How do you measure the success of an organization? Generally the answer is by its productivity, specifically financial productivity. What happens when the organization doesn't exist to generate profit? If the organization is a club you could calculate membership. But if you were to just recruit people to show up that didn't support the club's cause is that truly beneficial? So how do you measure the efficiency of a group of people committed to a common cause that doesn't produce monetary income? You would look at its cause. Is the group moving toward its goal?
Now to be more specific, how do you measure the success of a ministry? In the case of a conventional church, home church, youth group or outreach ministry would you consider its fiscal income? That would be a very sad measuring stick of efficiency. Do you assess the attendance? Of course, but does that truly convey whether a ministry is healthy or not? You could push and push committed attendees to recruit others. Do you truly think that leaders should drive for high turnout in hopes of reaching a small portion of them?
I'm a product of a military family and an outdoorswoman. In a case of do or die, would the sniper or hunter fire a swarm of shots in hopes of hitting a target or two? No; he (or she) would take the time and square up a clean shot because it's effective and it's the right thing. No man of integrity in war or game would risk hurting any innocuous bystander.
In the context of ministry, should we assemble masses in hopes of assisting a handful in encountering God? What about the rest of them? They remain unconnected, unengaged and more often than not they end up hurt. According to a Barna research study done in 2008, more than three quarters of Americans feel that Christians are hypocritical and old fashioned. A whopping 87% thought Christians are judgmental. In fact the same study showed that among church attendees, only 41% were contented with the relational connectivity at their church.
If one ministry has 2,000 people, another 300 and an additional group has 30 and the end result of each is that 20 people are saved, then which is truly more effective? I'm sick of the quantity of empty seats being of higher concern than the quantity of empty hearts. "Christians" we call our selves? The Christ I read about in God's word got in a boat after preaching to thousands to spend time teaching twelve. He knew that by pouring into those twelve, He would reach the world. He went and called these men from where they worked and lived to be in relationship with Him. How arrogant are we that we think inviting someone to our church building over and over is good enough? Do you honestly think it was comfortable for Paul to reach out to the very people he was trying to kill? I would venture to say not. Take the plank out of your eye; go into all the world and for goodness sake please learn to associate with the humble. I wish we would stop depending on church programs and light shows to draw people to Christ. Our heavenly Father is more beautiful that we could ever make Him out to be. So let's just go be all things to all people, shall we?
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