Results!

Dear Pastors

Last week I wrote about success and what might constitute success in church work. I suggested that as Pastors and local church leaders we should start thinking about that question in the context of the Great Commission, the Great Commandment and the Nazareth Declaration.

This week I would like us to consider the related issue of ‘results’ in church work. Straight off the bat I must acknowledge to you my bent. I am a results driven guy. That for the most part is good I think but I am the first to acknowledge that ‘results’ are not as straight forward in church work as they are in business for example or in other arena’s of life.

When coming at this issue I would propose that we should measure results (or outcomes) of church work in the context of purpose. In other words what results should we expect to see based on the purpose of our existence as a local church. Traditionally (historically and biblically), there are three great purposes for every local church namely, Worship, Fellowship and Witness. Rick Warren came along in 1995 and added Ministry and Discipleship in his Purpose Driven Church template and in so doing popularised five purposes. I for one have benefited a great deal from Rick’s and Saddleback’s insights.

But for this brief discussion let’s have a look the traditional three purposes.

1. What results might you want from worship? A greater evidence of Christlikeness in our people? A ‘manifestation’ of God’s presence and power so that people are awe struck, touched by His grace, healed and ministered to? Where people walk away and say, “I have met with God this morning”.
2. What results might you want from fellowship? Evidence that the ‘one another’s’ of scripture are operating every day and night of the year, freely and spontaneously? Where people who are experiencing extra-ordinary and tough circumstances are carefully (and where needed professionally) supported and assisted? Where marriages and families are happy and functional. In fact so happy that we have a 0% divorce rate in the church? Where all Christians are growing in their relationship with Jesus (otherwise known as discipleship) and the evidence is all around you?
3. What results might you want from witness? Conversions and baptisms for sure. Influencing the neighbourhood in which you are located for righteousness? Feeding the hungry, setting the oppressed free and announcing the year of the Lord’s favour? And did I say conversions and baptisms?

None of the above is exhaustive. Just food for thought.

Finally, I would like to suggest that there are three perhaps four things from a biblical standpoint that pastors measure all the time (including me) that on closer investigation are NOT in fact relevant in this discussion about what constitutes biblical results. They are, the size of your property and buildings, the size of your budget and the size of your staff. In fact given the very high mobility of Christians these days who move churches from time to time (or all the time) the size of your Sunday morning congregation is a result we should not be particularly impressed about. If, on the other hand a large percentage of those who are attending are seekers or brand new Christians then we have a result that is worthy of note.

Blessings

Alan

Here is a the link again for Nabeel Quershi’s defence of Christianity.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.