There simply is no substitute for careful planning. This year, the staff of Vision Forum spent the better part of the month considering what the Lord had taught us in 2003, considering the course He has set before us in 2004, and strategizing for the most effective way to aggressively, but wisely, use our gifts and resources to advance the mission He has given to us. The planning culminated in a two-day event in which each departmental head presented a PowerPoint on their department. I was so impressed by each of the men — everyone did a phenomenally professional job. Everyone had gone to great lengths to “take dominion” in their respective areas of responsibility. From beginning to end, the event was a blessing.

Delegation is crucial to success. Many leaders struggle with delegation. I used to struggle with it far more than I do now, but have learned that failure to delegate drastically limits the impact of ministry and prohibits men from growing and exercising their gifts. The key to delegation is to find the right kind of men. They must be competent and trustworthy. (In my book, honesty, loyalty, and general character are more important than experience. I have seen men of character rise to the occasion, but I find there is little satisfaction in the work of a competent man who is untrustworthy or lacking in character.) Once you find them, give them parameters, give them tools to be successful, set up a method of accountability, then let them shine. A man must feel like he can be a man. He needs the space to prove himself. If he can’t cut it, he should not be in the job. If he can cut it, give him space. While it might be necessary to give careful directions and oversight on special projects or on a case-by-case basis, micro-management is the death of any company because it causes the hearts of men to whither. I thank God regularly because He has given me the honor of working with men who are not only competent, but are scrupulously honest, loyal, and committed to the mission.

Director of operations, Kevin Turley (middle) once successfully ran four-star resort hotels, but when the Lord turned his heart to his family, he longed for a more family-friendly lifestyle. His addition to our staff has been a critical component of the Lord’s blessing on our work in 2003. Here he visits with Perry Coghlan (right), our outstanding director of fulfillment, and his counterpart, Sid Woodruff. All three of these men love Jesus Christ with all their hearts.

Good friends Joshua Phillips and Samuel Turley use one of the meeting breaks to experiment with Vision Forum products and set up toy soldiers.

After the meeting, some of us went down to El Mercado in old San Antonio to enjoy one of the great San Antonio Mexican restaurants.

San Antonio is a wonderful city. We just love it. There is a vibrant and diverse Hispanic culture, but one thing just about everybody loves are the mariachi bands which frequent San Antonio’s best Mexican restaurants.