The Numbers Game

Every leader, no matter what your leading, should constantly be looking for ways to lead more effectively. One measuring stick for all organizations is growth. Did I have more customers, more profit, or more overall gains than the year before? But what about church?

Instantly when you hear about a "growing" church, you assume numerically. It's one of those things that every pastor asks pretty much any other pastor they meet, "how many people are in your church?" I equate it to when guys begin working out, someone will always ask you how much you bench, as if that is the beginning and end of all strength training. While it is important for churches to reach people, numbers alone are not always a sign of health. Take for instance the 500 lb lady recently featured in the news whose goal is to reach 1000 pounds. You can log onto her website to watch her eat............That is not healthy growth.

Another example, and the spark for writing this blog, was an interesting article i ran across concerning an animal shelter in Ontario. They bragged for years about having a 6% euthanasia rate, compared to other big city shelters that put down 50% or more of its animals. What they didn't tell you, was that in order to achieve that low rate, animals were kept alive in filthy living conditions with very little food, and many animals, while not euthanized, suffered a slow painful death from inadequately treated infections and disease.

They had become a slave to their 6% number and lost sight of what they were really there for......to help animals.

This is not an anti big church post. Healthy churches need to grow. A small church is not synonymous with a healthy church. However neither is just drawing a crowd. We could give away a new car every week and I'm pretty sure our numbers would swell, but is that healthy?

To me, the true sign of a healthy church is one that is experiencing growth numerically, but also spiritually. People should be able to come in to church one way, but grow in their walk with God over time. If there are no "unsaved" folks in your church that are dealing with some major sin issues, your not reaching enough people.

If people can continue to come to your church and never be uncomfortable in their sin or be challenged to change, it doesn't matter how many people come on sunday, your not growing.

Just a few thoughts I have milling in my head about the best way to love and disciple people into the kingdom, without always being hung up on numbers.

What do you think is a sign of a "healthy" church, leave a comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts.