What does success look like in ministry?

One of the occupational challenges of working in denominational administration is wrestling with statistics or trying to finding meaningful metrics for ministry. (Do alliterations get on your nerves?)

Nickels and noses are easy. You may have to find more sophisticated means of capturing attendance and offering data as your church grows, but every church needs some handle on these basic indicators. These two stats don't tell you everything but they do tell you something. Sometimes they are most useful as prompts to know which questions to ask next! For example: "Why is attendance up?" or "Why is giving down?"

OK, that's a starting point. We also have health indicators (NCD, etc.) that we can survey. There are also ratios that we consider such as baptisms to attendance (5% or better is considered positive).

But, I found myself working through success measures in light of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18ff) ... making disciples, baptizing them, teaching them to obey. What if our only measure of success was how well we were fulfilling the Great Commission?

But, how do you measure effectiveness in making disciples?

What if the only measure of that effectiveness was that those that you thought were disciples were themselves making disciples? In other words, the only way that you knew for sure that you had been effective was the the person you believe you'd discipled was in turn effectively making other disciples.

A disciple is "a learner." What are they learning? The Great Commission says they are learning to obey all the commands that Jesus taught...which ultimately results in discipling others to obey all the commands that Jesus taught....to live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ in increasing measure as they learn to obey.

So, could it be that measuring what really matters is ultimately about determining whether the people we are discipling (by example and word) are themselves discipling (by example and word) others ... (see 2 Timothy 2:2).

If that is the case, what do the results look like for most churches?

How many people in your ministry are, or have been, directly engaged in "making disciples" with the results evidenced by those other individuals being baptized, learning how to obey Christ in every area of their life and discipling others?

Is that true of 50% of your congregation? 25%? 10%? 5%? 2%?

If "disciple-making" disciples are the only measure of success in ministry, how am I doing? How is my church doing? What would I need to start doing differently? What needs to change in how we "do church?"

Or maybe it's just easier to count nickels and noses...

The Lion Chaser's Manifesto

Well, I'm enjoying some time off with my family but for those out there who are still blogging or even slogging through the dog days of summer, here's a quick take from Mark Batterson, pastor of National Community Church (Washington, DC). He was at Granger Community Church recently on his summer speaking tour and closed his session with the following "Lion Chaser's Manifesto":

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.

Set God-sized goals.

Pursue God-ordained passions.

Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.

Keep asking questions.

Keep making mistakes.

Keep seeking God.

Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.

Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.

Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.

Expand your horizons.

Accumulate experiences.

Consider the lilies.

Enjoy the journey.

Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can.

Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshipping what's right with God.

Burn sinful bridges.

Blaze a new trail.

Criticize by creating.

Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.

Don't try to be who you're not.

Be yourself.

Laugh at yourself.

Quit holding out.

Quit holding back.

Quit running away.

Chase the lion!"

posted by Mark Batterson (evotional.com)

Mark Wilson on Pastoring in a Small Town

Rev. Mark O. Wilson is an amazing pastor and equally gifted writer. If you haven't already bookmarked his blog, check out Revitalize Your Church.

Mark is a gift to The Wesleyan Church and a good friend for more than a decade. You'll enjoy his perspective on life and local church ministry. Here's one of his recent postings:

Seven Advantages of Pastoring in a Small Town

1. Everybody is connected to everybody. This means that when you help one person, you help the WHOLE community.

2. Word of mouth travels fast. Free advertising!

3. You don't have to be very good to be spectacular. There's not a lot of competition.

4. You can send a mass mailing to everybody and not go broke.

5. You can influence an entire community. The local "salt and light" impact of a thriving small town church is greater than a mega-church in metropolis.

6. Follow up is easier. "Seen Fred lately?" "Nope, but I'll call him this week."

7. When you earn their trust, they will rise up and bless you. Small town folks are loyal and their commitments run deep.
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Mark's growing church celebrated 49 baptisms last week and planted their first (but definitely not their last) church plant this past year.

Thank you, Mark, for staying on the edge of church ministry even while living on the edge of the Wisconsin wilderness!