Scorecard in Ministry
Student ministry changes lives forever.
After serving in student ministry for the last 16+ years, I can confidently say that student ministry has drastically changed. From the way students interact and engage with their understanding of spiritual matters, it is different.
Students’ mindsets have evolved with our culture. The time of students coming to a Youth Pastor’s office during the week has passed. Events, programs, and coming to hang in the church with the Youth Pastor no longer attract or grow ministries.
What grows a student ministry? A Student Pastor who is real, relational, and willing to leave the office to hang out with students. Students want pastors in their world.
Over the past few years, I have studied some churches in America – various churches that vary in size, culture, and location. There was a common theme throughout my research. While many churches have a clear vision and mission, not many of them actually track or measure their progress.
INTRODUCING THE YOUTH MINISTRY SCORECARD.
What is a scorecard? A student ministry scorecard focuses on the precise development of a vision, mission, and quantifiable objectives to track progress against those goals. The scorecard focuses on ways to move the ministry toward the vision and mission while maintaining the operational and relational health.
After talking with the staff at my church and volunteers within the student ministry in 2015, we realized we needed a new approach focused on quality. This led to Elevate’s student ministry scorecard.
After talking with different pastors and leaders, I came across a book called MAKE IT LAST by Jeff Lovingood. Lovingood created a scorecard with five different categories, or groups. We used the same structure:
Coming to worship– reaching students to come worship, whether church or unchurched.
Connect in fellowship– focusing on developing Titus 2 relationships and having events for students to grow together.
Grow in discipleship– helping students own their faith and also beginning to disciple peers.
Serve others in ministry– having students take ownership of their faith, but also to start serving others around them.
Go reach the world– helping students to become missionaries where they live currently and where they go daily.
Below illustrates the specific objectives along with a various initiative that has led to a more productive ministry.
My Scorecard
1. Coming to Worship
# of salvations per month- Goal is 1
attendance at all services- goal is 50% at 2/3 services
how many visitors come back
use Bible App, Bible, and taking notes- goal is to get students using Bibles and taking notes
Goal is 1 baptism a month
2. Connect in Fellowship
attendance at Fellowship events grow by 2 people each time
25% of 2/3 people to be in accountability relationships in year 1, 50% year 2
30-40 students at wed night hang outs
3. Grow in Discipleship
25% of HS students discipling middle schoolers
Titus 2 relationships: 25% year 1, 50% year 2
i. Have adults invest in 1-2 students for an hour a week
25% of HS discipling middle schoolers, 50% year 2
4. Serve others in Ministry
1/3 of students serving in Church
i. on committees
ii. in the service
iii. in preschool
iv. in children church
v. cleaning up
Local mission projects
i. Saturday Servants
ii. Sponsor 2 children
iii. Serving and serving well
5. Go reach the world
Any students serving in summer mission trips and projects
Any students helping raise money or support to reach people internationally
25% of students talking about missions in year 1
50% of students concerned with the nations
NOW, WHAT?
Creating a scorecard for my ministry almost 6 years ago was uncharted territory that presented its challenges. However, it was a project worth investing because we now have a standard tool among church leaders and volunteers, as well as something students and parents, can embrace. I highly recommend every Youth Pastor take time to consider how they are communicating their ministry strategy and measuring performance against those objectives.
