Vision Within a Vision

We ran out of the gates with excitement. God had given us a vision. He had confirmed it through many, and we were ready to break wide open. On Sunday, November 6, 2022, we held our first service at our Gatlinburg, Tennessee, preaching point. We were thrilled to step into what we knew God had prepared for our church and this city, and we charged ahead with full force.

Have you ever received a vision from God and, in imagining the possibilities, jumped straight to the result, overlooking the process that led to it? I realized quickly, as the weeks went on, that getting to our home campus early on Sundays, squeezing in fellowship, meetings, and lunch, and then rushing to the next campus wasn’t quite what I had envisioned.

This city, outside of our main campus, has never had an Apostolic presence. It has been a city without a shepherd—no one breaking up the fallow ground, shaking the streets, or weeping for the lost. The burden we carried was heavy, and I longed for instant results. Surely, God would move quickly. But to my surprise, that’s not always how He works, though He’s always at work in the process.

Some weeks, exhaustion crept in, and I found myself questioning what we were even doing. I became so focused on the big vision that I failed to notice what God was doing along the way. Miracles were unfolding right in front of me, yet my eyes were fixed only on the final picture.

Then, God began to reveal a vision within a vision to me.

Although only a handful of people from the area attend—which, in itself, is an answer to prayer—we began integrating our young people into the services. They now make up almost the entire music team at this campus, from acoustic guitar and box drum to vocals. They also greet, fellowship, and help with the toddlers. They are the heart of this work.

One day, I looked around and reminded myself of the vision God had given us for this city; He gently said, “Yes, but look what I’m doing in the process.”

God is not only raising up a new church in this city; He’s raising up a new generation to fulfill it.

He gave me a vision within a vision.

No, it doesn’t look like the end result yet—but it’s spectacular to look around on a Sunday and see the next generation carrying the torch.

So, if you find yourself stuck between the promise and its fulfillment, ask God for clarity. Ask Him to help you see the miracles He’s performing in the process.

You might discover your vision within the vision.