Budget or Vision:
Which One Pulls your Train? 

    
    Steve seems to present this budget vs. vision issue as an either/or proposition, but it is not all business or all faith. My friend Bo Mitchell put it this way: “When we use our brains, plan and look at resources, it is as if the fundraising process is unspiritual, but if we check our brains at the door, that seems to be spiritual.”

   I believe we are to trust God through the planning process of looking at historical giving, future probable giving, and projections of what we might expect God to provide—all the while living by faith. There is usually a tension between what business dominated boards can “see” and what visionary leaders “see.” It is our job to passionately persuade the board to approve what we think God is leading us to do.

   Right now, we are crafting next year’s budget for our ministry, including the most ambitious building project we’ve ever attempted. Our budget will be $3.5 million, but we’re proposing building a $7.5 million facility. With no plans or brochure, simply vision, the funds were committed to do this project. That may seem incongruous, but the donors to this project observed us for years being financially responsible and dedicated to this ministry.

   I knew Bill Bright for 30 years. He was a man of unbelievable vision and faith. Yes, key leaders from around the world would come together and lay out vision and then discuss finances—and I knew some of those leaders. Some of them were frustrated because they felt like the greatest obstacle in fulfilling many of these Great Commission dreams was the unwillingness of Crusade’s corporate headquarters to endorse them.

   But there’s a balance, and even visionary organizations must be business wise, and consider the practical issues that govern the vision. Even though Bill Bright dreamed big dreams that required big dollars, the business side of Crusade was there, not to dictate their ministry, but to keep the vision in check with their mission. I often say to my staff, “If you don’t do the business of ministry you will not long be in the ministry business.” Both vision and budget are essential.