attendance
Why Therapy Is A Part Of My Formation
As I sat in the waiting room, I wondered how I got to this point. Therapy wasn’t a foreign concept for me; it was something that I had gone to…
When I look at the 20 years I ran ministry, there were times we had hundreds of teens involved and others when it was half a dozen. Some might say those big years were more successful. But when only 10 show up, is that failure?
That number can sit with you. People might question you. You might question yourself. But is that fair?
You might ask yourself, "What needs to change?" or "Am I still good at this?" You’ll re-read your notes, rethink your structure, and maybe even second-guess your calling.
Because whether we say it out loud or not, so many of us have been trained to believe that attendance is the gold standard of success.
But what if it’s not?
METRICS THAT REVEAL HEALTH
Let’s flip the question. Instead of asking how many showed up, what if we asked what showed up in them?
CONSISTENCY OVER HEADCOUNT
Start tracking who shows up consistently, not just how many. One teen who never misses a night is showing you something valuable. Ask them why they come and what they’re choosing to skip to be there. You’ll learn who’s bought in—and why.
If you focus on retention, you can increase your reach. Consistency builds trust, and trust builds discipleship.
CONVERSATION DEPTH
Did your small group talk about real stuff, or just give one-word answers? Did anyone cry, laugh, wrestle with Scripture, or ask a hard question?
Those are the moments that matter. That’s when the Holy Spirit gets space to move.
If you're not sure how to track this, get your small group leaders and catechists involved. After your first two sessions, sit down with them and talk about the level of conversation. Then, every couple of months, check in again. Ask:
- "What are some moments that stood out to you?"
- "Which teens or kids are participating?"
- "What subjects, questions, or comments are they bringing up?"
Write down their answers, track them, and celebrate them.
LEADERSHIP TRANSFER
Are teens simply participating—or are they stepping into leadership? It starts with small things: leading prayer, inviting a friend. But where does it go next?
Real fruit shows up when they get involved beyond your program—serving at Mass, helping with VBS, mentoring younger teens. That’s leadership transfer.
It means you’re not just creating participants; you’re forming disciples who see the Church as theirs.
And it goes both ways. How is your parish investing back in the next generation? Are other leaders helping teens grow beyond your ministry?
When leadership gets shared, discipleship is taking root.
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY MEASURING?
Numbers are important, but they aren't the only thing we value. We measure what we value. Maybe it’s time to value what Jesus did—transformed lives over packed rooms.
When you track health, not hype, you build a ministry that lasts.
Packed rooms are exciting. But changed lives? That’s eternal.
Want to rethink your metrics? Download our free Ministry Health Snapshot worksheet. It’s a simple tool to help you assess what really matters.
