I have to admit that I have debated whether to do this post or not for over a week. Not because I think success hasn’t been written about.! It has. A LOT!! But I have debated about it for several reasons:
1) Who am I that I should write about it? Looking at my life in the ministry is a contradiction of terms: ministry longevity = success.
2) Who would really care if I should write from a pastor’s viewpoint on the misnomer called “success?”
3) What could I say that hasn’t already been said, written, blogged, and/or spoken about it?
Answers to questions: 1) Who better to? 2) Probably nobody but who better to than a pastor? 3) Probably nothing but someone has said written something significant.
SUCCESS = ????
Numbers
Big buildings
Attendance
Small groups
Crowded auditorium
Smoke and mirrors
SRO
Worldwide ministry
Multiple services caused by mucho people
Pastors as CEOs
Multi-site churches
Notice a trend? Hint: they are in red. “Houston, we have a problem,” to borrow a phrase. Worst part of it all: I spent way t-o-o-o many years caught up in that whole fiasco. Now please…before you read too much into this: I am not against the above list. If God blesses a man and his ministry, Go for it! Craig Groeschel and Artie Davis (to name two) are two of my favorite pastors/”friends” so don’t get any ideas I am against things.
WHAT. I. STRUGGLE. WITH. IS. THE. FEELING. OF. INFERIORITY. THAT. COMES. FROM. COMPARISON. HERE IT IS:
WHAT IS SUCCESS? HOW DO YOU MEASURE IT?
That is the big time question Shawn Lovejoy tackles in his “most excellent book” entitled “The Measure of Our Success.” I mentioned it briefly in this post, but I have been so impacted by it, I wanted to devote at least one post primarily to it. I honestly felt like Shawn was sitting next to the couch I was laying on and he was reading my thoughts. I heard things like, “You preach God’s Word and you won’t want for an audience. People will come to hear you speak.” Aaaah yeah. Try telling that to a kid eeking out a living in a small country church that hasn’t seen new blood for eons. Feelings of inferiority. Try telling that to a kid who supposedly had “Success” written all over him, but spent most of his ministry wondering what happened. Feelings of inferiority. In case you are wondering…that kid would be me.
Finally someone has said it is okay to be the pastor of a small country church. Finally someone has said success is not measured by standards the world church thinks matter. Finally someone has written a book saying the pastor is not a CEO, he is a shepherd. (I know there have been others, but this one sticks hard). I believe so strongly in this book if I had the money I would put it in the hands of every pastor and every graduating seminary student/pastor. No…I would make it required reading for graduation. I would also put it in the hands of every church leader to read. I plan to here. To you I say read it. You never know how much it will mean to your pastor to do so…and finally understand. 
Yeah…I’m that sold on it. BTW: I do know a couple of guys I will be sending this to. Thank you Shawn for writing a much-needed book. Now…how do you measure success? I’d like to hear your thoughts.
Several weeks before I even knew that my friend Rob was starting a new church, I had basically made up my mind to leave my old church. It had gotten way too big for my tastes. With its size came shallowness, a shift to “pander” to the masses in the form of lite, feel-good preaching, the push for endless growth above all things (such as really working to tend the flock), and the hunger for money to support itself. I was miserable and so frustrated because the church that I once was so comfortable in and so enjoyed, had morphed into something that made me want to stay away. I prayed hard on this for a while. Then poof, Rob made his announcement.
I don’t really know what success is for a church, but I feel in my bones that it must be more than just growing attendance numbers.
So glad to hear you were able to find a church that had your “values” Daniel. Praying Rob keeps his head on straight and continues down the path of service. And yes, success is more than numbers.
In regard to the Christian faith, I don’t measure success, at all. Although I am always tempted to.
I try and walk by faith, and not by sight.
I think the temptation is there for all of us Steve. it is for me anyway.
One of the interesting things about how the world measures success is that they value it as long as people meet their measures of success. For example, people love to “hate” Taylor Swift because she has been successful too quickly and they perceive she shouldn’t have had any success at all.
Regarding success in ministry, Jeremiah would be considered a failure by today’s standards, but God would consider him a success because he did what he was supposed to do. So, as followers of Christ, we need to turn our view of success upside down and say that a faithful life to the Lord would make us a success and nothing else.
Totally agree with what you said Larry. your last line speaks volumes.
I have written many business plans geared toward achieving success. While a business has different ways to measure success than a church, it is important that the criteria for success be measurable and that the measures are truly factors to success.
There are always “Critical Success Factors” that impact maximizing the success. What those are need to be definable, understood by everyone involved and measureable. They can not be some esoteric feeling or feel good statements that everyone defines differently.
