Episode 215 - Your Dashboard: How to Make Your Vision as Urgent the Next Sunday

Jeremy shares an adventurous experience in South Africa where he went on a safari during winter, which was a refreshing change from Florida's heat. One of the highlights was witnessing a cheetah with a kill being chased off by baboons—a dramatic and unusual encounter that he plans to upload to YouTube. The story adds a personal touch to the episode, reflecting Jeremy's love for adventure.

Jeremy discusses attending the Global Methodist Church's general conference, a significant event held every six years that involves creating foundational documents and new articles of faith. He also recounts personal stories like his son's impressive handling of a rattlesnake and recent dove hunting, sharing exciting and humorous moments. A quick shout-out is given to Bishop Paul Lawler, emphasizing leadership and community connections.

The episode transitions into the core topic: completing the 'map level' of the church’s vision plan. The focus is on finite planning through 'dream' and 'dashboard.' The 'dream' involves visionary, long-term goals (5-10 years), while the 'dashboard' is a practical tool for measuring near-term progress (annual, semester, monthly, weekly). The conversation emphasizes that a clear, urgent dashboard helps align daily activities with long-term vision, making the future as immediate as next Sunday.

The hosts explore why a dashboard is essential in ministry, drawing parallels to emergency responders who operate without silos due to the urgency of their mission. A good dashboard keeps a church focused on important, non-urgent goals, helping avoid the tyranny of the urgent, and aligning weekly efforts with long-term vision. Jeremy provides practical insights on how to create effective dashboards, including measuring key metrics and setting semester goals to maintain momentum.

The discussion highlights the importance of regular rhythms—annual retreats, semester planning, monthly check-ins, and weekly updates—to keep the church on track toward its vision. Teams are encouraged to meet consistently, review progress with color-coded metrics, and adjust plans as needed. The episode emphasizes empowering one person to oversee the dashboard process to ensure accountability and sustained focus, illustrating that consistent discipline leads to exceeding goals.

Jeremy reflects on typical barriers such as insecurity, trying to do everything alone, and misaligned priorities. Practical advice includes delegating responsibilities, building accountability through structured meetings, and ensuring calendars reflect strategic priorities. The hosts discuss how intentional planning and breaking down big visions into achievable, urgent weekly or monthly tasks foster movement, even in busy ministry schedules.

Finally, the episode sums up the four key rhythms—annual retreat, semester planning, monthly review, and weekly check-ins—that keep the church aligned with its vision. Jeremy emphasizes the need for intentionality in these rhythms to sustain progress. The episode ends with encouragement to embrace simple, consistent routines, connecting the vision to daily church life, making the long-term future urgent and tangible.