How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  Isaiah 52:7 NKJV

Where there is no revelation of a God-given purpose, people run wild, they drift aimlessly, and cast off restraint, i.e., they live without spiritual discipline or a moral compass (Prov. 29:18). Why?—because they’re in a fog about the “who, the what, and the why” of their existence. Where there’s an absence of vision, no sense of purpose, no mental picture, no God inspired plan, then obedience to the Word of God becomes the light that burns off the fog (John 13:17; Psalm 119:105).

Every individual, organization, church, or ministry needs a sense of purpose, vision, and mission. These three indispensible words can be simply understood as follows: purpose describes why you exist and the reason for your being. Vision answers the question:  what you would like to become? And, mission answers: how you want to accomplish your vision (See Eph. 1:11; 3:11; Jer. 1:5; Jer. 29:11 NIV).

Proverbs teaches us that “wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars” (Prov. 9:1). Purpose precedes vision, and every vision that follows need “pillars”, i.e., strong upright support—spiritual columns or platforms on which the vision stands. The first “pillar” in our local church’s vision is Proclamation. The seven pillars as mentioned in Proverbs 9:1 doesn’t suggest that every vision or every “house” must have seven pillars. Rather, the number “seven” indicates complete and perfect support. Proclamation is the noun form of the verb to proclaim–two words in one: Pro and Claim. Pro means for or to be in favor of and claim means to affirm, maintain, or state as a fact (Webster).

Proclamation of a God-given purpose and vision necessitates “beautiful feet” on which to stand.  Beautiful feet always announces good news; it maintains that the kingdom of God is here and now (Mark 1:14-15). Proclamation is not condemnation or denunciation, but rather, it is the good news of God and His kingdom (Isa. 52:7; 61:1). You must make a stand to decide the pro before you can claim with respect to your life, marriage, career, or ministry. What is your proclamation about your purpose and vision? (Matt. 12:34-35). Are your feet ugly or do you have beautiful feet?