Dealing with Ministry Key Performance Indicators
A meditation on scriptures dealing with church mandates and indicators for spiritual success.
By Apostle Aje Pelser
Key Scripture in self-evaluation of ministry
How many ministers reach a place of self-loathing at one point in ministry? It’s often not for a lack of effort and application, devotion and self-sacrifice. This bears the question: “When is a ministry a success?” Furthermore, what are your personal indicators for success?
Isaiah 49:4, "Then I said, 'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the LORD, And my work with my God.' "
Something my dad always pointed out: “Where is Jesus’ church that He planted?”
If you think about it, Jesus’ closely knit discipleship group was his church. The preaching to the masses came and went. At his moment of crucifixion where were the crowds? John and his mother and his friend Mary were there. Where were his mighty men? What happened to his finances? Where was his legacy at that moment?
“Unless a seed dies and falls into the ground, it abides alone.” Each church serves a purpose and has a mandate to fulfil in its time. Identifying those mandates will help to give the ministry momentum and direction.
Another interesting scripture that we don’t hear so often online and in social media:
John 3:30, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
What happened to the first church?
What happened to the massive Jerusalem church that grew as the Lord added daily those being saved?
When persecution arose the believers in Jerusalem were dispersed across the known world. Does that mean the church failed in numbers because people were leaving? Were they not fulfilling the great commission that Jesus gave the disciples in the first place to go into all the earth and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, teaching them all things that He Himself also taught?
The general aversion to social media has created a false parameter for success that is often just a carnal comparison-based indicator. Mike Wood told us in apostolic meetings: “It’s a rat race out there, and one of the rats are winning!” Spiritual comparison was rife in Paul’s time too. It is carnal and leads to emulation versus imitation in ministry. Emulation is copying for the wrong reasons while imitation is receiving impartation through a mutually beneficial relationship, based on Godly mutual submission. In our networks, there are good examples of mutual submission that creates a two-way street of communication and collaboration. Autonomy of churches within networks is a new idea that many still need to experience. God showed me “wheels within wheels” that are the inner workings of His cherubim that move with His presence in one direction, and it explains a lot of our orbital network ecclesia. In an orbital network, the central focus shifts to Jesus’ mandate for a specific church. Relating to that church requires the other church to recognize that mandate and finds ways to enhancing and drawing from that grace and vice versa. Then there is a recognition of Christ within the hope of glory and a depth of relationship that outlasts shallower church connections that are often geographic or organizationally forced.
Let’s have a look at some churches mentioned in the Bible and see what their mandates were, and you can determine their key performance indicators based on whether they fulfilled those mandates.
Governmental Church Mandate: Jerusalem Church
The Jerusalem Church fulfilled an apostolic governmental mandate that saw to the distribution to needs, while apostles dedicated themselves to prayer and ministry of the word. Executive doctrinal decisions were handled as in Acts 15. The church grew quickly with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. After the persecution arose, people were scattered:
Here are a collection of key mandate scriptures from the Church at Jerusalem:
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Act 2:44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common,
Act 2:45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
Act 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
Act 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
There is a clear shift in ministry operations here with the appointment of what churches call deacons:
Act 6:3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
Act 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Act 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
When ministers can really focus on ministry of the Word and prayers, churches grow on all fronts.
The large church in Jerusalem was growling, but the mandate to go into all the world making disciples was not happening. God used persecution to spread the Gospel wherever the believers went.
Act 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Onboarding New Believers
Act 15:1 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."
Act 15:6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.
Act 15:13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
Act 15:14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
The apostolic teams were accountable to the apostles in Jerusalem:
Act 15:4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.
delivered the decrees to keep to the newly founded churches and believers:
Act 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
Act 16:5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Sending Station: Antioch Church
In Antioch, the church served a slightly different purpose. It was like a sending station beyond the earth’s atmosphere to refuel, report, and send onward for the apostolic team of Paul and Barnabas.
