{"id":342,"date":"2018-10-12T15:03:05","date_gmt":"2018-10-12T22:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/chris\/?p=342"},"modified":"2018-10-12T15:06:51","modified_gmt":"2018-10-12T22:06:51","slug":"measuring-our-movement-a-reply-to-cm1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/create.twu.ca\/chris\/2018\/10\/12\/measuring-our-movement-a-reply-to-cm1\/","title":{"rendered":"A Response to CM1 || Measuring our Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello Oliver & Others,<\/p>\n

I realize I am arriving late to the party\u2014I will try my best to add to the dialogue. I resonate well with aligning local church vision and mission with God\u2019s heart to reach the world with his love.<\/p>\n

Moses\u2019 interaction with God in Exodus 33:12-15 has always stuck with me as we exercise leadership\u00a0 in our churches:<\/p>\n

\u201cMoses said to the Lord, \u201cYou have been telling me, \u2018Lead these people<\/strong>,\u2019 but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, \u2018I know you by name and you have found favor with me.\u2019 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Lord replied, \u201cMy Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Then Moses said to him, \u201cIf your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (NIV, emphasis mine).<\/span><\/p>\n

Oliver, as you have described, churches often go into places or engage in ministries or track budgets instead of meeting the real needs of their congregations. As Christian leaders, we must constantly reflect: If God\u2019s presence does not go with us, where are we going?<\/p>\n

I want to reply to Boyder\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0comments on measuring and vision because they struck a chord with me.<\/p>\n

She writes, \u201cI agree with you that it is near impossible to measure the depth of growth a person experiences in their discipleship journey as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Salvation and baptisms are certainly initial measurements, but how do you determine the ongoing growth of the spiritually mature<\/strong>?\u00a0 My head spins at the thought!\u201d (2018, emphasis mine).<\/p>\n

As a pastor, I have spent a great deal of time wrestling with these sentiments\u2014wanting to see our mission as both a church (To produce fully devoted followers of Christ) and as Christians (Matthew 28) fulfilled.<\/p>\n

Lepsinger (2010) reminds us,<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course there are a wide variety of paths to reach any goal, and choosing among them and establishing priorities is the essence of execution . . . Still, the process can be simplified by breaking the vision down into manageable pieces\u2014the Standards of Excellence . . . Standards of excellence describe measurable results in the areas that are most critical to the organization\u201d (p. 37)<\/span><\/p>\n

We measure decisions made (salvations) and baptisms\u2014and I want to argue there are more elements to measure; however,\u00a0 they take much\u00a0more effort<\/strong> on our end.<\/p>\n