A Metric Worth Pursuing

by Rev. Mark E. Tidsworth, Founder and Team Leader

How do we know we are being effective as a church?

Friends, I know you are struggling to make sense of the church world right now. Yes, if it seems like everything is shifting, then you are accurately understanding this current moment. In this current situation, motivated Christ-followers and church leaders are asking, “How are we doing as a church?” Those who aren’t asking this question have perhaps given up, while staying in place. Others are so overwhelmed, they don’t have the capacity to even ask. So, if you are asking about how your church is doing, you are privileged to be able to do so… count that as a good sign.

So, I have one word for you – transformation. This is a place we can stand, a guidance point for us as bodies of Christ. Amidst the swirl of activities and dynamics, here is a metric (though it’s far more than that) that draws us forward, giving us traction. This is a church purpose we can pursue the rest of our time here on planet earth.

In January, Pinnacle Leadership Press published Crossing Thresholds Prayer Guide, forty days of devotionals and prayers for churches preparing for discernment and visioning. Reflecting on this book, I can’t improve on the devotional published there on the subject of transformation. We are including it below, in hopes this stimulates your spiritual imaginations toward a metric worth pursuing.

Day 15 - What’s a Successful Church Look Like?

“The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. All the believers were united and shared everything. They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.”—Acts 2:42-47, CEB

Everyone who is involved in this Christian movement, everyone, is evaluating church nearly all the time. In fact, we each carry a picture, or perhaps a video, in our brains which visualizes what a successful church looks like and does. These images are formed over time, through experience, and influenced by too many dynamics to name or count. When our church experience aligns with these images, we resonate, responding with rejoicing, believing we are a successful church.

So, what do you see in your internalized images or videos? Before going further, let’s replace the word “successful” in this question with the word “effective.” What’s an effective church look like? How do you know when your church is being effective?

After serving as a pastor and then consulting with hundreds of churches, I can tell you that remaining mission-focused, pursuing our mission, is extremely challenging. Organizations in general tend to drift away from their mission as time goes by; churches too. The most common outcome is when churches drift into using their metrics to evaluate effectiveness. When their numbers are growing, when their finances are strong, and when their facilities are well maintained… then they are an effective church. Looking through this organizational metrics lens is the most common way to measure effectiveness. At the same time, churches can have positive results with their metrics, yet remain off-mission.

Look at the scripture from Acts above. We can see a metric (added new people daily) referenced in the last line. Yet, this seems to be an outcome from something else. As I read this passage, the word transformation comes to mind. Remarkable things are happening among these people. Clearly, they are being transformed from ordinary human beings into invigorated expressions of the Way of Jesus. So, one might say that an effective church, based on this passage, is one wherein people are transformed into vitalized disciples of Jesus. Often when this is happening in a church, their numbers will grow, but not always. I might suggest that when people are being transformed by, through, and into the Way of Jesus, then we are being an effective church.

Prayer Prompt – How’s it going in your church? How often do you observe life transformation taking place, hearing stories of how lives are changed? How much is your church pursuing life transformation with every participant? How much is transformation an expectation in your church? What is your church doing to encourage people to become transformed toward the likeness of Jesus Christ? Through prayerful reflection, please share your insights on the response page.