When we start talking about metrics or providing indicators that allow us to assess God given progress towards a vision or goal, many of us immediately assume some hidden motive behind the request. For example, we might think:
- Our work is going to be judged on insufficient criteria (just numerical indicators);
- Our leaders are looking for a way to justify closing down our ministry; or
- We as an agency are being overly influenced by business tactics
Rather than taking the perspective that others will be ‘judging us’, perhaps we could look at indicators as a healthy way to ‘assess one another’ and ‘help one another’; to work together as a global community to fulfill our purpose and vision in greater ways.
Indicators (quantity and quality) might show that there has been limited fruit in a particular ministry over the past few years. A healthy assessment would engage dialogue over a number of questions. The answers to those questions might reveal a limited prayer network for the ministry and a significant lack of people resources.
Do we fold the ministry? No. We as a global community bring the resources that are lacking to this ministry, or we network the existing team to needed resources. Any assessment reveals how a ministry is doing and what we might learn from them or how we might come alongside them with help.
Filed under: Assessment, Community, Resources | 4 Comments »
Thoughts Along The Journey 