How To Write A Mission Statement (& Why You Need One)
Mission statements may feel corporate and you might wonder what role they have in a Christian’s life, but here’s the thing: if you do not have a clear destination and purpose for your time here on earth, life will just pass you by.
Apostle Paul talks about this concept in Hebrews 2:1: "So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” The Greek word here is an action word: pararrhyéō - to drift past a destination because pushed along by a current. It's a gradual process, and sometimes you don't even notice until you look around and don't recognize the person you've become or the life you live. The world will always tell you how to live with its promises of success, responsibilities, and happiness, so as Christians, we need to cling to the truth that anchors us in eternal purpose.
Because as followers of Christ, we all really have one singular mission: to know Christ and to make Him known. But how each one of us lives out that mission is unique to each individual and the work God has equipped him or her to do. So, for purposes of today’s exercise, think of it as writing your micro-mission statement under the general calling on a Christian’s life to make Christ known.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” -Luke 9:23
“Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 4:11
“As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” -Philippians 1:20
So, today let’s talk about what a mission statement is and how to write one that works for you. According to Investopedia, “A mission statement is used by a company to explain, in simple and concise terms, its purpose(s) for being. The statement is generally short, either a single sentence or a short paragraph…The statement reveals what the company does, how it does it, and why it does it.”
To start, take out a piece of paper and answer these two questions:
Why do you exist? Why does your work exist? What is the greater purpose, cause or passion behind your work?
What do you do in your work?
Write out your responses in bullet points or full sentences. Jot whatever comes to your mind and take your time doing this exercise, because the more you write out, the more clarity you’ll get.
Once you’re done, review your responses and circle or highlight the words that are repeated often or phrases that stand out to you the most. Leverage those words and phrases to start writing out a couple variations of mission statements.
As you do this exercise, here are a couple other tips to keep in mind:
Consider your spiritual gifts and talents. If you’re not sure what your spiritual gifts are, consider taking the Five-Fold Ministry Test and complete a Bible on spiritual gifts.
It’s going to take longer than you think to write a good mission statement for your work and/or life. You’ll be tempted to go with the first thing you write down but play around with the wording. Say it aloud. Try different phrasing combinations.
Test it out for three months to see if it works for you. If you write it and forget about it, or if you keep referencing it and it just doesn’t quite fit with what you actually do day to day, then you might need to revisit your mission statement and tailor it better to fit how you spend your days.
Decide what this mission statement will cover: ministry, work, life, family, home? Maybe you find a mission statement that covers all areas of your life, or maybe you write a separate mission statement for each of those areas. At the very least, this exercise is helpful for the work you do, whether you’re in a secular job, in full-time ministry, or a stay at home mom. Otherwise, we tend to keep up with the day to day tasks, go from job to job, and go through our days merely existing instead of thriving.
Does it make you excited? Is it something that will get you out of bed each morning eager to start the day? Does it come from the heart?
Make sure it involves everyone. Although it’s your mission statement, it’s not about you. As Christians, our lives are meant to be poured out in service to God and others, so the work we do can’t be selfish to make our name known but to make Him known.
Your mission statement should be short, clear and in writing. Try to keep it at one sentence and make sure it’s something you’re emotionally connected to so that it’s easy to remember. Use simple language but make it big and bold. Write it down and put it in a place where you’ll see it on a regular basis.
Memorize it and recite it often (daily if possible!).
Your mission statement should have two parts: the big why and your niche. First, is the greater purpose behind your work: something that lights your heart on fire, gets you excited and moves good into the world. It is the passion and cause that’s driving you and your work. What are you trying to do? For example, think of phrases like glorifying God, bringing people together, eliminating poverty or empowering women. Second, the niche is the actual work you do. Do you take photos? Do you write? Do you create something? Is there a service you provide?
Back it up with Scripture. Find Bible verses to support your mission statement, because any mission founded on the word of God will stand the test of time.
Talk this through with someone you trust and who knows you well. Sometimes, we don’t see our own light and strengths and it can be helpful for a third party to call out the good in us and remind us about what lights us up and what our work and days actually consist of.
Read through these examples of mission statements for inspiration, but don’t spend too much comparing your mission statement to others, otherwise we’re prone to copy and make someone else’s mission statement ours when girl, you were never meant to do what she does!
I know this might feel like a cheesy activity, but gaining clarity is worthy of your time. Invest time in this. Know why you show up every day do the work that you do. Whether you’re working at home raising kiddos or climbing the corporate ladder, have a mission statement that will keep your focus on the eternal and redeem your time.
It’s only fair then that I share mine. I wrote these two mission statements a couple years ago and will probably revisit them after writing this article, but I actually have two mission statements: one for my life and the other for my ministry:
Life Mission Statement: “I want to know Jesus more, and I want to bring other women along with me on this journey.”
Ministry Mission Statement: “To inspire, teach, and equip a generation of young women on noble character, rooted in His Word, fruitful in good works, and faithful in all things.”
For those who are especially observant, yes, my ministry mission statement mirrors the Tirzah mission statement!
Now, it’s your turn! Once you have your mission statement drafted, I’d love to hear it! You can comment it below or send me an email!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.