How do you know your ministry is thriving or dying? For a long time I struggled to answer that question because my gut would tell me one thing, but I had little to back it up. I could point to attendance and participation numbers from teens and parents, but outside of engagement there was little to go off of.
It’s not that those metrics were bad—they were just incomplete. I had created a vision for my ministry, but I hadn’t taken the time to set goals that would tell me whether we were moving in the right direction.
Here’s the truth: you can’t know if your ministry is thriving until you slow down long enough to measure what matters. If you want to gauge the health of your ministry, advocate for its value, and obtain the resources you need to help it grow, then you need a clear definition of success. It doesn’t matter if you’re full-time or volunteering a few hours a week—measuring your ministry’s growth will help you avoid making decisions in the dark.
So where do you start?
Before you set goals you need clarity about where things stand. That can be discouraging, because reality doesn’t always match what we imagine—but that’s okay. Like losing weight, you can’t make changes without first stepping on the scale.
Start with simple numbers:
Attendance
Adult involvement (volunteers, parents, parish leadership)
Budget
Then have some honest conversations. Ask:
What challenges are families currently facing?
What role does faith play in their decision-making?
Why do they enjoy or avoid attending your ministry, Mass, etc.?
If this feels too comprehensive, start with a basic inventory. TenX10 offers a simple Relational Discipleship Inventory to help you understand how your parish is doing with reaching the next generation. It’s free, and you can take it right HERE.
I’m willing to bet you have a burden, desire, dream, or vision for the people you serve. Have you ever shared it?
That can feel risky because we fear rejection, but if you never share the vision, you’re the one rejecting it.
Start by writing it down. Be honest. Then ask yourself:
“Based on where we are now, what needs to stop, start, and double down for us to get there?”
Once you’ve clarified your thoughts, share them with someone you trust—your pastor, a colleague, a friend. Their job isn’t to tell you whether it’s good or bad. Their job is to help you see the vision clearly by asking questions and noticing gaps.
You can’t do ministry on your own. You need a team that understands the mission, asks good questions, and helps carry the load.
This is where many leaders struggle because it means letting go of total control. When you invite others into the mission, you put your ego aside and allow the Spirit to work through the gifts of others.
For a team to function well, you need prayer at the center, trust, honest conversation, and the freedom to disagree and discern together. When that happens, you move faster and more effectively.
And if equipping or training your team feels daunting, M2GO is built to make this easier—with ready-to-use volunteer trainings, meeting guides, and practical tools that help you build a stronger team without spending hours preparing.
I don’t know about you, but when I want change, I want it right away. Pull the bandaid off—let’s go! But the reality is that meaningful change takes time, and you can only move as fast as the people you serve.
If change has been hard in your ministry, ask:
“What is one thing we could do in the next 3–6 months that would move us in the right direction and build confidence?”
Choose that one thing.
Set clear goals, timelines, and action steps.
If you hit the mark—celebrate. If you miss it—adjust. Either way, acknowledge the effort and the learning. Small wins create momentum. Learning creates depth. Both strengthen culture.
You can’t know whether your ministry is thriving or dying by instinct alone.
You need a clear picture of where you are, a compelling vision for where you're going, a team that walks with you, and a willingness to start small and build over time.
This isn’t “more work”—it’s a different mindset. One that frees you from the busyness, helps you make better decisions, and opens the door to the joy God actually wants you to experience in this mission.
And if you want tools that support that mindset—simple frameworks, team trainings, and ready-to-use resources—M2GO is designed to help you build a ministry that grows with clarity and purpose, not chaos and guesswork. LEARN MORE HERE