How do you measure success in ministry?
That question has been echoing in my mind since a panel discussion at The Nova Experience a few weeks ago. One of my fellow panelists quoted Dallas Willard. "What if we stopped counting the number of people who attend and weighed them instead?" If only there was a discipleship scale!
Please don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with counting. Every number represents an eternal soul of inestimable value. And faithfulness and fruitfulness are directly proportional. But I'm concerned that all too often we reduce success in ministry to attendance numbers and budget numbers. I'm not sure those are the only measures or best measures.
For the record, the only number goal we've ever set is missions giving.
Too often we fall into the comparison trap in ministry. And that only leads down one of two paths: pride or jealousy. And both of those paths will destroy you!
One of my fall-back verses has always been I Corinthians 3:6. Paul was dealing with some comparisons that were being made. And he came to this conclusion: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase."
Just thinking out loud.
That question has been echoing in my mind since a panel discussion at The Nova Experience a few weeks ago. One of my fellow panelists quoted Dallas Willard. "What if we stopped counting the number of people who attend and weighed them instead?" If only there was a discipleship scale!
Please don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with counting. Every number represents an eternal soul of inestimable value. And faithfulness and fruitfulness are directly proportional. But I'm concerned that all too often we reduce success in ministry to attendance numbers and budget numbers. I'm not sure those are the only measures or best measures.
For the record, the only number goal we've ever set is missions giving.
Too often we fall into the comparison trap in ministry. And that only leads down one of two paths: pride or jealousy. And both of those paths will destroy you!
One of my fall-back verses has always been I Corinthians 3:6. Paul was dealing with some comparisons that were being made. And he came to this conclusion: "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God gave the increase."
Just thinking out loud.
11 Comments:
At a recent staff meeting we were asked to propose just 1 metric we should count for 2009. What would it be? Suggestions included:
80% participation in small groups
60% involvement in missions
60% tithing
50% involved in discipleship
365 salvations (1/day of the yr)
Then a last one was proposed: everyone lead one. If every person shared their Christ story and led 1 person to a life-changing relationship with Jesus...
Everyone would be involved in discipleship - because the next morning that person has questions about following Jesus. Everyone would realize the value of community and groups. Pursuit of Jesus results in transformation that addresses everything else...and everyone would be on mission then. By making it an individual not a corporate goal, it also requires everyone to engage and cannot be satisfied by an event or small pools of overachievers.
We've decided to make the entire focus of 2009 "One Story, One Life." We'll still track other stuff for personal management, but our team and church focus will be to build, equip, pursue, celebrate and see everyone lead one. Our staff retreats will be about strategizing how to best support that singular goal, and eliminating unnecessary distractions.
Here's to the Year of the ONE!
The only way to answer the question of success is to first answer the question of vision. If the vision is to make disciples, then success is easy to measure because it looks just like parenting: When you've effectively raised some "kids" who are now functioning as responsible "adults" (who are ready and able to raise their own kids), then that's success. How many times you do that is irrelevant in terms of measurement (but not in terms of souls, obviously). Doing it is the point.
Wow! As a Youth Pastor I have labored and led many to Christ, and poured out and prayed over and made disciples... and then someone says how many are in your group... and you say twenty... twenty five or fifty... and the response could deflate those who are running the race... and then they ask the question.. why isnt your group growing? In my head I think why isnt your church growing? But I say nothing and I go back to praying and pouring and making disciples for the Kingdom.. and then I send them off to Bible College, to the Mission Field, to Wyam... to the ends of the earth... what number determines success... one
I've been helped by Hugh Halter's "New Missional Report Card." I'm somewhere between the "attractional" and "incarnational" approach, and I've found this to be worthwhile...here are some metrics he uses:
1) Number of new relationships formed where I know their names and they know mine.
2) Number of people who have been uniquely blessed by me and my community.
3) Number of people who invite me to be with their friends who don’t follow Christ.
4) Number of ways, my street, neighborhood, or community are more livable because of my influence.
5) Number of Christians that are actively confronting their consumerism and making adjustments at the life level.
6) Number of Christians that I ask or persuade NOT to go on mission with us.
7) Number of incarnational communities that commit to form around benevolent action instead of just a bible study.
8) How long people remain at our weekly gathering after the formalities are over.
9) Number of community-based initiatives our people are supporting with their time or money.
10) Number of young leaders we’re intentionally developing.
11) Number of people baptized: Still is a great guide to judge a persons commitment to follow Christ with the community.
12) Number of Bibles purchased because someone asked for one.
Gotta say that the comments on this post are better than the post. So insightful and practical.
Thanks!
Mark
I recently heard len sweet say don't count people, count stories
I love what you're saying here Mark, but I'm curious as can be.
You are an amazing leader, and are at the helm of an amazing organization.
What do you measure? How do you quantify success?
Kirk,
We measure everything :) We certainly track attendance numbers and budget numbers. And I'm not saying they aren't significant. I know you know that that :) I just think that most pastors hang their self-image on those things.
A few measures that are critical to us: 1) missions giving 2) baptisms 3) involvement in small groups.
There are some others, but those three are huge.
Mark
I don't think you can underestimate the value of tracking, the only real question is what to do with the numbers you get. ie, which ones to drive after and which ones to just track.
Being from the great state of Minnesota I have always remembered a challenge by our DS, Clarence St. John. As pastors we are called to pastor not only our church but the community as a whole.
Some times I may get discouraged by how many people "show up" for church on Sundays. It's then I remember my call to the commmunity. This makes me get out of the office on Monday and go out and connect with the "parishioners" who haven't come to us yet.
It's been a great piece of advice!
My pastor (Noah Kaye) linked to this post in his blog, just so you know why I'm coming out of the blue as it were.
I love Paul's statement on planting and watering. I think that is THE seminal verse for church growth. We are meant to be gardeners. Gardeners don't make things grow, they tend gardens. They do everything they can to make sure that the garden is healthy and then let God do the growing.
I've also seen that growth is not just a one dimensional thing. In any healthy church there will be seasons of growth in width (numbers) as well as in depth (discipleship), often alternating. The only true measure of growth is the area (width times depth).
Numbers is the only growth that is easy to measure so, sadly, it is the one that most of us focus on. This becomes a real problem when we focus on it to the exclusion of more important things, like truth and the Word. Turn on the TV and you'll see that it's really easy to grow in numbers - just sell out the Gospel and tell the people what they want to hear.
Gardening is hard work, but it is the only way to bring healthy growth. It also takes lots of patience. But the good news is that God takes care of the really hard work - changing hearts.
Pastors, don't bear a burden you were never meant to bear. Don't try to grow numbers or change hearts; let God do that. Tend your garden - plant seeds, water liberally and pull weeds (un-Biblical ideas). Free yourself from the burden only God can carry and be free to tend your garden with joy.
(Sorry, this one got long.)
ybic
Kevin
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