The Resilient Leader

Now that we are on this side of the so-called pandemic, religious leaders are asking some very hard questions on where we go from here. Truthfully, attempting to measure our purpose and mission by pre-pandemic metrics does not make sense any longer. Please do not misunderstand my comment. I am not saying that our pre-pandemic efforts had zero impact. Let’s face the fact that we all have been traumatized on several levels and we are trying to make sense of what it is that we see now the fog is lifting. What I can say is that things appear vastly different today.

How do we assess the health of our church? Barna Research has been an invaluable resource for those leaders who desire to present a passionate vision that is spirit led and data informed. While the religious landscape appears vastly different there are metrics that remain true even though we are shell shocked by the rapid change of our world and nation. Here is a set of metrics that is worth the time and effort to engage for clarity and the rediscovery of purposeful community mission.

These metrics are meaningful to worshippers that attend our churches and activities. As you examine this set of metrics you will notice the absence of program driven agendas and the focal point of celebration – “Look at what we have accomplished!” Rather, this metric set is all about formation of the worshipper and the team members that serve the church. It answers the three crucial questions of a post-pandemic society; Do you know me? Can you help me? Can I trust you?

While we are all rubbing our eyes in disbelief at the accelerated changes in our nation and churches, perhaps we should realize the amazing opportunity being presented. Re-evaluate our Biblical mandate of spiritual formation of Christlikeness in the lives of worshippers that call our church home should become the front and central passion. The pandemic has not caused our concerns, rather, it has revealed what was occurring previously. Utilize this metric set as a focal point of evaluation for our current agenda and our preferred agenda for tomorrow’s worshippers.