Our Vision, part 2: "Finding our 'WHY'"

Have you ever had one of those days when you wonder why you bothered to get out of bed!? Or maybe you’re aware of those days when you’re just grateful you woke up.
Some days I find it easy to roll out of bed when the early alarm clock goes off. Those are the days where I know I have purpose and there’s a reason to it: To get to the airport for that early flight to go on that long-awaited holiday; To get to school in time to do that early morning assembly; To meet that friend for breakfast because it’s the only time you can seem to fit in getting together due to the busy-ness of life…

​That’s what having vision is all about.

Nigel Pimlott from the Learning Network helped us in our vision setting as we came together as two circuits both as a large group by facilitating our vision day (when we gathered in Bestwood Park Church to discern what we’re all about) and by working with a smaller group of us as part of the Transformational Leaders’ Learning Community (TLLC) for the last 3 years.

Nigel led us through a process based on “The Golden Circle” work by Simon Sinek (“Start with Why:2009” and “Find Your Why:2019”) to help us find our “why.” Knowing your “Why” is about knowing your purpose, cause or belief - the very reason we exist. Personally and collectively we were encouraged to work out what motivates and drives us, what our contribution and impact is supposed to be. Knowing our “why” is what will enable us to discern the “whats” and “hows” of the process.*

​Eventually a “why” should fit into the format:

“I get up in the morning TO ……………………….. (This is the Contribution)
SO THAT …………………………………………….. (This is the Impact).“

We discerned that “we, the Nottingham North East Circuit of the Methodist Church, get up in the morning to help our churches share God’s love so that lives are transformed in our communities.”

Or in five words we’re all about “Equipping Transformation through God’s Love.”

I wonder what your personal “why” is?
I wonder if you know the “why” of the organisations you are part of?
I wonder if we are clear on our “why” as churches?
What is the contribution do we seek to make when you get up in the morning?
What impact are we hoping to see as a result of our contributions?

Some of the churches in our circuit know their “why” and are working on the “what” and “how” effectively. Other churches are perhaps less clear on the “why” but still working on the “what” and “how”.
In the coming months we’re going to be helping our churches discern their “why” and to make sure that their “whats” and “hows” line up with their vision accordingly so that we can be more effective at seeing transformation through God’s love.


*You can work through some of the process for yourself and alongside your church here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/22628/golden-circles-website.pdf