I recently read Church Unique to see what it had to offer to church planting. I met the author Will Mancini in Dallas at a training event and was impressed. After reading his book, I’m even more impressed. Church Unique is a must read for church planters and pastors alike. The title of the book is a bit of a giveaway. The thesis is that every church is unique. The book provides a detailed look at how to discover that uniqueness that God has built into each church. Mancini argues and I agree, that many churches have copied the vision from other more successful churches. This just never works. Each church is equipped with a unique set of gifts and talents and is located in a community with it own set of needs. Therefore each church should be unique.The most beneficial part of the book was Mancini’s discussion on the vision frame. The vision frame consists of four parts: 1. Missional Mandate (Mission Statement), Missional Motives (Values), Missional Map (Strategy or Assimilation Process), Missional Marks (What is a win? What does a disciple look like?). The idea is that the vision frame becomes the fixed boundary for the vision. The vision is a fluid, living thing that moves with the Vision Frame. This concept is helpful for church planters who are trying to establish healthy DNA and processes for the new church. It is also highly beneficial for existing churches who need a fresh look at how they function. I’ll be walking through this process with my church later this Summer.This book is full of gems and should be part of the toolbox for any pastor.
Posted on
Mon, April 20, 2009
by Doug Foltz