How’s church going?

And I don’t mean, “Whatcha running?”

If you’re a pastor, you get this question quite often. How do you typically answer?

I responded “pretty good” about five thousand times while leading Woodstock City Church.

My friends asked me this question. Other pastors asked. Attendees asked. My small group asked. Everyone asked.

My “pretty good” response satisfied most people. Honestly, they were mostly being kind. Like the age-old question, “How are you?” Nobody expects an honest answer.

But you’re not an average pastor. And I’m not the average asker.

So, how’s church going, really?

How Do You Evaluate Church Success?

We can define church success through many objective and subjective metrics. Dashboards tell one story, although not the entire story. Actual stories tell part of the story, too. But still, not the whole story.

Unfortunately, if seats are full and the bills get paid, most pastors feel the church is succeeding. Full rooms and bank accounts can hide a multitude of failures.

To answer our question, we need a benchmark for success. For your church, what is success?

If your church’s mission is to fill seats or raise money, you may be succeeding. If your mission is God’s mission for the church, then full auditoriums and bank accounts are, at best, potential symptoms of success.

I recently heard a pastor describe the church’s mission like this:

1. Lost people saved.
2. Saved people pastored.
3. Pastored people discipled.
4. Disciple people mobilized.

I love it. This is why we exist. This defines holistic success.

With these four missional benchmarks in mind, how are you doing?

1. Lost People Saved

Every church aspires to lead lost people to Christ, but how intentional are you about creating pathways that genuinely reach the unchurched? If conversions and baptisms are rare occurrences in your congregation, it might be time to reassess your approach.

• • Design with Intent: Develop experiences that specifically address the needs of lost people. This could be anything from seeker-comprehensible services (not seeker-sensitive) to community engagements tailored to the unchurched.
  • Foster Passion: Cultivate a culture where your congregation is passionate about evangelism, encouraging them to engage lost people in their sphere of influence with intentionality.
  • Measure Effectively: Beyond the simple count of raised hands during an alter call, consider deeper metrics like the number of people taking steps in their faith journey, meeting with pastors for one-on-one discussions, or engaging in small groups designed for new believers.

NOTE: Remember, one isolated conversion story doesn’t define your church’s success. It’s easy to latch onto a single positive example, but true success requires consistent and measurable outcomes.

2. Saved People Pastored

Pastoring isn’t just about welcoming new believers; it’s about guiding them as they begin their spiritual journey. The goal is to help them understand their relationship with God, find their place within the church community, and start living out their faith in meaningful ways.

• • Provide Clear Steps: Offer classes, small groups, and mentoring opportunities that help new believers integrate into the church and grow in their faith.
  • Teach and Redirect: Consistently provide teaching that challenges and nurtures your congregation, helping them navigate their new spiritual landscape.

3. Pastored People Discipled

Discipleship is where spiritual growth truly takes root. This phase goes beyond the basics of faith and pushes people into application over information.

• • Focus on Growth: Encourage participation in discipleship groups, more committed volunteering, and percentage giving (not spontaneous needs-based tipping). These more traditional forms of spiritual formation are essential for deeper growth.
  • Create a Staircase: Spiritual growth is a journey of steps. Every healthy discipleship pathway offers a series of sequential steps for people to take. Evaluate what you’re offering and ensure each step is easy, obvious, and helpful.

NOTE: While many churches allocate significant time and resources to discipleship, it’s crucial to remember that this is only one part of your mission. Balance your efforts to ensure you’re covering all four areas.

4. Disciple People Mobilized

Mobilization is where your church’s mission meets the world. It’s about empowering disciples to live out their faith actively, whether that’s through mentoring others, leading small groups, engaging in community outreach, or participating in global missions.

• • Empower Action: Provide opportunities for your congregation to engage in meaningful ways beyond the church walls.
  • Encourage Outreach: Whether locally or globally, mobilize your church to reach out and make an impact.

Conclusion

So, how’s your church doing, really? When you evaluate your ministry, don’t stop at attendance and financial reports. Look deeper into these four critical areas: lost people saved, saved people pastored, pastored people discipled, and disciple people mobilized. Identifying where you’re excelling and where you’re struggling will help you create a more holistic and effective ministry.

Other Articles of Interest

You may also enjoy these related posts:

• Should a Healthy Church Grow?

One More Thing…

You’re probably aware of our Church Accelerator Community. All our Partners have unlimited access to our resource section, complete with courses, frameworks, supporting documents, and our new Custom AI tools (Sermon Outline Creator, Sermon Evaluator, Small Group Question Writer, and more).

Partnership begins at $149 per month, which gets you about $5,000 in resources. Don’t wait. Become a partner today.

If you’d like personalized coaching for you, a staff member, or your church, check out the Strategic Partner and Community Partner options. I limit the number of these options to maximize my investment in each church and pastor. Let me know if you are interested.

Leading With You,