A young man stands on a field, armed with just a sling and five stones. To his back is an army of men, any one of whom should be standing in his place. Far in front of him stands a second army, prepared to conquer the land. Straight ahead stands a giant of a man, trained in the arts of war, and equipped and prepared to annihilate this young man and enslave the people this young man has stepped up to champion. A brief exchange of words ensues, the giant lumbers forward, and the young man RUNS at the giant. In a few moments a stone flies, a giant falls, and the tide turns, with the Israelite army rallying to a victory that rivals any scene from Braveheart.

What set this young man apart? What drove a young shepherd boy to become the champion of the people? Rewards were offered, including wealth and the daughter of the king as a wife. Accusations were thrown by those who should have been closest to him. But this was not what spurred this young man into greatness. David, the young man found in 1 Samuel 17, was driven by a desire to glorify God. He was a young man with a great mission, a great vision, and great values. A clear Mission Statement, Vision Statement, and Core Values Statement are also at the heart of every organization’s success. Let’s take a look at the differences between the three.

1. The Mission Statement. The Mission Statement lays out what you expect to achieve. It basically describes the overall purpose of your organization. In a few brief sentences, your mission statement captures the essence of your goals and the philosophies underlying them.

2. The Vision Statement. Your Vision Statement asks the question, “Where do we want to go?” What a vision statement shows is your inspiration, a painted picture of what you would like to achieve. A Japanese proverb states “vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare.” It is important to not confuse your vision statement with a road map. Achieving your plans definitely requires a series of steps, which is covered by your Mission Statement, strategic and tactical planning, etc. But when crafting your vision statement, let your imagination go, that’s how you truly capture your passion.

3. The Core Values Statement. While your Mission Statement gives a concise discourse on what you expect to achieve and your Vision Statement casts the big picture for the future, the Core Values highlight the qualities expected of both the ministry/company and the people who work there. Core values can help people to know what is right from wrong; they show how to go about fulfilling their goals and staying on the right path.

In the biblical account of David and Goliath, we are fortunate to have been given insight into the success of David, and how he came to be. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint David as the next king of Israel, David had a vision from God. It was the trust and motivation he had which led him to his victory. His mission was clearly laid out, which gave David the patience to allow things to occur in God’s time. And the core values that drove David are the very reason why today he is always referred to as a man after God’s own heart. It is so important to understand the mission, vision, and values God has given and ordained especially for you. Just like David, your vision is so important in your life to follow in the path God has for you. I will be discussing how to formulate a motivating Mission Statement, cast a bright Vision Statement, and identify your defining set of Core Values over the next several weeks.

Our little systems have their day;

They have their day

and cease to be;

They are but

broken lights of thee,

And thou, O Lord,

art more than they.

- Lord Tennyson, from In Memoriam