Every diabetic knows the value of monitoring blood sugar levels. The dieter knows the value of counting calories. We review bank and credit card statements. Hence, we monitor what we value. How about your church, your charitable organization or your service club?
Many churches are rooted in the past, losing parishioners year after year, holding onto traditional methods that don’t work, refusing to change procedures and pulling from previous year’s investments to pay for operating costs. Note these quotes from a recent review of church Annual reports.
“Unless we start to see some changes in our lives then I suspect that next year’s report will start the same as this one and the one before that – things have remained much the same” (Annual Report #30).
“Although regular opportunities are advertised almost no-one comes, a situation virtually unchanged for the past 17 years” (Annual Report #74).
“We have not welcomed anyone into membership or seen anyone baptized during this year. The outreach group, which should be an important channel and focus of our collective witness, is defunct” (Annual Report #84).
Monitoring is not just counting money, it is evaluating and ensuring that the resources, (budget, time, community influence, volunteer energy, buildings, staff, etc) are utilized effectively for God’s glory. It is an extreme minority of churches that attempt to monitor and evaluate to any standard of goals, results or Vision. A church program once initiated and operating has a tendency to continue forever with little regard for its effectiveness.
Phil Vischer, the creator of VeggieTales, tells in his book, Me, Myself, & Bob, about creating a ministry, building it to a million dollar corporation, then watching it disappear. His #1 recommendation for others is to, “Never lose sight of the numbers.”
Accomplishing God’s vision for you and your church requires a continual review to ensure targets are met.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach