Measuring What Matters Most

Measuring Ministry Effectiveness

What Matters Most?

Thomas C. Fillinger – IgniteUS, Inc.

August 05, 2014

Abstract – The church measures ministry in one dimensional terms; how many, how much, how often, etc. There is a better way. Ministry metrics must focus on the transformation of God’s people as measured in objective terms.

Developing Leadership Competence to Transform America’s Church
Introduction

What is the future of the local church in America? What does the church measure? What should we measure? This is a very important and a very urgent issue for all Pastors to address. Give specific and prayerful focus to the ministry you lead as you read this material. You can make a difference Pastor. God is delighted to use you in the role of leading change that transforms his people and honors Christ. In the USA among evangelical churches, 2% are growing by conversion growth. 14% are growing by transfer growth (sheep (sic) swapping). This means that 84% are declining.[1] Go to www.theamericanchurch.org and then read The American Church In Crisis by David Olson. You will discover current and accurate data related to the future of the American church. Let’s examine this phenomenon together and discover a process that will make a difference. God will use you to stem the decline, honor Christ and find great joy and satisfaction in ministry.

Biblical Mandate

The past fifty years provide evidence of an alarming distortion in the way the church determines effectiveness. Numbers - more is always better. How many? How much? How often? Denominational reports focus on numbers. Military chaplaincy appointments are based on the number of members a denomination reports. The “size” of a church assigns status to pastorates. Pastors often answer ‘the call’ to a new ministry because the compensation package is ‘greater’ at a ‘larger’ assembly. But, if we pull back the curtain and view actual attendance and active growing disciples as compared to “membership”, the discrepancy is glaring.[2] Numbers represent people, therefore, numbers are important. However, if we apply only a numerical standard, we deceive ourselves.[3] This is the worst form of deception, and dishonors the Lord of Glory.[4] The biblical mandate for effectiveness is transformation.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you….[5]

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind ….[6]

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the ‘more is better’ syndrome for determining effectiveness in the American church is captured in the recent statements by two pastors of a well known and influential evangelical ministry.

We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become ‘self feeders.’ We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.[7]

Our dream is that we fundamentally change the way we do church. That we take out a clean sheet of paper and we rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights, insights that are informed by research and rooted in Scripture. Our dream is really to discover what God is doing and how he’s asking us to transform this planet.[8]

Ed Stetzer, director of Life Way Research, recently addressed the issue of measuring ministry effectiveness when speaking at New Orleans Seminary.

Most churches love their traditions more than they love the lost. We lock ourselves into a self-affirming subculture.[9]

Is there a solution? Can the church be rescued from this self-imposed and deadly bondage? Good News! The answer to that question is a resounding YES! This will require two absolutely critical elements.

1. Courageous Leadership.
2. A clearly defined organizational and personal Transformation Process.[10]

There is no such thing as a “quick fix”. Genuine transformation is a process not an event. It is a journey requiring persistence and endurance. This dilemma does not yield to mere ‘programs’ or ‘fads’. This is for the courageous leader who understands the principle given to Israel as they prepared to enter the land - - it is our God who gives us the victory!

Hear O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.[11]

Journey to Effectiveness - - Leadership & Process

Leadership

King Asa provides a profile of a Courageous Leader.[12] We offer five simple observations concerning the circumstances Asa faced and the leadership he exercised.

1.      Asa faced perilous and difficult circumstances. (vv.4-6)

2.      Asa listened to the Prophet Azariah, an outside voice (vv.2, 8).

3.      Asa took courage that equipped and moved him to act, to create the ‘culture of obedience’ necessary to bring reform and blessing to the nation (vv.8-11).

4.      Asa established a covenant that required wholehearted participation by the people. They embraced a common purpose and pursued that purpose with singleness of heart, unity and passion (v.15).

5.      Asa removed opposition to reformation and genuine God-honoring worship (v.16).

Transforming a local church into a vibrant, healthy and obedient body that brings consistent measurable transformation to God’s people is a marathon, not a sprint, more ‘the tortoise’ than ‘the hare’. The process that follows is credible and has been proven in numerous ministry venues. It is principle based and may be applied in churches of various sizes and cultural settings.

Process

The first principle in accomplishing health and vitality is theological. It is the fruit of sound exegesis. Those responsible for leading change apply the word of God with precision and compassion to every aspect of ministry. Every ministry venue must contribute to accomplishing the church’s stated purpose. The church needs a sweeping movement of God that leads to the removal of the famine of hearing of the words of the LORD.[13] That, in and of itself, brings transformation.

