One of the biggest mistakes ministry leaders make when setting a vision is they dream big but stop there.
They set ambitious goals, cast inspiring ideas, and get people excited—but without a clear strategy to measure progress, those goals remain just that: IDEAS. Excitement fades, people lose focus, and in the end, nothing really changes.
I’ve been there.
Early on in ministry, I had a huge vision for what our youth ministry could be. I could see it in my mind—thriving small groups, engaged volunteers, young people encountering Christ. But the problem was, I had no way of measuring whether we were actually getting there.
Every week felt like a guessing game. Were we growing? Were we seeing real transformation? I had no idea.
That’s when I realized: A vision without strategy is just wishful thinking. If we don’t track progress, we’re just spinning our wheels.
So how do we make our vision tangible? We measure what matters.
In his book The Advantage, Patrick Lencioni talks about Standard Objectives—clear ways to measure an organization’s health. The same principle applies in ministry.
If we want to know whether our ministry is thriving, we have to assess key areas:
A church’s vision statement might say, “We exist to make disciples.” But what does that look like in practice? How do you know if it’s happening? We need clear, measurable markers to track progress.
Here’s the process I use to take vision from dream to reality:
If everything else stayed the same, what is one major goal that would move your ministry forward?
This isn’t about throwing out a wishlist—it’s about identifying the most important next step.
For example:
Once you have your big goal, break it down into tangible, trackable objectives. These should serve as a scoreboard—helping you evaluate progress in real time.
For example, if your goal is to grow small group participation, measurable objectives could include:
Think of it like running a marathon. If all you track is the finish line, you’ll have no idea how you’re pacing. Instead, you need checkpoints along the way—hydration, energy levels, mile markers—to make adjustments and stay on course.
One of the biggest reasons ministry goals fail? We don’t revisit them.
A goal set in January often feels like a distant memory by March. That’s why building in weekly or monthly check-ins is critical. These don’t have to be long, complicated meetings—just short, focused conversations about where you are and what needs adjusting.
Some key questions to ask:
When you have these conversations consistently, the vision stays alive and in motion.
This is where so many leaders get stuck.
They set a goal, work toward it, and then…it doesn’t happen as planned. Maybe they didn’t reach their numbers. Maybe they hit an unexpected challenge. And instead of adjusting, they abandon the goal altogether.
But the truth is, ministry is a learning process.
If a goal isn’t working, that’s not failure—it’s data. It means stepping back and asking:
Vision doesn’t change, but strategy does. Learn, adjust, and move forward with greater wisdom.
Ministry leaders are often great at dreaming big, but struggle with execution.
We have compelling ideas, inspiring talks, and creative plans—but without a system to measure and adjust, those ideas fade into the background.
The good news? You don’t have to figure this out alone.
This fall, we’re hosting Dreaming Youth Ministry’s Future—a boutique, collaborative gathering for ministry leaders who want to take a proactive approach to the future of youth ministry.
At this event, we’ll explore:
The event takes place September 29 - October 1, 2025 and costs just $150, which includes the program, morning coffee, and two lunches.
If you’re serious about aligning your vision with real, measurable action, this event is for you.
Register today and take the next step toward a thriving, future-ready ministry.