Its president, Stephen Macchia, told Massachusetts News that the building has brought him and his team a breath of fresh air. With the new building, Vision can run more leadership-training programs for pastors and lay people, giving them the guidance needed to build healthy New England churches. From these healthy churches, Christian renewal can sweep New England, says Macchia in his new book, Becoming a Healthy Church. The name was changed in 1997, Macchia said, to reflect the organization s vision of rebirth and renewal across New England. Vision serves as the region s leading resource for training and equipping pastors and churches for the work of evangelism and church renewal.
Vision is funded by membership contributions and supporting church sponsorships.
The new headquarters will enable Vision to expand the number of events held at its headquarters. For instance, at least 12,000 people are expected to attend Vision s new millennium conference in February 2000. This three-day meeting and gala, called the Congress, drew 11,500 people this year. Vision has held Congress meetings every year since 1960. It s going to have a party-feel, Macchia said of the Congress 2000.