Act 13:1 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
Act 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."
Act 13:3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
After his missionary journey Paul reported back to Antioch:
Act 18:22 And when he had landed at Caesarea, and gone up and greeted the church, he went down to Antioch.
Act 18:23 After he had spent some time there, he departed
Training Centre: Ephesus Church
Following the initial ministry in Ephesus where believers in the Gospel were baptized with the Holy Spirit, it was clear that there was a resistance to the new Way of Christ. Apostle Paul identified disciples that wanted to learn more and strengthened their faith through daily teaching of the Word.
Act 19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Act 19:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Act 19:10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Shifting Spiritual Principalities and Powers
This daily teaching of disciples caused the word of the Lord to grow> it shifted a local principality in Ephesus and people stopped believing idols and magic, so much so that the economy changed. Ephesus was strategically positioned as a trading city and the reach of the entire region. Look at how God has placed your church in your region. You have a strategic mandate to fulfil.
Withdraw the twelve disciples that hear your teaching and receive your ministry and plant the church and train them daily like in Ephesus. Then the whole region will also hear the word of the Lord, He has given you to proclaim in time.
Eventually Apostle Paul sent Apostle Timothy to Ephesus – where he had a powerful ministry. After a while he confronted the pagan processions in the streets, and they killed him for his boldness – a martyr’s death. (“Foxe’s Book of Martyrs,” John Foxe. Page 10, ISBN 978-0-88279-875-1; Bridge-Logos, Orlando FL. 32822, USA)
Simple Health Check
Simple questions that check the health of your church and ministry would be: "is Christ being formed in the people?"
My father used to reply when people asked him how big his church is: “Christ is being formed in the people.” He also shared a valuable pointer for how God grows a church: “Slowly!”
“Are the people hungry for God?” Chantal Pelser.
My wife and ministry partner for almost three decades, Chantal, brought this point up in our conversation on ministry KPI’s: “Are the people hungry for God? Are they hungry to worship the Lord? Are they drawing more revelation from you as you teach?”
Have I picked up the mantle of the double portion?
Picking up a mantle has the effect of doubling the efforts of those who have gone before. The double portion is also realized in the follow up and repurposing of resources to go further, reach more, make more disciples and refine the accuracy of the ministry on all levels.
One example is the publication of my dad's book about Dogma in French. I realized we had not even published that book yet. One of our French Evangelists has used to train and equip his circles of ministers – many of whom are from the Democratic republic of Congo. I helped him to create a French Council of Ministers from the francophone countries and within a few weeks he had over twenty ministries onboard a growing network within a network – wheels within wheels.
I realized the other day that the words Elijah said to Elisha can be transferred to a corporate mantle: “If you see me go… you will have a double portion of my spirit.” I said to our group that all who saw our apostle go for the Lord, and supported and celebrated it through to the end, can access a double portion of that anointing.
The people rejoiced and we started to see a rise in outreach initiatives from the congregation, versus from leadership alone. We are not planning our calendar year as such but going through open doors and collaborating with ministries to reach out. Let the Lord judge your ministry and don't fall for the shallow evaluation of man. If you are fulfilling what God has called you to do, your just reward is with the LORD, And your work with your God.'
Apostolic Perspective on Comparison
1Co 3:4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?
1Co 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
1Co 3:7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
1Co 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
1Co 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
1Co 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1Co 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The art of ministry and networking is to celebrate and receive Christ in one another. There's something in you I need and hopefully vice versa!
Leave the final evaluation of your KPI's to the Lord, he is the Master of the increase. In the vineyards, it takes at least six years for a vine to produce mature fruit. Be patient. "God builds a church slowly." Apostle Andre Pelser, church planter and missionary to 124 nations.
Enjoy the ministry! Celebrate the measure of success the Lord allows and the increase He gives. Give Him all the glory and the cycle of glory grows.
Grace and peace.
Apostle Aje Pelser
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