"[He] convinced me that whatever we measure is really our mission. At Pantego Bible Church our only measurement at the time was the ABCs (attendance, buildings, and cash). Therefore, regardless of the platitudes offered up in bulletins and letterheads, our mission was to add more people to our membership who give more money so we can build bigger buildings to contain ever more people who can give more money, and so on and so on.Most people would deny that this is true of their church, but if the ABCs are the only valid measurement points, it is really more true than we want to believe."
(From Randy Frazee, The Connecting Church, p. 88)
Interesting quote to think about from a book I am reading on small groups, especially the first sentence: "whatever we measure is really our mission." What do we measure here? How do we make determinations on whether things are working or are broken? I think it is an interesting question to consider: "What do we measure and what does it reveal our REAL, if unspoken, mission here right now?"
I have a lot of other thoughts on this topic, ones that both challenge and critique my life and ministry, but I am too scattered to be able to hammer them out on the keyboard right now. Anybody else have any random thoughts? (At least the two of you that look at this blog?)
2 comments:
This is JRB, and I may be the other one, or maybe Mags has more fans than he thinks he has. I'm posting "anonymously" because I'm not quite ready to sign up formally. My initial, short and ill-developed idea on the subject is this: the subjects, values, accomplishments and goals that should be our mission all are inherently subjective and ethereal, the economy of grace and love and reconcilation, so "measuring" them is very difficult. The "ABC's," etc. are easy to quantify, easy to measure, so they easily begin to become the mission. The subjects of our mission resist measurement.
JRB
Eric, I am addicted to blogs...so you can bet you have my eyes reading as well!
Your post today was much like one I wrote a few weeks ago about my "new years resolution"...I have realized all over again that so many times I put my focus on the things that are not important and are of this world, when all God wants me to do is to relinquish the control to Him and live under His will and grace. Wouldn't it be amazing if we could take all of the energy and passion that we put into worrying and "measuring" and use it to save souls and glorify our Father?!
I enjoy reading your musings...keep em coming...
what a beautiful entry about the wedding as well..nat has been keeping us girls updated and we are surely praying for your whole church community at this time.
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