Captured by Vision

Great

This book is a must for Christian leaders and pastors. George lists 101 insights necessary for one to understand if he or she is determined to be led by God's vision. The insights in this book should be readily available and read on many occasions by Christian laymen and leaders. To quote Mr. Bullard, "Only God's empowering vision will be sufficient for your congregation."

Great book for pastors and congregations who are seeking to follow God. This book helps you know how to lead your whole congregation to catch God’s vision for them.

For any church leader wishing to lead the church in discovering or re-discovering God's vision, this book is a must

“Vision is a movement of God that is memorable rather than a statement of humankind that is memorized.” [pg. 5]With those words, George Bullard states the first of 101 points in guiding churches to find “God’s empowering vision.” Each “insight” stands alone as a powerful idea. Together, they produce a clear process for churches wanting to discover (or rediscover) their vision.Bullard demonstrates clearly why a single pastor cannot dictate a church’s unifying direction in following God’s call. Instead, visioning requires a movement in the church body. Bullard’s insights connect to the Bible, to sound leadership principles, to relational issues, and to practical matters. He lays out a clear strategy for how a church can walk together through the season of discernment, commitment to new direction, and launch a new future.“Vision is not the pastor pushing the congregation forward. It is allowing the congregation to be pulled forward by God.” [pg. 3]The challenges of pursuing God’s empowering vision are considered, too. A church can be too small, or too old (set in their ways), or unable to get 21% (Bullard’s minimum) of a core group on board with the process. Bullard continues by warning that visioning is not a one-time phenomenon. It takes considerable patience to walk through a thorough process. Sometimes, it must wait until other things are cared for. Sometimes, it must be broken up into pieces that are separated by time. In addition, progress must be celebrated constantly, and progress must be meaningful, or it will be lost. The biggest challenge, however, is growing a church into an envisioning culture by repeating this process every seven years.Negative urgency is for the congregations who want to fix what is wrong with them. Positive urgency is for congregations who desire to soar with faith into a future toward which God is pulling them. [pg. 113]Captured by Vision is a book to be read quickly, then reread slowly and deliberately, and then studied together by a whole church (at least that 21% of key members). It is the single best book I have read on helping churches discover their vision.[My review from THE BAPTIST STANDARD's book reviews on March 15, 2017]

"We know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two," says the Farmers Insurance commercial. CAPTURED BY VISION is a wise companion for church leaders because George Bullard has seen 101 things about congregational vision firsthand.George's vast experience takes readers on a grand pilgrimage into how vision is found and followed. Some of George's insights are surprises, some are counter-intuitive, but all feed leaders' spirits. There are too many guidelines to master quickly, so let CAPTURED BY VISION soak in slowly and deeply. It will open your eyes and heart to God's future for your church.

An insightful book that keeps you focused and gives you hope. Vision is a team effort (not egocentric); arises from spiritual discernment (not brainstorming); results in spiritual vitality and mission (not bland statements and institutional survival). These insights and much more awaits your discovery in this practical book to help churches live into God’s future.Among his uniquely useful insights, George reaches into his long experience to coach how churches renew vision over the years. And he identifies not only what helps you move forward, but what holds you back. This is an essential resource for congregational and regional leaders.Thomas G. Bandy

George Bullard is the premier church consultant of his generation. Forty years of work with every imaginable kind of congregation and church organization has uniquely qualified him and blessed him with hard-won wisdom. You hold in your hands a marvelous distillation of that wisdom! Read this book carefully, reflect on it, allow it to get inside you and your congregation, and it will transform you. I commend this book to every Christian leader, clergy and lay, who wants to see congregations grow and thrive in faithfulness and effectiveness.

George takes what is sometimes a misunderstood concept in congregational life and leadership - this thing called "vision" - and frames it in a simple yet Biblically grounded way.With 40+ years of experience consulting with congregations of all sizes and shapes, George has learned a tremendous amount about what actually works when it comes to helping congregations discover God's vision. The main take away for me is that true vision is something that captures us not something we dream up, write down, then try to sell to the congregation.