How often have you gone to a conference or a network meeting and heard the question:
“How many kids do you have?”
It’s interesting how one number can dominate how a ministry is perceived.
Do attendance numbers matter?
Can attendance reflect the health of a ministry?
What other numbers could we use to determine ministry health?
With those questions in mind, here are some numbers that I think will be enlightening for all of us.
The Numbers That Matter
Over the years, I’ve attended many conferences, read countless books, and discussed with numerous leaders this idea of healthy growth and metrics.
In my estimation, these are the numbers that truly help evaluate ministry health:
1. 15%–20% of the Total Congregation
A healthy Children’s Ministry typically represents 15–20% of the total congregation.
Of course, this varies based on demographics. A church filled with young families will naturally have a higher percentage of children.
If your church skews older, the percentage will likely be lower.
The goal: continually reach outside the walls of the church and connect with families in your community.
2. $500–$1,000 per Kid per Year
Are you familiar with the term ROI (Return on Investment)?
This range reflects the investment per child in staff, events, and facilities.
Children’s and youth ministries often provide the greatest return—most people decide to follow Christ at a young age.
Without consistent investment in reaching kids, a ministry will eventually stop growing.
3. 5 – The Number of Friends a Child Needs
Every child needs five friends in their group to feel connected.
Small groups are vital for creating these relationships.
Friendliness and belonging are key to helping kids build lasting connections within the church.
4. 6–8 – The Number of Children One Adult Can Mentor Well
An adult can effectively know and mentor six to eight children at a deeper spiritual level.
Jesus modeled this with His closest disciples.
If we want to impact children for life, we must connect them with caring mentors who know them personally.
5. 1 – Family
We only have one family, and ministry should never come at their expense.
Our first calling is to love and lead our family well.
Healthy ministry begins with a healthy home.
So there you have it—Numbers to Know.
Which of these numbers resonates most with you?
Do you have a system in place to evaluate your ministry’s health?
