In a car, a dashboard helps you as you drive. You can locate your gas gauge, mileage, temperature and more. The dashboard isn’t the reason you drive; it’s a tool that helps you as you navigate the journey. In the same way, church metrics are tools that help you as you navigate the journey of making disciples who make disciples. Hear me, they are NOT the end in itself. Tracking the right metrics in the church will help you make the right course corrections and seek the right help as you head down the road.
Let’s look at ways you can track the metrics in your church to encourage you to keep going and growing.
Metrics that most churches measure:
(Basic) Giving: Most churches track weekly giving. It is helpful to know the resources coming in. Here are a few other metrics you can track in this regard:
(Advanced) New Givers: New givers help you know who is engaging. Have your bookkeeper or treasurer let you know when there is a new giver. A plan should be in place to send them a letter encouraging them and letting them know the vision and how these resources are stewarded.
(Advanced) Increased Givers: This is another metric that shows your engagement level. We don’t need amounts here, just an indicator that __(name)____ has increased their giving. Again, this helps you know who is leaning into generosity in your church.
(Basic) Attendance: This is a good one to take, but it never tells the whole story. Many people in your church will come once or twice a month, so it’s hard to get a read on attendance patterns.
(Advanced) Names: This can be hard to track if you’re a larger church, but helpful in finding a way to track who is coming on Sundays by name. This helps you know who hasn’t been in a while and allows you to text them to check in. Churches that grow often have a way of tracking the actual names of the persons who attend.
(Basic) Newcomers: This metric helps you track who was a first-timer in your church. Knowing who was there for the first time is helpful whether you have their connection card or not. You need to find a way to connect with first-time guests.
(Advanced) Second Timers: This is where you track who has returned and welcome them back. You find a way to invite them to a connection event and introduce them to other people in your church. Many churches don’t know if guests ever come back. It’s good to try to track this.
“Discipleship” or Engagement” Metrics:
Now, I want to look at additional metrics called “discipleship” or “engagement” metrics. These will help you know who is leaning in on this Christ-following journey.
Salvations: We say this over and over again, preach the gospel every Sunday and invite people to respond. Find a way to follow up with them and start down the path of discipleship.
Baptisms: A powerful way to track the next steps in our journey with Jesus.
Small Group sign-ups: How many members of your congregation are in small groups, and how many connect mid-week?
Serving Team sign-ups: How many members of your congregation are involved in serving, and how many serve weekly?
Each of these metrics should tell a story of how people engage in your church. You may wish to track other metrics as well. These are not the end goal, but they are useful tools for making the right decisions for the health and life of the church as you progress.
What other metrics do you use?
Jeremiah works as an Effectiveness Coach with the ABNWT District of the PAOC. He is a passionate and creative leader who believes that the church is the hope of the world. He uses collaboration, innovation, and inspiration to challenge churches and their leadership to engage in the only mission Jesus ever sent his church on: making disciples.