Introducing ChurchMetrics from ChurchMetrics on Vimeo.
A few posts ago, I showed you Return on Ministry. Here’s another brand new (beta) measurement tool, ChurchMetrics. Intuitive navigation makes a great user interface for this new app. You can check history, track trends and access current data, all for free. Track everything from attendance to baptisms, from giving to salvations.
ChurchMetrics is a new service brought to you by LifeChurch.tv and yes, of course, there’s a mobile version. What good is data if you can’t get to it whenever you want?
Cynthia… Thanks for providing the previous link as well as this one. This all begs a great conversation… What ISSSSS the most important thing(s) we should be measuring? That is, what/who IS ‘the Church’? And what should The Church be being… and doing?
Blessings from Indy
Neil
IndyChristian.TV
Hi Neil. This discussion is the one that takes center stage in many questions, emails, irl conversations, etc. that I’m involved in. Suffice it to say, and you would know this about me, it’s my persuasion that what the Church “should” be doing is getting ready for the wedding.
I don’t think any one facet of the Church is the most important to measure, at least not at the minimization of others. Measurements are often important for individual organizations and churches rather than the Church at large.
Salvations (people receiving forgiveness for their sins and getting their names written in the book of life) often take center stage, as does attendance (because people matter). But, baptisms represent obedience to follow Christ’s instructions. So they’re important. And income can measure whether a particular church is in a season of release and abundance or in a season of conservation, etc.
Furthermore, the Great Commission, instructing us to go and make disciples, often requires a different kind of measurement than numbers can provide. It’s far more than the a specific number of people who have made decisions for Christ. How much a person has been conformed into Christ’s image (discipled) requires an entirely different criteria for evaluation so numerical measurements won’t work.
Here’s why I love web apps that measure. Einstein said “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for different results” If we believe God has called us personally and corporately to accomplish things (i.e. – advance the Kingdom) then it only helps us to measure what we’re giving ourselves to.
It could be that some people are afraid to measure things – afraid for two reasons – first they may be afraid of boasting (but our glory goes to Him) or – they may be worried that measuring might reflect some failure on their part, a lack of success if you will. That’s silly. And could result in doing the same things over and over without any hope of improvement. Boasting in numbers is prideful, but never measuring is a just a different kind of pride.
We measure everything so we can get a read on where things are going and is there anything we would like to change. We watch our weight – up or down? We watch our grades – up or down? We watch our finances – up or down. We need to know what direction things are going, what works and what doesn’t, so we can bear much (measured!) fruit.
btw – one of the requirements of our faith is that we be a people who walk by it (rather than sight) so “numbers” are not the most significant part of our story. Often we must persist in obedience, even with little assurance in the physical that God is really at work and using us. But there again, we are measuring our persistence.
And lastly, the reason I mention mobile is important. It’s not because I think it’s a great idea for an administrative pastor to check the church attendance on his iPhone on the way home from a service. I mention mobile because I believe it would help the Church to be more aware of the direction technology is taking us. We, like the men of Issachar, should know of the times we are living in so we can correctly assess….. oh, Neil, you got me talking about redeeming technology…. that’s where we always end up.
I want to know what you and others think… open dialog time.
What do you think about ChurchMetrics?
There are two things in church, the organism and the organization. Both are valuable, but the organism is what grows church, the organization is what manages it.
Church Metrics will be a valuable tool for managing the organization, which is valuable. The discussion often runs to, “is it necessary” and “what is really important”. That shouldn’t be an issue. Church Metrics is not trying to grow the organism, it’s trying to help us manage the organization.
God grows the organism.
Cynthia,
I agree with what you’ve said. As members of the Body of Christ, the Church has many members with one major purpose (bringing others into the Saving Grace through Jesus Christ while at the same time being transformed ourselves into His Image all to the Glory of God). So tho’ it is more “efficient” if we analyze ourselves individually and corporately as to “how are we doing with that?”, it is more of a diagnostic self-check than the main focus.