I am not sure what those would be for a pastor or a church but they do need to be decided upon.
Where are we now? and where would we like to be in the future? And what are the things we need to do differently? and how are we going to measure whether we are doing them or not? What are the strengths and weaknesses? Be honest. These are the questions that need answered.
Sometimes the answers will indicate a drastic change and sometimes subtle changes.
If you have a product no one wants, or a marketing plan that no one likes, or a lack of resources and talent to get there the results will not be good.
People buy what they want. They don’t necessarily buy what they need. If you are selling what they need you have to sell it in a fashion that makes them want it.
I really appreciate your comments from a business standpoint Jeff. While I reject the pastor being a CEO-type of person, I do think the church can learn some principles (as you have suggested) from the business world. Having a Vision is absolutely essential for the church. (BTW: i do plan to share that on 9/23). Thanks for the helpful advice.
My brother is a senior pastor for adult ministries in a church of about 1400. The head pastor is a CEO type and it seems to work fairly well. People are engaged, small groups are flourishing and they seem to have a coherent plan and vision. Everyone has to design what works for them.
I think your last statement is the key to it all.
Well – that hits hard with me. After coming from a very large city and a large church in it. I remember some friends and other pastors looking at me with pity when I said I was headed to a rural church in a rural area with around a hundred people. I love the idea of Shepherd over CEO because I see it biblicaly. It certainly sounds like a book I might want to read and encourage others with in this area as they are all small country churches in this area.
Thanks Bill!
I admire you Jim in that you are like my long lost brother
but also in the fact that you did what many would not- take a small rural church. Your efforts are being blessed. I do think the book will be a good one for you to read and even discuss with the others in your area.
Success as defined by man takes on many shapes and sizes. What I consider a success may seem insignificant to someone else.
I struggle with man’s definitions of success cause too often I seem to fall short of them.
I realize that success in the eyes of God is achieved by one who recognizes His complete authority and humbly submits to Him…
Doing so may lead someone down a path that seems insignificant in the eyes of man… but as Henry Blackaby shares in “Experiencing God”, there is no insignificant task when it comes to following God.
Victory (Success) is in Jesus.
Understand what you are saying Dusty. When I do compare I fall short. If I keep my eyes on Jesus I do a whole lot better.
I read your post and think this…
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, And your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
I think our success is only measured in our level of obedience to Him and His ways. But I think we can see “success” in the fruit that our lives produce, because of that obedience of course. Thanks Bill…I’ll have to check out that book!
Good verse Jay, as well your thoughts. Gives mind to the idea that sometimes we won’t see fruit until much later.
I would say that success is measured if my goals are met and in an acceptable timeframe. I think that letting some outsider or the worlds standard measure your success for you will never work because that standard is always moving. That’s true for a person, a business or a church.
I need a little more steady target to aim for than that.
True statement Jim about moving standards. I need that steady target also.
Great post Bill. I can’t think of many people more qualified to write about this than you. After all, God called you to lead and I appreciate the fact that you don’t shy away from tough subjects.
I think the biggest problems when measuring success is what a person is counting. Most of the people who measure success in worldly terms use numbers that represent money. Those are the numbers for Christians that don’t add up… Ever…
When we measure success by the number of lives we’ve touched for God’s kingdom, that is true success, but those numbers are usually only calculated by our Father whose watching from above. When we do a small act of kindness for a person the world doesn’t see, when we do it for them and we don’t tell anyone… When we pray for others with a compassionate heart… Those are the numbers that God counts and we won’t no the tally until we’re with Him… then they won’t even count… That’s how we know we’ll all be success stories… Written by God…
What you say is so true Floyd about what a person is counting. I have a statement in my calendar this week: what do i want said about me on my gravestone? Thanks for the kind words.
Hi Bill,
I think the church could define success as being close to God, eminating God, having the mind of God, loving God, obedience to God, studying God, praying to God, living in the Spirit, and in the end rising up in bodily ressurection to God, and living eternally.
In general today’s church would fail miserably at this definition of success. If the ‘church’ as we know it today is not meeting the earthly measures of success, it will not be ressurrected and provided with eternal life either.
You state the dichotomy we deal with Linda. We need to choose whether to view it God’s way or the world’s way.
I’m part of a very small fellowship group so can’t speak to what success in the church would be. I measure success sometimes by the day, and sometimes by the week. A day or week where I have accomplished good things, where I have made a difference, where I have overcome a trial, where I have drawn closer to God, where I have touched someone’s life in a good way, where I feel I have done His will, etc. Those are all measures of success to me.
