How do we measure success? For some things, it’s easy. When you’re in school, an A grade means you aced that test. When you’re running a business, an increase in profit likely means something is going right. But how do you measure success in ministry? An increase in effort and resources does not automatically equal an increase in Jesus followers. God does not work in ways we expect, so we cannot say a ministry is successful just because many people showed up to an event. 

Last term we launched our first Sunday Kids Quest. We planned, prepped, and organized a morning of fun and biblical teaching. There was lots of prayer from many people, and we had a group of fantastic volunteers for the event. The morning was full of happy noise, and we had a lovely group of kids attend. The group was small, but the event went well. Overall, it was a good day. And yet, in my head, I couldn’t help but compare to our holiday Kids Quest numbers. Was not enough done for the Sunday Kids Quest, leading to a smaller number of attendees? Were there more people I could have asked, better media I could have produced, to increase the numbers? 

These thoughts swirled around in my head, and then I recalled something a pastor once told me. There is no formula for success in ministry. We can use all our effort, but it is God who both defines and determines the ‘success’. Our planning is not bad, but our faith must come before all else. 

And so, as our next Sunday Kids Quest comes up in a few weeks, I have kept this idea at the forefront of my mind. Instead of getting caught up in the to do list, I am trying to remember reliance on God first, completing tasks second. It is a work in progress, but there is comfort in knowing God will use this event for his purpose, not ours. Let us not measure success using the world, but instead let God define what success is.

Emily Hoet

Photo by Imagine Buddy on Unsplash