Clarity Services: Vision Clarity
Beech Haven Church: From Fog to Focus
How Clarity Re-centered a Church, and Its Pastor, in Athens, Georgia
When Senior Pastor, Dr. Rob Tims, arrived at Beech Haven Church in Athens, Georgia, he stepped into a congregation that was healthy, historic, and highly respected. A mid-sized church in a bustling college town, Beech Haven had faithfully weathered decades of ministry and change. But as Rob began his role as senior pastor, he quickly realized something was missing: clarity.
The Challenge: A Comfortable Church Without Clear Direction
When Dr. Rob Tims stepped into the senior pastor role, he quickly recognized the weight of expectation. The church wasn’t in crisis, it was healthy and beloved. But it lacked a clear, unifying vision for the future.
“From the very first Sunday I preached in view of a call. People asked, ‘What’s your vision for the church?’ It wasn’t hostile. It was respectful. But it revealed something deeper. They were expecting a leader to show up with a vision—top-down, fully formed, ready to execute.”
Rob didn’t want to impose his own vision. He wanted to discover the church’s vision—with them. And that made all the difference. He had seen what happened when a leader attempted to cast vision alone: polite agreement, but no real momentum. This time, he wanted to invite the church into a process of discovery. Not just for buy-in, but for transformation.
The Solution: Discovering Clarity Together
Partnering with Auxano, Beech Haven began a Clarity First journey anchored in shared listening, strategic frameworks, and intentional alignment.
Instead of top-down vision casting, Rob stepped into a new posture: co-discerning alongside his congregation. Through guided conversations, sermon series, and collaborative sessions, the church surfaced a new mission, values, and outcomes.
I didn’t want to be the expert in the process. I wanted to be the pastor—learning alongside our people, listening to God with them. Auxano made that possible.”
From Unwavering Hope to Rooted and Reaching
Their new identity emerged through a powerful clarity campaign called Unwavering Hope.
Over the course of several months:
- A new missional rally cry was born out of their culture and city: Cultivating the unwavering hope of Jesus in every generation
- Life Groups aligned around outcomes-driven disciple-making
- Their disciple-moving strategy reshaped ministry planning at every level
- And a Vision Plan offered an exciting picture of God's better future: Rooted and Reaching to Send, Serve and Share Gospel conversations
Perhaps the most visible result? An unmissable wall map in the church lobby, filling up weekly with red pins—each one representing a real gospel conversation taking place across the Athens/Clarke County region.
The Impact: Clarity that Liberates
In the first three weeks of the gospel conversation initiative, over 150 pins were placed on the wall by people of all ages. Ministries began to realign. Leaders made more intentional decisions. New Life Groups launched. And the weight of direction no longer rested solely on Rob.
“Clarity is liberating. I wake up every day knowing what God has called us to do. I’m not guessing. I’m not carrying it all on my shoulders. Our people know it. Our team knows it. We’re moving together.”
The impact on his team has been equally significant. Every ministry now filters their ideas through the Vision Frame. Leaders propose initiatives with clarity and intentionality. Staff development is tied to strategic outcomes. Momentum is building—and it’s sustainable.
You Don’t Have to Lead Vision Alone
Beech Haven’s story is a reminder for every pastor who feels the pressure to have all the answers.
Through Auxano’s process, the church moved from fog to focus and from tradition to transformation.
Ready for a Similar Breakthrough?
If you’re carrying the weight of vision alone or your team isn’t fully aligned, Beech Haven’s story is a powerful reminder: you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.
Auxano’s Clarity First process can help you:
- Lead your team toward shared ownership of vision
- Align ministries around disciple-making outcomes
- Build a strategy rooted in your church’s unique calling