Sabbaticals are all about spiritual, mental and physical renewal. A major contributor in accomplishing this goal is to devote a significant portion of time to a project that will have positive ministry impact. My research and study endeavor is focused on becoming more effective at developing servant leaders. 

I am devoting a lot of research time to aiding pastors in embracing what God is specifically calling them to do. Leaders are exponentially more effective when they can clearly articulate their vision. Most pastors and church leadership teams have a vision, but statistics and personal observations prove that less than 20% can paint the picture and receive buy-in from their congregations. 

For the past few days I have been reading and rereading Church Unique, by Will Mancini (Jossey-Bass, 2008). Mancini possesses a working understanding of our post-modern culture but refuses to discount the positive impact of the church growth movement on the Kingdom today.

His must read book (for pastors serious about reshaping and shepherding strong and healthy congregations) is divided into 4 sections: 

1.    Recasting Vision

2.    Clarifying Vision

3.    Articulating Vision

4.    Advancing Vision

 You’ll enjoy a quote found on page 33, “Take your pick: from the boomer power pastors of surburbia to the preaching punks of emergia and the collared intellectuals of liturgia, everyone wants to be missional. . . Church is not something you do or a place you go to, but what you are.”

Larry D. Dennis