Using IndyChristians anaology word-picture on “Driven Christians”: If the goal is to get to Italy and proclaim the Gospel, as a race car driver I may take my red revved up ferarri and zoom across the autoban in a red blurr and get their first. What was my focus? Getting to Italy before anyone else (competition)? Looking Good while I do it (pride and people pleasing)? Making sure that the Truth of the Message is delivered?
Now on the other hand we have Mr. and Mrs. Jones in their 1973 Dodge Towncar, the one though they’ve been faithful to service with timely oilchanges, the body is basically being held together by rust. Still, they choose to take the twisted mountainous roads that will take them through the tiny villages, one of which they’ve always wanted to visit. They are still planning on getting to the same place in Italy as our racecar friend, but have a totally different approach. They want to take the time to stop and smell the roses rather than run over them.
Mr. and Mrs. Jones believe that their style of sharing the gospel involves people and getting to know them where they are (both locationally as well as spiritually). To them, it would be unproductive to zoom down a span of concrete with no exits, let alone no people.
I think our evangelical styles are like this illustration. Neither approach is “wrong”; just different. One person is in a hurry, on fire with urgency, and “gotta get the deed done now” for the “days are evil” and the Lord is returning at anytime. Be ready. The other, let’s not go by so fast that we don’t notice those alongside the road who may have been bypassed many times before. They will know we are Christians by our love.
Oh, there are so very many more evangelical styles, as various as the cells of our human bodies, are the ways in which we function differently, yet for the benefit of the One. Since I am passionate about communication, and even moreso when it comes to the Truth, I could talk on this WAY too long.
The point of this story is simply to point out how “quantifying”( tho’ useful to some degree for comparison purposes) should not be our main focus, rather just one tool of many when it comes to checking “how am I (are we) doing”. Then too, I would stress that the Bible warns us strongly against using “unequal measures”.
Whereas, it may be useful for me to note the number of people I spoke to this week as opposed to a week from a year ago, it would NOT be useful for me to hold that same “numerical standard” as a requirement for my shy sister, or my home-bound grandmother.
Here in the United States, it is seen as “politically incorrect” or “close-minded to focus on being different, because “all men are created equal.” Especially true, if we use “judgement” which is viewed by many as “racist” or “condescending” or “legalistic”. Then on the other side of the coin are the “our identity comes from the fact that we are “different… special… superior’ to “THEM”. How can we possibly compare??
I so love Apostle Paul’s picture story of a toe wanting to be a hand, or a kidney wanting to be an eye… Why? Because they think THEN they will be of greater purpose. I shake my head. How can I be of any greater purpose than functioning as I was created to function?
Sorry for all the rambling, but I just want to point out the danger that can be waiting in quantifying LOVE. The Church is called to Love. Almost all of us have different ways of expressing that love, Praise God! If we all had the same style it would limit our opportunities for outreach and true connections.
So yes, use the analytical tools. But please, if I am to use such a tool, may it be for my own personal self-check and not as a pronouncement against another. “judge not, lest ye be judged” and “by the same measure” and finally let me focus on “the log in my eye” before I even try to approach a brother.
So as previous posts say… it really DOES boil down to “is it really important” — the over obvious answer seems to be — maybe to some, but not to all. It is not a comparative analysis that will save us from an eternity in Hell. Rather the answer to ONE question?
“Do you believe that you have no other way to enter into righteousness with God than Jesus Christ?” It’s not WHAT I do, nor how many TIMES I do it, Nor to what calibrated extent, rather I depend WHOLLY on Jesus Christ My Lord and Savior.
Ellen – ok, you beat me fair and square. Thanks for the twitter dm.
I agree with all the comments above. I think that we, as the church, can get caught up on the idea that numbers – attendance, conversion, bible studies started, children & youth in the programs, etc – are everything. Healthy churches are reproducing churches. They hear the message & then “live” or “do” the message.
