We’re continuing the series of posts about using Non-Financial Metrics to assess the effectiveness of ministry.

Thus far, we’ve talked about:

• How Metrics Can Help Your Church
• Front Door Metrics (Guests come in the front door)
• Side Door Metrics: (Because friends come in the side door)
  >Attendance, Decisions
  >Small Groups

Let’s look at the next group of side door metrics. Serving.

Serving others thru a ministry of the church is another step on the discipleship journey. If 1st time guests that connect into a small group are the life blood, then people serving others is the heartbeat of the church.

 

Check out these metrics for Serving:

Track Weekly/Accumulate Monthly:

1. # Serving for 1st Time – Again, it’s important to see if you are adding any NEW people into ministry. Take time to send them a note and/or a gift thanking them for serving.

2. # Serving – How many are actively serving in a ministry? These are unique people. Don’t just add people by ministry – some are serving in more than one.

In addition to above, add this one monthly:
3. % of Adults and Students Serving to Worship Attendance – According to the Unstuck Group, churches in the Top 10% have more than 71% of adults and students serving.

Quarterly –
4. As in previous posts, take a look at the above each quarter. Compare to prior quarters, years, goals and benchmarks. You can also track # serving by ministry – parking, greeting, teachers, men, women, etc.

5. Depending on your church’s vision, you may track those serving in missions if your church reaches out to the community via events, services and mission trips. Getting more involved in missions is a good thing.

A thought on serving based on my observations over the years in ministry:

People serving is a beautiful thing. It’s scriptural. And they should want to serve. More often than not, they are blessed more than the ones being served and they also grow in spiritual maturity. They’re focusing on others.

But, I’ve also seen the impact of burnout on people and mediocrity on ministries by those who serve in too many areas for too long. Be sure to take time to track those serving in 2 or more areas. Have conversations with those serving in 3 or more. Sure, some ministries & positions require more time than others and take that into consideration.

Sure, there’s a tension to balance. The church staff needs people to serve. They spend a lot of time praying, seeking and training people to serve. On the flip side, people want to serve, but not at the expense of their personal and family’s well-being.

Carey Nieuwhof wrote an insightful post on the 7 Questions Volunteers are Asking. I’d encourage you to check it out.

Next post we’ll look at final post in regards to Side Door Metrics – Giving.