Begin Where It Matters Most

Building Strategy on a Firm Foundation

Every fall, business leaders revisit goals, budgets, and forecasts. But before the spreadsheets and dashboards, wise leaders pause to ask a deeper question: What are we building on?

In Matthew 7, Jesus paints a vivid picture of two builders. One built on the rock, the other on sand. When storms came, as they always do, only one house stood firm. The difference wasn’t skill or resources. It was the foundation.

As Christian leaders, our businesses face similar choices. We can anchor our strategy in shifting sands like market trends, expediency, or short-term wins. Or we can root our leadership in the unshakable foundation of Christ, expressed through clarity of mission, vision, and values (MVVs).

Why MVVs Come First

In C12’s Strategic Planning Framework, the very first step is to look inward. Mission, vision, and values are not wall art or marketing copy. They are spiritual anchors that shape how we make decisions, guide our teams, and measure success.

Research backs this up. Gallup reports that only 41% of employees strongly agree they know what their company stands for. But when organizations clearly articulate and live out their mission and values, they see a 30% reduction in turnover and 19% higher profitability. A clear foundation isn’t just spiritually wise, it’s practically effective.

• Mission defines why we exist beyond making money.
  
  
• Vision paints a picture of where we’re headed.
  
  
• Values describe how we behave along the way.
  
  

Without clarity here, even the best business plans drift. With clarity, everything aligns: strategy, culture, and Kingdom impact.

A Modern-Day Reminder

In Numbers 15, God told His people to wear tassels on their garments as visible reminders to obey Him. They weren’t for fashion, they were for focus. In the same way, our MVVs serve as daily reminders of who we are and whom we serve.

When pressure mounts and culture shifts, MVVs keep us steady. They help us say yes to what matters and no to what distracts, even when the cost feels high.

From Words on a Wall to Culture in Motion

Strong MVVs are:

• Clear – simple, memorable, and understood by everyone.
  
  
• Inspiring – connecting daily work to a higher purpose.
  
  
• Authentic – reflecting what we truly believe and practice.
  
  

Weak MVVs may sound polished but lack depth. They don’t guide decisions when the stakes are high. Harvard Business Review warns that many strategic plans fail because leaders skip this critical “look inward” step, leaving them with strategies that sound good but collapse in practice. Clarity at the core sustains strength at the edges.

Strategic Planning as a Discipline

Strategic planning isn’t something you check off once and move on from; it’s a discipline to nurture and sustain over time. Much like a muscle, it develops as you work it, becoming stronger and more effective with each year of practice. With consistency, both the process and the results improve.

C12’s Strategic Planning Guide breaks the work into a clear five-step rhythm designed to be repeated annually. Whether you’re just beginning to lead planning sessions or have years of experience, this framework provides structure, tools, and thoughtful discussion prompts to help you and your team maximize the effectiveness of your strategic efforts.

For Christian business leaders, stewarding a company with excellence and in alignment with Business as a Ministry principles requires planning and execution. No matter where you are on the journey, this guide equips you to craft and carry out plans that build not only strong organizations but also Kingdom impact.

The Mid-Atlantic Opportunity

In the Mid-Atlantic, we are surrounded by leaders hungry for clarity, purpose, and eternal impact. Strategic planning season isn’t just about setting targets. It’s about making sure the compass we’re using points true north.

Forbes has found that organizations with well-communicated values are four times more likely to have engaged employees and twelve times more likely to achieve high performance. When MVVs are lived out, not just written down, they create a culture that inspires people, strengthens execution, and produces results that matter.

This fall, our C12 Forums are beginning with that first step: Look Inward. Because when our foundation is secure in Christ and our MVVs are clear, the rest of the plan doesn’t just drive growth, it creates lasting Kingdom impact.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3

A Call to Action

Start today by downloading C12’s Strategic Planning Guide and take the next step toward purposeful, lasting strategy.

Sources

• Gallup, State of the American Workplace, 2017.
• Michael E. Porter, What Is Strategy?, Harvard Business Review, 1996.
• Forbes, The ROI of Values-Driven Leadership, 2021.
• C12 Member Curriculum, September 2025.