Let’s Play The Numbers Game: What You Should Be Measuring And What It All Means

It’s a question that always stirs up debate, “How many teens come to your ministry on a regular basis?” Rarely does anyone answer with a number, usually the response you get is:

It’s not about the numbers! It’s about relationships!

If numbers weren’t important there wouldn’t be a book in the Bible called numbers.

As long as the numbers are healthy, that’s all that matters.

I don’t have a problem with those answers, except that they don’t answer the question…the poor person just needs a number! Anyway, I too like playing the numbers game and I’m not a mathematician, in fact I secretly pull out the calculator app when helping my 8 year old with his math homework.

But, one of the reasons I’ve stayed in ministry for so long is because I understand how the numbers work. If you play the numbers game right your ministry will not only grow in size but in spiritual depth as well. Here are a few areas to start with:

VOLUNTEER NUMBERS TAKE PRIORITY OVER ATTENDANCE

There is nothing wrong with wanting to reach as many teens as possible. There is nothing wrong with having a large ministry, but to sustain those large numbers you need volunteers.

If all you do is recruit teens then you’ll find yourself unable to connect with all of them. Building a volunteer helps you do that. Put together a recruiting strategy and make heavy pushes every summer and around the New Year.

Focus on building up your team, and training them. The more adults you have connecting with teens the more you’ll increase your retention rate. Teens will not only come back, but start bringing their friends because they’ll feel connected to a community that cares.

For help on building your volunteer core check out the How Deep Is Your Bench Exercise in the MYM Toolbox HERE

POINTS OF CONTACT ARE POWERFUL

Again, it’s not bad to have large numbers, but you will have to answer the question, “How deep do these relationships go?” Points of contact help you answer that question. What a point of contact does is count how many times you connect with a specific teenager.

You can value different types of point of contact like:

• Going to a sporting event = 2 points per teen
• Attending a hour small group = 3 points per teen
• Sending an encouraging text = 1 point per teen Plugging teens into small groups with two adult leaders
• Meeting one on one = 4 points per teen 

Add up the point over the span of a year and answer the question, “Have we seen growth in that individual?”

By collecting this data you’ll be able to train your leaders on how much interaction they should have with the teens they shepherd. You’ll have the data to create better ministry.

BUDGETS CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOU

I’ve been wondering lately, “How much money should I be spending per teen each year?” Think about it, if I only gave you $5 to spend on a teenager in the span of the year what would you do with it?

You need to look at every teen like he or she is an investment. The bigger the investment the bigger the return…that is if you are using your money wisely.

To use it wisely you need to understand how finances in your parish work and plan. Money is a powerful tool that will enable you to:

• Train your leaders better
• Give your teens quality materials
• Help you grow as a professional

Know your budget and you’ll be able to figure out how to take it to the next level.

TIME MATTERS THE MOST

The time you spend on your ministry matters. It’s not just how much but when you use that time that really makes an impact on your ministry.

If you spend too much time behind a desk you’ll have a hard time connecting with anyone. If you spend too many hours doing and not learning you’ll hit a creative wall. Count your hours, examine your energy and track it properly. You don’t want to burn yourself out.

For more help on your scheduling check out my Time Savers Resource in the MYM Toolbox HERE

Numbers are instrumental to what we do. They tell a story, they are connected to the lives so we need to manage them well.

How and what are you measuring in your youth ministry outside of attendance?

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