Catch The Vision

By Dr. Stan DeKoven

God has given a vision for His Church. The Church, God’s House, has been likened by many writers to a lighthouse.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vision Publishing
• Release date: Nov 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466160675

Dr. Stan DeKoven

Stan E. DeKoven, Ph.D., M.F.T is a licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist. San Diego, California, and a certified School Psychologist. Dr. DeKoven received his Bachelors degree in Psychology from San Diego State University, his Masters in Counseling from Webster University, and his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the Professional School of Psychological Studies. He has also completed a Bachelors and Masters in Theology, and his Doctorate in Ministry from Evangelical Theological Seminary. He is Founder and President of Vision International University: College and Graduate School Vision International Education Network 1115 D Street Ramona, CA 92065

Book preview

Catch the Vision

Dr. Stan DeKoven

Copyright 1996 by Stan E. DeKoven

Smashwords Edition

All rights in this book are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of the author except brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All scripture taken from the New American Standard Version of the Bible

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1115 D Street, Ramona CA 92065

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Introduction

God has given a vision for His Church. The Church, God’s House, has been likened by many writers to a lighthouse. The word lighthouse has different meanings, and paints a unique picture. It speaks most literally of a beacon light that will lead people to a place of safety. More spiritually, it will guide God’s people in the direction that they should walk for the fulfillment of their lives. The Church of Jesus Christ has been established as a beacon light in the local community, showing the world the way to God’s Kingdom.

Beacon lights are crucial since we live in a very broken, disturbed world. There are people all around us in our respective communities who are desperate to have what believers have residing in their hearts: the knowledge and the love of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. There is not one unsaved human being on earth who, if he could exchange hearts with you, would ever give your heart back. Your heart is filled with the love, purpose, and the vision of God. It is a lighthouse.

Also, the Church has been called into existence to be a hospital. Hospitals repair, restore the broken, and mend those who have been hurt or bruised, whether their injury was caused by their own stupidity, or by an accident of life. Most of us did not choose the families we were born into or the circumstances in which we were raised. We certainly didn’t choose our society. This world is filled with people who desperately need repair, restoration, and reconciliation. A hospital is designed in the natural world for this purpose. Good medicine tries to assist people back on their feet as quickly as possible. A hospital is not a place for long term care; it is designed to get patients healed and back out into the real world where they can resume a normal life.

Before people can have their various needs met, they need to have a vision of the possibility of healing and restoration, and/or of being a lighthouse, directing men and women to safety. A vision, seeing as God does, seeing beyond today into God’s purposes, is essential for non-believer and believer alike.

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