Talking about church success raises the question: how do churches measure success? 

Most church leaders would respond by saying they can measure success based on the congregation's size or the attendance at a Sunday service. To a certain extent, those answers are valid. After all, many church leaders still perceive church success as something outward. 

But there's no easy answer when one asks, “What makes your church successful?” 

The truth is, measuring church success is not as simple as checking attendance (although tracking attendance is key). Church success involves many dimensions.

Unfortunately, many church leaders brush off the idea of thoroughly discussing church success. For them, doing so appears to mirror the practices of “worldly institutions.”

But if there's one common denominator that church leaders should follow from other institutions, then it would be ensuring the success and well-being of the church.

In this article, we take a practical approach to determine if your church is a success or may need some redirection.

How Do Churches Measure Success

Success may be subjective to each individual. Fortunately, the church has the Bible as a primary source to understand how churches can be successful based on God's standards. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus makes it clear what is expected of the church:

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

-Matthew 28:19-20

Once you fully embrace Jesus' command, you'll understand that this is what churches should be all about—being faithful to God.

Simply put, churches should measure success on how faithful Christians are to everything God has commanded. Faithfulness looks like concrete actions that show your church members truly living out what Jesus taught His followers.

A Checklist to Measure Church Success

To make things more practical, here are five reflection points that church leaders can use to answer: Is your church a success?

1. Have you articulated a clear vision of success for the church?

Church leaders who aim for their church's success must possess in their hearts a vision for the church. Moreover, this vision is not just a product of their imagination; they know that the vision comes from God.

Most importantly, the church leader must also articulate their vision to the church because it invites unity and provides direction. When church members know your church's vision, they become more inspired and involved.

It would encourage a church to strive for success if they know where they are heading in the future with vision statements. For example, your vision may be:

• To see people saved, healed, discipled, and empowered in the name of Jesus Christ
• Helping believers get closer to Christ 
• Love God; love neighbors; love the church; and love the nation

If you already have your church's vision articulated, you are ready for your church's success. When the going gets tough at church, your vision will point you back to what God has always desired for His people. 

2. Is the church doing its mission?

Aside from being inspired by Jesus' commands and the church's vision, successful churches are those that take action. They are on a mission to obey everything God commanded His people to do.

All mission activities must stem from the church's vision.

The church's mission takes its form through the different ministries and services in which the church members participate. It's also important to point out that these mission activities are not just random or routine activities the church feels like doing every week. 

For example, if your church’s mission is “to see more people saved in the name of Jesus Christ” then you must think of ways within the church to achieve those goals. You may want to develop your evangelism ministries or raise funds for the church's mission trips.

Church leaders must be honest: Are they really pursuing these activities? It's easy to be preoccupied with all these pursuits but lose sight of the church's vision.

If your church has been focusing on these efforts, that helps you cross off another point in this checklist of measuring church success. 

3. Is the church growing?

A successful church is a growing church!

Success for the church is not a single event in history that churches aspire to; success for the church is an ongoing process of becoming more effective followers of Christ. 

When a church continues to grow, it suggests that the vision and mission of the church are manifested in the church members. 

With that, here are some of the growth factors you may need to closely examine for you to say that your church is growing and succeeding:

• Weekly/Monthly worship service attendance
• Number of baptisms
• Number of givers, volunteers, and church leaders
• First-time churchgoers and visitors from other churches
• Number of tithes and donations

Measuring this evidence of church growth helps church leaders realize that the church is helping the congregants in their Christian journeys. 

You'll see that the church members who continue to grow are those who volunteer at church, share their time and resources, encourage their family members to be at church, and empower other members to become faithful disciples of Jesus.

4. Do you communicate progress and success to the members?

You don’t have to report everything to everyone. Your specific success criterion suggests that communicating progress and success to the right people at the right time involves the entire church in the growth process. 

By doing this, church leaders like you receive valuable feedback and suggestions on how the church can achieve its vision. 

Communicating progress and success also allows you to guide key persons at church if they are going off-track or feel discouraged. As church leaders, this is a crucial step that ensures church success.

5. Do you celebrate success at church?

As much as there is work to be done, your church also needs to take time to celebrate!

The church should rejoice and celebrate every success they have accomplished, whether it’s an increase in giving, a new salvation, or a church member returning to the community. There is a heavenly reason to celebrate both “big” and “small” achievements.

Celebrating success doesn't have to mean that the church goes all out and throws a party. Instead, the church must consistently honor the efforts of all members who contributed to the efforts in achieving the church's mission. Most importantly, it's an appropriate time to acknowledge that your successes are only by God’s grace. 

Here are some practical ways to celebrate success at church:

• Acknowledge and mention the efforts of specific people/ministries during the sermon in a worship service.
• Post your church's achievements on your church's website, social media platforms, or even the local newspaper.
• Thank every member for offering their tithes and donations!
• Include a special moment of praising God during the worship service for all the successes He gave to the church.
• Give back to the immediate community through a donation drive or another mission activity.

Remember, a successful church acknowledges that every member of the church is important and that God is indeed the source of all these successes.

Make celebrating your church's success a regular part of the church's announcements through our guide, 9 Best Practices for Making Church Announcements.

The Ultimate Measure of the Church's Success

History has shown that God always triumphs. Similarly, He wants all God-fearing churches to be successful. However, getting to the desired level of success for the church requires leaders to know how to assess whether their church is already a success or may need more help.

In the end, the church's success all boils down to their faithfulness and obedience to God's commandments. That will always serve as the ultimate plumbline of success.

Tithe.ly is here to help your church become more successful through practices like increasing generosity, managing the church, and engaging your members.