Each church is different for sure. Each person is different as well. You make a great case for evaluating oneself. Well said Mike.
This is a tough subject, because although our mouths and brains define success one way – our hearts often define it a different way.
It’s funny because God is in the middle of teaching me about this right now, and I’ve realized just how far off my heart’s definition has gone.
Mouth and brain often are far apart. Been there still fighting that.
Good point Loren.
Frankly I’m glad to hear you say these things. I live in the Bible belt but sadly I have visited far too many Churches with the above problems- measuring success on worldly standards.
It’s hard to not get caught up in comparisons. I think many Christian bloggers struggle with focusing on Stats and building platforms. Barb from beyondasinnersprayer.wordpress.com
just started a series on this and I’m really looking forward to it.
Anyway, as I congregation member, I don’t care about a pastors numbers, I care about his/her character, his/her heart which goes back to his/her walk with God.
Measuring success by worldly standards is the big problem. Gonna have to check out Barb’s blog. Thanks for the heads up TC. Your last sentence is what matters.
Hi Bill,
I came across this comment today about the church by David Legge in his message concerning the book of I Corinthians, ‘The Reason it was Written’.
“You get these leaders coming up in the church and all they have is management skills, and it’s plaguing the church – models of church planning, how you can make your church effective from the business world’s perspective. The church-growth manuals are full of all the principles of secular growth! Patrons! Yet what is lacking in the Western church today is an exhibition of compassion, of forgiveness in the personal relationship every day, the coal face of relevant faith – not a parody of Christianity, but real Christianity in shoe leather that weighs up to all the evangelical verbiage that we bandy about our mouths! What this world needs, and what Christ wants – this is the message of Corinthians – is a Christian that says they’re Christian and acts like a Christian! Not an ascetic revolt that reacts against the immorality of the day and abstains from things, and defines themselves as a Christian by what they do not do – but what this world needs and what Christ wants is a Christian defined not by what he doesn’t do, but what he is!”
Says he is a Christian and acts like one. That sums it up.
I believe that as a leader, or even as an evangelist success is, or should be defined as “one person at a time: a row or dominoes for example.
As Neil Armstrong exclaimed: “one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.”
One person at a time. Good point Ed.
Bill,
In my experience, when a church gets so big that the pastor can’t tell you if so & so has been to church in awhile, that’s sad to me. The church we currently attend has a preaching pastor & Administrative pastor. Our Administrative pastor preaches once a month and both pastors are very people oriented & make themselves available, which is no easy task in a bigger church….another thing you do, make yourself available, day or night.
In my humble opinion I feel you are very much qualified to answer those 3 questions, because of the life you lead, the word you preach and the way you treat others. In my head you are quite successful….you not only love God & put Him first, you are a people person, you care about people, you know when someone is missing on a Sunday, you followup to make sure the missing person isn’t ill or had a hardship, when someone asks you to pray for them, that person knows full well you will do it. You are preaching & leading people to God and to the way He wants us to live, so not only do I count that as your success, I am sure that God does too. You have a beautiful wife & daughters, adorable grandson….they love you, miss you & want to be with you….another measure of success in my eyes.
Just Friday God showed me grace & that I am successful in His eyes….the Principal, Asst. Principal & my teacher had the children sit on the floor, I sat with the students on the floor, then they faculty talked about themselves, their jobs, their hobbies, their personal lives & basically told the students all about themselves…not one of those 3 adults asked me what my likes, dislikes, hobbies or personal life was….I have to admit, it hurt my feelings, I really felt like a nobody, I almost cried…I work hard everyday & I am never asked by my classroom teacher what’s happening in my life, but I sure get to hear what’s happening for her. Which, truly, I don’t mind, it allows me to get to know her better. So, I wallowed for awhile wondering why nobody would even give me a thought when a student came up to me & handed me a drawn picture….she had drawn hearts & flowers & writtten “You always smile when you see me, I like that” God just laid the smack down on me!!! I just smiled, gave her a hug & realized, it should not matter to me if other adults notice my job or if they give me accolades….I’m there for the kids & I could proudly(not pridefully:)) say to myself, I am doing a good job here for these kids & that’s all that counts. As long as I’m doing the job God put me there to do, I will be successful in the eyes who count….my heavenly Father.
(sorry so long!) I love how God works! Great post Bill!
I am humbled by your words Jan. Thanks. I think you mention something that is common- it is easy to forget those who “take the back seat” in things. That is a good reminder for me. But that little girl showed who made the difference for her. YOU!