Vision

This is my personal vision statement and as such it is likely to always be in flux.

It is still very much a work in progress and some of the items listed may never come to be under my tenure – however I firmly believe that whilst this is a vision that directly affects / includes me it is also very much for the Church I attend.

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My Church (the Vine Christian Centre, Bridgend) currently has a few lines in our overall vision document outlining the idea behind a media centre or ministry. These are:

• To establish a “Media Centre”.
• To have a fully equipped recording and television studio so as to release top quality albums, to record programs that can be used by churches, home groups, TV, etc.
• To develop programmes for radio ministry.
• To package teaching / training packs for worship leaders and musicians.

However I fervently believe that the idea of media is so much more than this and as an indication here is a listing of some of areas I believe it covers – and in no particular order.

• Sound
• Publishing of Print Products (incl: magazines, flyers, resources, adverts, books, etc)
• Drama and related Arts
• Web Development
• Information Technology (IT) / Networking / Support
• Internet Cafe
• After School IT Club(s)
• IT Workshops
• Radio
• Script Writing
• Video / TV / New Media
• Duplication
• Training
• Co-ordinating of Resources
• Planning / Management

I can already hear some members of my Church cry “but some of these are already established ministries within our church” and on that I do agree. However, none of them have any line(s) of reporting (other than direct to the senior leadership team). Neither do they have any direct oversight nor a single source that understands their needs and can put forth a coherent position to the leadership.

I have no intention or desire of ‘taking over’ any established ministry but my heart is that they would want to work alongside myself and remove, or at least begin working towards alleviating any headaches they currently have – items such as organising regular ministry meetings, administration, establishing guidelines, job descriptions, facilitating training, events, rotas, etc. Again, none of this would be immediate but would be a gradual change – day to day the roles of sound tech or drama co-ordinator would not change, but the hassles and grief usually associated with some of the behind scene tasks would gradually ease allowing the people to concentrate solely on their God directed ministry.

I believe that we need to utilise our current skills more effectively and we certainly need to schedule them more effectively. I also believe we have vast hidden depths that are not being tapped in to and these need to be discovered, encouraged and nurtured.

In short I believe we need to clarify, quantify, recruit, train, promote and produce.

So why me?

I believe God has given me a unique set of talents (as have we all) that have taken time to mature. Since 2006 I have been ‘seeking God’ as to my next step with Him as I knew there was more in me to give and more that I could do. Over the last 6mths of 2006 there had been a growing sense of frustration at my lack of direction and lack of clarity especially in what God would have me do.

In early 2006 I was given a very clear word from God to “wait on Him”. As a part of this waiting I was instructed by God to release myself from all roles of responsibility and so after 10yrs as Head Usher (steward / helps) I stepped down from that position. At the time I wasn’t 100% sure why but I knew it was right – those closest to me had even commented on my being ‘tired of it’. In this they were right – I had wearied spiritually of knowing what to do and where to go with the ushers and needed to release myself from what had become a burden. I needed to get back to doing the best I could for God with the right heart attitude.

Additionally since stepping down I have also been released from running a small group (home cell / study group) and from my role as co-founder of our very own drama group (Spilt Wine – now also deceased) as well as other minor but significant roles.

I have faithfully served VCC for over 22yrs in one way or another and my stepping down was not about to change that. At the core of my soul and heart I am a servant and a giver and I always will be. And those that know me best, will know that I have some very definite ideas about what a servant is. Unfortunately at the time I was unable to communicate this effectively to those under my care. This all added to my frustration and sense of no longer being in the right role. If anybody wants to get a sense of what I am talking about then I can only recommend talking to me or reading “God’s Armorbearer” <sic> by Terry Nance.

All of this led me to feel most strongly that God was directing my growing frustration to the point where I would recognise it and say enough. Enough to actually do something about it and so I officially stepped away from the lead usher role (NB – a first for us, where a senior leader stepped down but stayed in the Church) and others and moved into a role of simply being a member of the Church but still serving in whatever capacity I could – specifically, remain as an usher under new leadership, doing the layout of the magazine and supporting the church in its IT needs. These are what they are and continue to allow me to be a servant of God to our leadership.

Since my word to wait I have continued to serve and continued to do what I do. However, along with change at work (I moved in to shift working), words from Derek Brown and various other aspects that all work together to ‘persuade me’ that I need to do more. I fin dthat now is the time to step back up to the plate and effectively stand back in the firing line for God and move into the next phase of my service to God.

This still doesn’t really answer why me though.

What can I offer?

• I am a servant at heart and want to glorify God in all I do.
• I am committed to the Vine, its vision and its leaders.
• I have >25yrs of real world, in the trenches, IT experience and knowledge.
• I am an inveterate fiddler and lover of gadgets.
• I easily assimilate and understand new ideas and technologies
• I love to share my knowledge and help those that need it, without charge or glory.
• I have a broad understanding of all the areas mentioned in my opening bullet list
• And in >60% of those areas I have a very strong practical knowledge
• More importantly, I have a passion for all things technical
• I have been or still am, involved with all listed departments at some stage in my life in the Vine.
• I am an effective organiser
• I can communicate my ideas clearly
• I am always willing to learn
• I am always looking at ways to improve myself and my church for God’s glory.
• I know what I can’t do and when to ask for help.

To conclude I would like to put forward my personal vision statement.

• I exist to serve my God.
• I am called to be a servant,
• I am called to be an armour and a standard bearer.
• I further believe that I am called to establish, facilitate and direct the Vine’s tech media ministry under the headship and authority of its leaders.

A Vision

To effectively enhance, complement and serve the worship, word, and pastoral ministries of the Vine Christian Centre.

To aid, direct, and inspire members in worship and attention to the word.

To assist in vision casting through professional sound, graphics, imagery, and videos.

To serve all departments to the best of my God given abilities

To reach the lost through media

As God enables me, I shall:

• Aim to perfect all that I do to an unprecedented creative and technical level.
• Employ Church resources to their full potential in services, conferences and the community.
• Adhere to industry standards and best practices whenever possible.
• To effectively manage all of the Church’s digital and technical needs.
• To assist in the creation of quality promotional and house materials.
• To actively push the Church forward into the 21st Century and to utilise new technology whenever possible.
• To continue to create, grow and, dream bigger.
• To oversee all aspects of Media and Technology

And finally:

Should it be deemed that I am not the right person for this role then I wholeheartedly agree to get behind and support whomever, to the very best of my God given abilities and talents.