Where are we in our missional journey: Ministry assessment

Activity: Ministry Assessment

What it is: The ministry evaluation helps your church ask: Are we doing the right ministries, in the right way, for the right reasons? It takes a careful look at the focus, methods, and outcomes of current community-serving ministries. It also encourages you to examine programs in light of the church's mission statement and core ministry values.

Why it is helpful: Every ministry program should be regularly evaluated to ensure that your good intentions are producing the best possible results. Evaluation helps a church more effectively use its gifts in partnership with the community to share healing and hope with those who are struggling, and to work toward neighborhoods that better reflect God’s will being done “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Your church might benefit from this activity if ... your church offers community-serving programs but has no idea whether they are having an impact; if you are unsure whether your ministry resources are being directed toward the most significant community needs, or being used in the most effective way; if programs are determined more by tradition ("that's just the way we do things here") than by Spirit-led research; if you want to explore options for re-focusing, re-visioning or expanding existing programs in order to enhance their transformational impact.

The ministry program evaluation can go hand in hand with a ministry inventory (see the previous question). The ministry inventory looks at the church's overall approach to local mission; the ministry evaluation looks at specific ministry programs.