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Do Numbers Matter? (A continuing conversation)

“Do numbers matter?” People regularly ask why large churches are so “into numbers.” While I can’t speak for all churches, I can speak for Northgate and I’ll tell you why we’re “into numbers.” We’re “into numbers” because behind every number there’s a name, a story, an eternal destiny! Behind every number there’s a person that…

“Do numbers matter?” People regularly ask why large churches are so “into numbers.” While I can’t speak for all churches, I can speak for Northgate and I’ll tell you why we’re “into numbers.”

We’re “into numbers” because behind every number there’s a name, a story, an eternal destiny! Behind every number there’s a person that God created, loves, and sent His Son to die for!

We care about numbers because if we go for three years and no one is saved as a result of our church then we’re not accomplishing our mission of “Bringing people to Jesus and building them up in that relationship” and therefore something MUST change!

We care about numbers because if we go for three years and no new discipleship connections (e.g. groups) are established then we are not accomplishing our mission and that means something MUST change!

I contend that it is irresponsible to not be “into numbers.” There are two ways to measure effectiveness: quantitatively (numbers) and qualitatively (stories). In my opinion the best way to measure ministry effectiveness is to have LOTS (quantitative) of stories (qualitative) about life change! If we aren’t tracking numbers then all we can rely on is “hearsay” or “hope so” and that’s not good enough when it comes to issues of eternal destiny!

The more people we “Bring to Jesus” the more people we save from Hell. The more people we “Build in this new relationship” the more marriages are saved; the more addicts are freed; the more people are freed from financial chaos;  the more people get to enjoy God and enage in purpose-driven living!

OK, there’s my take on it, but today I read a post that says it WAY better than I could! (click here to read the post)!

Click here to read my previous post on numbers.

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Responses to “Do Numbers Matter? (A continuing conversation)”

  1. Melody

    My comments to your January 1st post are a bit of my thoughts on numbers. I hope you didn’t misunderstand where I’m coming from. Numbers are meaningful as long as you know the names of the people connected to them. While knowing how many people accepted Christ is great, knowing who accepted Christ is even better. Knowing how many people attended an event is interesting, but hearing how the event impacted their life is exciting.

    The other thing that perplexes me a bit about numbers when you’re talking about salvation…How do you know when an individual becomes a number? Sometimes it’s very clear. A child raises a hand or an adult comes to the altar, but in some cases a person comes to Christ without an audience. Sometimes that transformation takes place in someones heart and the ones who planted that seed and those who watered it don’t know.
    ????

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  2. rindy

    The other night I invited one friend to “Thursdays” service. She is a friend who has had some struggles and told me she “doesn’t do the church thing”, but she would go anyway. As we were walking in the parking lot after, she immediately said, “It was ok, I would definitely go again”!

    She is only one, but one who would not have even stepped foot inside the church if it weren’t for the type of service. The type of service would not have been there had we not had the numbers to offer another choice. By having the numbers, one more may find the right path.

    Numbers are insignificant by themselves, it’s what happens with and because of those numbers that matters.

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  3. Numbers « Experiencing the Journey…

    […] Mon 15 Jan 2007 Numbers Posted by rindy under Thoughts , Evangelism , Christian life  I’ve been reading a lot lately about “numbers”. Is the number of people who are at church this weekend important? What do we do with the numbers? How can we assure that everyone is not just a number? How can having numbers help us? The church I have been attending since 1999 has grown tremendously.  The mission is to bring people to and also build them up in their relationship with Jesus. I truly feel that the numbers issue at our church is being addressed regularly and pretty successfully. For more on church numbers from someone more qualified than me to address that though, you can read here.  […]

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