I read something on Will Willimon's blog that created a pin prick of thought that soon became a flood. As a pastor, much like many other pastors, I love to see results in the ministry I am placed within. Whether it be a new family attending, or a new small group starting, I am jazzed by growth and results. On the other hand, when someone leaves the church, or there is a lack of visual results I am ready to throw my hands up. What if I am ministering for the wrong things? Results.
I wonder if ministry in this culture has been affected by this culture. "The bigger the better", the "flashier the finer", etc. Every three months I have to fill out a report to my denomination's district telling about results. What if I wrote this time, "I am not in it for these results"? What would they say. What is discipleship is something that doesn't produce quick results, but results that last a lifetime?
These are some of my discombobulated (is that a word?) thoughts about ministry and results.
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2 comments:
Ben, I've struggled with some of those same issues. Although most pastors and elders would say "it's not about the numbers," there's still the expectation of numerical growth, "success", etc. I wonder if we're not gauging the wrong things? How about gauging things like spiritual transformation, prayer, faith, love, etc.
as a youthmin this is in your face. you have a congregation of managers who have varied ideas on what 'results' are.
i don't think growth is bad, it's a good marker of doing good things. but if that is our sole measure & we have to argue why we don't have numbers over telling stories of faith formation then we have real issues as a church.
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