Leaders, who apply this ‘first principle’ with integrity and a determination to accurately assess effectiveness, will be rewarded. They will not be ‘voting for themselves’. They will be equipped to measure ministry with the priorities inherent in transformation. Ministry shaped by sound exegesis and designed to produce transformation in God’s people secures God’s blessing. God uses surrendered[14] leaders in his church to initiate and direct this process.

Assessment is the process of intentional, systematic, objective and repeated evaluation of the current reality of your church.

Participants complete the Readiness Inventory.[15] In his book Good To Great, Jim Collins describes the Stockdale Paradox.[16] The leaders and the people begin the transformation process with a reliable portrait of their current reality. An important formula is introduced at this juncture and applied throughout the process - - P.I.E. Prayer. Information. Encouragement.

Character is the core of personhood and leadership. It is a crucial element for those leading the transformation process in the church.

Zenger and Folkman use the metaphor of a tent to describe the dynamics of leadership. Character is the center tent pole.[17] In this phase the pastor and key leaders complete a 360 instrument (The Servant Shepherd Leadership Inventory).[18] The character profile this produces serves as a virtual strategic pathway for the pastor and other leaders to follow in becoming more effective transformational leaders.[19] They are equipped to improve their leadership based on objective data drawn from historical ministry activity.

Team Building is the process of leading your church to minister in a collaborative, transparent and interdependent ministry structure.

Tragically, many pastors conduct ministry as the veritable ‘Lone Ranger’. The New Testament model calls for a plurality of leaders in each local church. Don’t do the work of twenty people. Recruit and train twenty people to do the work![20] Those included on these ministry teams accept ministry opportunities based upon ministry skills and their desire to serve in a given area. Leadership selection and development is a key component of this process. This team is responsible for adopting and applying the Effectiveness Criteria[21] designed to bring continual renewal to a local church. The members of the congregation provide the data for this continuous 360 assessment.

Structure in ministry is the establishment, organization, integration, resourcing and execution of ministry initiatives shaped by a common purpose.

In the transformation process it is important to change values before changing ministry structures. Values drive behavior. During this period the people begin to engage an intentional Spiritual Formation Process.[22] This provides the metric for personal transformation that the Effectiveness Criteria provides for corporate transformation. This process leads to changed values. The three previous components of this process are allotted one year. This phase usually requires twelve to eighteen months. Leaders prepare the congregation for the changes ahead, providing both the ‘what’ and ‘why’ which make change necessary. The individual member and the body as a whole are evaluated using objective biblical definitions of obedience and health. The church begins to embrace their faith and ministry as “Life in Community”.[23]

Engagement is the continuous process of your church as the body of Christ, being salt and light, confronting culture with compassion and resurrection power.

This phase is ongoing. The principles of objective evaluation conducted on a quarterly basis produce a biblical ministry model that thrives. Progress is not constant, but, it is consistent. This process provides a valid and beneficial platform upon which those who desire an objective evaluation of ministry may stand. This requires continuous evaluation of what is taking place in ministry and in the culture in which the ministry is conducted. Frequent assessment and the incorporation of essential changes keeps ministry fresh, vital and effective. There are numerous resources available to those who find the courage to lead God’s people on this journey.[24]

Conclusion

Pastor, is your ministry measured by the “ABC’s” (attendance – baptisms – cash) or biblical criteria drawn from the text of Scripture by prayerful diligent exegesis? Are the evaluations you conduct, if in fact there are any, ‘voting for yourself’ or, they assessing ministry as compared to credible objective standards? The transformation of God’s people and applying a reliable assessment of their growth is fundamental to orthodox biblical theism.[25] The good news is that God delights to bless leadership that is courageous, shaped by biblical purpose and measured by objective biblical standards. The challenge is to change the DNA, to reshape the values of the people you shepherd. The process described by design requires three years, probably four or five.  There are very real risks involved. It is a process requiring wisdom, courage and endurance.

When helping pastors face this challenge I often offer this aphorism – “Statistics are like prisoners. If you torture them long enough, they will say anything you want them to”. Our LORD and his church is worthy of so much more. We must apply a biblical metric because that is the directive our LORD gave us and as shepherds we are accountable to his standard.  We must measure ministry by transformation, not mere activity. Pastor, you can be a leader who measures ministry with objective and credible data. You now have the process. God provides the courage. You must provide the leadership. My prayer is that you begin this Christ-honoring journey to genuine effectiveness today.[26]

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[1]   Church Is A Team Sport, Jim Putnam, Baker Books, 2008, 249 pp.

