The document describes The Acts 16:5 Initiative, a program by The Vital Churches Institute aimed at helping churches develop a defining vision. The initiative includes seminars on transformational and missional ministry for pastors and teams, vision teams to apply concepts from Acts 16:5, pastor clusters for support and accountability, and support from presbyteries. The program addresses challenges churches face from declining membership and trends in culture, and encourages shifting vision from present hopes to expecting a transformational future from God.

1. The Acts 16:5 Initiative
Develop a DefiningVision
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital ChurchesInstitute 901 Allegheny Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15233 412.246.4847 www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

2. ©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847 
www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

3. www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

4. The Acts 16:5 Initiative
Seminars – concepts of
transformational and
missional ministry – for
pastors and congregational
teams
Vision Team – meets with the
pastor and within the umbrella of
the Session to consider how to
apply Acts 16:5 concepts –
imaginative, initiative-taking,
respected people.
Pastor Clusters – groups
of four or five pastors that
meet for Word-Share-
Prayer and to offer
mutual encouragement
and accountability
Support from the presbytery and
the Vital Churches Institute team.
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

5. Awaken a High Expectation!
Ministry Design Module 1
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

6. Church size is not a factor
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

7. Some of the challenges
we face in the church
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

8. Source: General Social Survey

9. http://www.pcusa.org/media/uploads/research/pdfs/cs-2008.pdf
Figure 1. Membership Totals and Annual Percentage Change,
1983-2008

11. incline
recline
decline
http://kindpriddy.com/TeachachurchtoFishOct09.pdf

13. Where in the lifecycle is your
congregation? Which way is it moving?
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

14. Some of the challenges
we face in the culture
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

16. The condition of the culture
Manic
High velocity
Discontinuous
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

17. What are some changes you have
witnessed in our culture in the last five
years?
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

18. Post-Christendom
(post-Constantinian)
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

19. [In times of rapid change]
existing knowledge tends
to misdirect rather than
facilitate problem
resolution.
Michael Marquardt
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com

20. Make Vision Shift 1
Shift from your present hopes for your
congregation’s future to the high
expectation that God has a
transformational future for your church.
©2011 E. Stanley Ott: The Vital Churches Institute  901 Allegheny Ave  Pittsburgh, PA 15233  412.246.4847  www.vitalchurchesinstitute.com