Looking Back
This coming year Vision 100 will celebrate it’s 10th anniversary. The idea of building a church planting movement came out of discussions between John Sikkema, David Jones and Brian Vaatstra towards the end of 2001. The key strategy adopted at that time was to, by God’s grace, plant churches that plant churches, so that as many as possible hear the life saving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the 100 churches were planted each having in them an average of 200 people, then 10% of the population in Southern Tasmania will be in gospel-focussed Bible-believing churches and Christians will start to make a significant impact for Christ in our society. The five strategies adopted in 2001 still broadly describe the work of Vision 100 ten years later:
- Raise up leaders who are gifted and able to teach the Word of God
- Establish a ‘Gospel Patrons Society’ for raising funds for training
- Create opportunities for new church plants
- Provide training facilities, resources and personnel
- Network with like-minded gospel-oriented leaders and pastors
Ten years later, the movement has, by God’s grace and through prayer and preaching of the gospel, grown from two churches (Kingston and Crossroads) and two missions (Food for Thought city lunchtime outreach and the University Ministry) to eleven churches statewide (Crossroads, TBT, Cornerstone, Cornerstone Night Church, Mt Stuart, CRC Kingston, One Way, Bay, Summerleas, Redeemer, The Branch, Crowded House Spreyton) and two ministries (Focus, and University work.) We thank God for such growth, but realise that Christ desires much more from his church, and is ready to give it.
Last year we identified several dangers we needed to negotiate to remain in Christ and continue building the church in his strength through the Vision 100 movement.
(1) Keeping the network strong, gospel-focused and united
Network leaders have connected well over the last year through regular leaders prayer meetings. Mikey Lynch now meets with the younger leaders following Committee meetings. We have seen greater involvement of younger leaders in the work of the Committee. The Vision 100 Newsletters have been well received and the content widely appreciated.
The Ministry Challenge Conferences continue to be well attended and a good number each year continue to take on a ministry apprenticeship. The CBTE courses are supplementing this training in some churches.
Mikey and Brian traveled to Sydney this year to meet with students from our network who are currently studying, updating them on what happening in the Vision 100 Network.
(2) Losing the evangelistic edge
We need to encourage each other to maintain an evangelistic edge to our work. The mission (AFES & FOCUS) are focused strongly on this, but the churches easily slip into an ‘build’ focus . We are not as expectant as we once were, and we are too easily satisfied when we see growth happening through transfers. The excitement and urgency of the young people in Launceston should encourage us to stay keen and active in evangelism. The Tim Chester meeting in Campbelltown focusing on everyday pastoral care and everyday evangelism, and the ‘organic community’ ideas of Dave Lynch at Summerleas have encouraged evangelism in our churches.
(3) Prayer is the work
The prayer meetings held this year in the north and south while well-advertised, did not attract increased numbers. This should be a concern to us all. I would suggest that the busyness in the second half of the year (Ministry Challenge, Vision 100 Sunday, and Vision 100 leaders day) perhaps contributed a bit to ‘Vision 100’ overload and it may be better to hold the meeting in the first half of the year. We also need to do more to get local pastors to own this meeting.
(4) Bolder church planting endeavours
It is exciting to see Redeemer become established, and to hear the plans for the multiplication of house churches in Crossroads. But there is not the radical energy we might see in a ‘forward movement.’
There is no doubt that internally in our churches our people (and ministers) are bound by the shackles of materialism, comfort and security. These things occupy our people’s time more than the work of the gospel. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will break the chains and restraints that hold us back, and raise up those leaders who are fully sold to the cause of Christ.
(5) Balancing National & Local work
The work of Geneva Push (nationally) and Vision 100 (in the state) serve the local church well, contributing valuable resources and networking to the cause of the gospel locally. The balance is right at present, and provided we spread the work of these organisations around it should continue to be a great blessing to our local churches.
Vision 100 has funded several new works during the year including the Midlands Outreach and the Redeemer church plant. Funding will dry up unless we find fresh ways of raining moneys.
Vision 100 are pleased to report we have received a generous donation of IT equipment from local business 