Vocabulary. How we say or express things is important. Important not just for clarity, but also for helping us to focus on what we are called to do and how we are called to carry out that calling. If we mix up the “how” with the “what”, we risk missing the mark of the right motivation and purpose of our good efforts.
There is a vision and there is a plan. A vision is that dream, that larger purpose that gets you out of bed every morning. A plan tells you how to carry out that vision in that context or situation your find yourself. To put it in other words, it puts ‘feet’ to the vision. A vision inspires, a plan actions.
A difficulty arises, as we said, when the vision and plan are made synonymous with one another; when they are used to mean more or less the same thing.
Two things happen when plans and vision are confused. First, we begin to think that we can make this project, this work, this vision happen. Self-sufficiency can easily rear its head and distract us from the Author, the Driver of His glory being declared to the nations. Nehemiah is a classic example of one whose heart was first captured by the vision, from which flowed a plan (Nehemiah 1 -2)
Second, we may think that a plan can be applied anywhere; that the vision can be worked out in the same way in Singapore as it was in Melbourne. A cursory reading of the book of Acts will help us see that God’s vision, God’s Gospel proclamation was explained, demonstrated and carried out in different ways, in different contexts and cultures.
World Team has a vision. It is clear and pushes us to rely solely on God to see it happen. World Team has numerous plans, innovative plans to carry out the vision. May God drive the vision deeper and deeper into our hearts, and may the fruit be actionable plans carried out by His Spirit’s work in us to declare His glory to the nations and see communities of believers raised up and multiplied!
Thoughts Along The Journey 
Amen! Well said. I appreciate this reflection. I think one additional problem in conflating the two is inaction. I find folks often strongly in one camp or the other. They often point fingers at the lack of either vision or action. The two aren’t easily married..except by the miraculous work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Nehemiah being a great example from scripture of what God has in mind in this area. May we be found fauthful in both vision and plan through His amazing Grace.
Thanks Gwen for furthering the discussion. And yes, a lot of discussion can always occur around vision and plans without needed follow through. We need to encourage one another more to see our plans that flow out of the vision God has given us to lead us to action.