by Summer Morris
What kind of legacy is your church leaving in your community? When 
folks from your community drive by your campus or your church is mentioned, what do people say? The answer to this question is just as important as what the folks inside your building are saying! Our witness to our community might be our most indispensable commodity.
While pursuing my M. Div, I developed a practice of evaluating every ministry and church project with three key questions:
- Why do we do this?
- How effective are we at doing it?
- How does this contribute to our mission?
Usually, the reason we do something is that we hope it brings more people (and more money) to our church. And that is a noble goal. But, really, how many people can say they came to your church because they attended your fall festival? What if there are other valuable metrics that tell a more robust story? Consider this list:
- People see our church as a safe space and builds our credibility
- The community speaks positively about the church.
- Volunteers put faith into practice while serving joyfully.
When you widen the metrics, you widen the possibilities! Maybe you partner with a local school, or you offer your space as a warming shelter, or you make sandwiches for the local shelter. The possibilities are endless, and I promise, you will see God at work in your congregation as well as your community.
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