[2] Locked From The Inside, World Magazine, Joel Belz, Oct. 29, 2005, Vol. 20, No. 42.  This article sounds the alarm on the decline and closing of multiple churches in America. The reader is encouraged to consult the statistics on this from any number of denominational identities. The Southern Baptist Convention, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, United Methodist Church, etc. all report dramatic discrepancies between active participants and posted membership. Additionally, even the membership numbers are declining at an accelerating rate.

[3]   2 Cor. 10:12.

[4]   Numbers Racket, World Magazine, December 1, 2007, Article by Warren Cole Smith, pp.26-27. This article provides data revealing some serious discrepancies in the number reported as attending numerous churches verses the real number. Quoting Dan Gilgoff, who covers the evangelical movement for US News & World Report, the article states . . . “megachurch pastors notoriously inflate membership.”

[5]  Matt. 28:19-20a.

[6]  Rom. 12:2a.

[7]  Comments of Pastor Bill Hybels, Willowcreek Community Church as cited by Bob Burney in a Salem Communications Network article titled A Shocking Confession from Willowcreek Community Church, October 30, 2007.

[8]  Ibid. Executive Pastor Greg Hawkins.

[9]  Ed Stetzer speaking at New Orleans Seminary as reported in a Baptist Press, article by Gary D. Myers, October 18, 2007.

[10]   The reader is invited to go to www.igniteus.net. That site provides a video series that includes an overview of the transformation process. The phases are reviewed and there are testimonies of pastors currently on the journey through this process.

[11]  Deut. 20:3-4.

[12]  2 Chronicles 15, a revival during perilous times under the leadership of King Asa.

[13]  Amos 8:11.

[14]  Cf. Luke 9:23.

[15]  This is an online instrument (www.igniteus.net) consisting of two parts. Section I measures the churches readiness to accept and embrace the change process. This is completed by the pastor and four members. Section II measures the Pastor’s readiness to lead that church through the transformation process. This is completed by the pastor and three peers in ministry. The scores are combined and evaluated in scoring ranges. There is a high correlation between the composite score and effectiveness in accomplishing genuine transformation. The inventory has validity and reliability.

[16]  Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time, confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be. Collins, Jim. Good to Great,  New York, NY, Harper Collins, 2001. p. 86.

[17]  Zenger, John H. & Folkman, Joseph. The Extraordinary Leader. McGraw Hill, New York, 2002. p. 12.

[18]  This is an online 360 process and includes 12-14 people; the pastor, superiors, peers, subordinates, staff, board members and people from the congregation. The results are delivered in a 45 page report complete with a breakdown of the responses by section and provides color graphs showing the results of each classification of contributor. The subject knows how his leadership is viewed by each classification of contributor. There are four categories evaluated; the Mental Model, Motives, Manner of Relating and Methods. The graphs provide details in thirteen specific areas. This instrument is fully normed. The participant’s scores are compared to all other pastors who have taken the instrument. The reader may go to www.boothco.com to view a sample of this instrument.

[19]   Herrington, Jim, Bonem, Mike, Furr, James H. Leading Congregational Change. San Francisco: Jossey Bass Publishers, 2000.  They provide a very beneficial comparison of transactional and transformational leadership, pp. 96-97.

[20] Eph. 4:12-16.

[21]  We provide an 85 page document that details the Fourteen Effectiveness Criteria. This process is based upon a guided metric. Each ministry area is assigned a ‘guided’ objective Likerd Scale score 0 - 7. The total process is graphed using an Excel Spread Sheet. This is shared with the congregation and they can ‘see’ where progress is being made and to what degree. The criteria include such issues as Worship, Leadership Selection, Leadership Development, Evangelism, Church Discipline, etc. Celebration is in order as consistent progress is made toward a truly healthy profile for the entire ministry.

[22]   Titled ‘Measuring What Matters Most’, this process places participants in one of four discipleship phases based upon their level of spiritual maturity. There are specific phase objectives and a curriculum to accomplish those objectives. Each participant evaluates themselves quarterly and also benefit from the input of two accountability partners. All terms and concepts in this process are clearly and biblically defined in an attempt to bring validity to measuring progress. This model is principle based and therefore lends itself to modification for application in a variety of ministry cultures.

[23]   Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. San Francisco: Harper Publishing, 1954.

[24]   Dever, Mark. 9 Marks of A Healthy Church. Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2004. McNair, Donald J. The Practices of a Healthy Church. Phillipsburg: PR Publishing, 1999.

[25]   Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York, NY: MacMillan Pub. Co., 1963. “Christianity without the living Christ is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” Pp. 62-63.

[26]   Eph. 5:13-16.

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