Visioneering: Your Guide for Discovering and Maintaining Personal Vision by Andy Stanley is a revised and updated edition of his 1999 book with the same title. Andy defines a vision as, “. . . a clear and mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be’ (p. 20). He describes visioneering as “. . . the course one follows to make dreams a reality. . . . If I were to boil it down to a formula, it would look something like this:

VISIONEERING = INSPIRATION + CONVICTION + ACTION + DETERMINATION + COMPLETION” (p. 8).

Andy derives the principles of visioneering from the book of Nehemiah. These principles are applicable to a church or a secular organization and are beneficial for a group or an individual. He identifies several building blocks that he elucidates in the book:

1. A vision begins as a concern.
2. A vision does not necessarily require immediate action.
3. Pray for opportunities and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.
4. God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you.
5. What God originates, he orchestrates.
6.Walk before you talk; investigate before you initiate.
7. Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed now.
8. Cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time.
9. Don’t expect others to take greater risks or make greater sacrifices than you have.
10. Don’t confuse your plans with God’s vision.
11.Visions are refined – they don’t change; plans are revised – they rarely stay the same.
12. Respond to criticism with prayer, remembrance, and if necessary, a revision of the plan.
13.Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division.
14. Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority.
15. Don’t get distracted.
16. There is divine potential in all you envision to do.
17. The end of a God-ordained vision is God.
18. Maintaining a vision requires adherence to a set of core beliefs and behaviors.
19. Visions require constant attention.
20. Maintaining a vision requires bold leadership. (p. 17)

visioneer-2

Each chapter concludes with an application section enabling readers to apply these principles to their individual context. The book concludes with an excellent group discussion guide with helpful questions to summarize key principles. Visioneering is an excellent resource for anyone who desires to cast an inspiring and effective vision. (I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review).

RickAssociate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5