders in the locations where we are, and developing a shared vision is not only for sustainability sake, but is part of the Kingdom of God mandate.

The Kingdom of God has only one Broad and Shared vision, the Kingdom vision of “Thy Kingdom come” the process of which has been inaugurated by Jesus. The rolling out of this Kingdom is through communities of people, institutions and organizations who will hold this shared vision together and work together as ambassadors of this King and His Kingdom in this world.

This should be the dream of every organisation and institution, that we are part of a network of individuals, churches and organizations who together hold the Kingdom vision and move together to see “Thy Kingdom Come”…