Last week while I was on the Stairmaster at the gym I watched a personal trainer taking a woman’s measurements.  She looked really uncomfortable.  It was probably because she didn’t look to be very physically fit and the numbers said it all.  She was about to get a wake up call.  As long as we don’t step on the scale or put the tape around our waist, we can make ourselves believe we’re in better condition than we are.  But the numbers won’t lie.  They show us the real picture.  It may be a bit embarrassing to discover, but at least we’ll know what we need to work on.

The same is true with our churches.  Sometimes we’re reluctant to take measurements because we’re afraid of what we’ll find.  We’d rather live in denial and pretend we’re in good shape than face the truth.  Max Depree says, The number one responsibility of leadership is to define reality.  Like it or not, we’ve got to crunch the numbers, know what we’re doing well, and what needs improvement.

Most of our churches count things like attendance and offering, but is that enough?  Are there some measurements that might help us get a clear picture of our church body’s health?  I think so.  Let me suggest a few you might include in your assessment.

One is the number of conversions.  Every church claims to be in the business of making disciples, but few actually take the time to add up the numbers.  Studies show that most of the growth in churches is simply people transferring from other churches.  Growth in attendance shows you’re doing some things right.  Conversion growth shows you’re doing the right things.  Luke 15 reminds us God is a lot more excited about that one conversion than He is about those 99 transfers.

Another important measurement is the number of people who serve.  When people have an identifiable role or task they possess greater ownership of the church and its mission.  Help them understand the importance of their role and you’ll meet their need for a sense of significance.  Employing the uninvolved also helps lighten the load for those faithful core members who are already over committed.

Measure your connecting opportunities.  We hear often that people who visit our churches are looking for a friendly church. They’re looking for friends!  Friendships aren’t made at our Sunday worship experiences so an important measurement is how many opportunities provide an environment to cultivate friendships.  How many opportunities are there to join groups?  How often do we have mid-size group gatherings that are large enough for people to not feel conspicuous, but small enough where connections can be made?  Counting these important numbers may give you a clue why so many people who visit your church then disappear after a while for no apparent reason.

Counting giving units is also important.  While an offering total will tell you how much is being given, counting the number of giving units will tell you how many are giving.  This number lets you know how many in your church are truly invested.  Jesus said, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  The higher the number of units giving equals a wider base of ownership at your church.  A wide base creates a healthy church. The fewer the number, the more vulnerable your church is and the less truly committed your people as a whole.

The flushed face told me that woman wasn’t happy while the fitness trainer recorded her measurements.  But it was an important step towards health.  It’s the same for us.  Getting our churches in shape starts by knowing where you stand.  Counting what counts will make sure we stay on track and not live in the world of self-deception.  It just might be the wake up call we need.