I think that this metrics tool will be useful in that it will aid the church in identifying areas of opportunities or areas of growth. Just as businesses put forth strategic goals or initatives, churches need to have a similar mindset with one exception – businesses are focused on a financial bottom line – the church’s bottom line should be on soul’s not entering Hell. Bill Hybels and others have said that we come to work and are dealing with “eternity” issues. I would add that we all are dealing with eternity issues. Each day we take another breath is a blessing from God, it is not guaranteed that we will awake in the morning, it is a gift & that mindset has started to manifest itself in me more real.
I am excited to see that Lifechurch.tv is helping to propel churches forward into the use of technology for stuff other than the typical media church stuff. These are useful tools that can support the church – look at the success of YouVersion.com. Now they had ChurchMetrics to the list. The creativity of the church is climbing & that is exciting to see & be a part of.
[Allow me to speak 'tongue-n-cheek' for a moment for fun and perhaps stretch us outside our comfort zones...]
Ok, you’ve convinced me. Let’s not worry about measuring and accounting — they’re fraught with way too many potential downsides. And now that we ourselves have eternal peace with God, what’s the big hurry anyway? These neighbors will still be with us tomorrow or the next day — let’s not be soooo ‘driven by numbers’. Let’s all just stop and smell the roses… pretty much like the American Church has BEEN doing. After all, it’ll all work out in the end — don’t worry about our current ineffectiveness… you know how numbers can be manipulated sometimes. And yeah-yeah, I understand that Jesus said to go into 100% of the world and preach the gospel and make disciple-makers… and teach them to obey 100% of what He commanded us… but do we have to take the Word soooooo ‘literally’? Maybe He really meant the generation AFTER us. And btw, now that WE are pretty well off, let’s not worry so much about these other less-privileged folks on the planet. They too should be smelling the roses… if they can find some. Consider it their form of worship. And their sacrifice. And in the end analysis, we’ll get to ‘em. No big hurry. In the meantime, “Let ‘em eat cake”.
I know Jesus said to love ‘em as myself, but who’s going to measure THAT? It’s not like you’d ever let our neighbors DIGG us anyway… right? **whew**
Now MONEY… now that’s a different story. We HAVE to measure that. And report regularly at our board meetings and congregational meetings. And get audits. After all that’s what people care about. Oh, and attendance too. The more folks are under our roof, the more likely the chance they’ll become Christ-followers by osmosis. Disregard the REVEAL study — we shouldn’t be measuring such things anyway. Moreover, as long as we’re throwing the (measuring) bums out, let’s burn the research on the ‘multicultural’ Church (or lack thereof). After all, it’s become a well established case — on the whole, we Americans apparently PREFER essentially-segregated churches at 11am on Sunday mornings, right? So don’t even suggest that we should actually try to make (observable) progress toward becoming more like the Church we read about in scripture. Smell the roses. Enjoy being with people just like yourselves.
[And now, returning to reality for a moment...]
Which of you would be willing for the FDA to stop measuring and reporting on food & drugs? Or the FAA monitoring air-traffic and incidents? Or AMA accountability. Or surgical gauges and hospital reports? Your child’s thermometer? Or ACT & SAT scores? Radar guns? (well, maybe, LOL). How about DJI or NASDAQ indices? Do any of you care about your employer’s bottom-line… or solvency? The amount in your paycheck next Friday? Or what portion Uncle Sam gets?
Do any of you set observable/measurable goals? Ask people to pray and hold you accountable for progress? Why?
Paraphrasing Pastor Rick Warren: “If your mission statement isn’t measurable, it’s just PR.”
Show me what a ministry measures… and I’ll show you its real mission.
Getting user-level reporting tools to our cell phone? Sweet! Like the smell of roses… to some of us. *wink* Thank you, ChurchMetrics!
And thank you Cynthia for bringing this to our attention.
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”