Identifying Leaders: Vision

I was privileged to grow up under the ministry of probably the greatest visionary I have ever personally known.  His name was Dr. Bradley Price, and he came to Northside Baptist in Charlotte in 1990.  The Charlotte Observer reported on our big days at Northside, where 8,000 people would gather for the Spirit of Christmas service and receive a hot-cooked free meal.  Through my experiences with Dr. Price as a child, a youth, one called to ministry, and then a ministry intern, glory to God, I caught from him the passion for and ability to dream, to crystallize a vision, and to inspire others to see the dream also.
I just sort of thought everyone had that same passion and ability.  One day, I was sitting in a circle of pastors, and we were picking each other's brains for ideas and supporting one another in prayer.  One of my pastoral brothers asked, "Can anyone help me develop a vision for my church?  I've never been taught how to do that."  If a pink elephant had jumped up on the desk, I may not have been more surprised.  I just thought everyone knew this.  
Over the years, I have come to learn that the ability to "see" a vision for an organization, for a church, for a people, for a community and region, is something that is caught.  Sure, you can go out and buy Andy Stanley's book and others, but translating principles into practice is easier said than done.  Therefore, when it comes to recruiting and identifying leaders, and also hiring staff, look for those who demonstrate the ability to dream, to cast vision, and to build consensus around the dream.  I'm blessed that my Assistant Pastor has this ability, and, Lord willing, the successful candidate for the next pastoral position we fill will have it also.
Not long ago, I was speaking with a minister whose organization is thinking about buying our church property which is for sale.  As we talked together, it struck me.  This man has the ability to develop a vision.  It had been a long while since I had talked with someone in ministry with that ability, and it was so refreshing.  Such people are cut out of a little bit different cloth, it seems.  And if you have this ability, mentor others, so that they can catch it also.