Youth ministry metrics aren’t usually a hot topic. Most youth pastors don’t like to talk about statistics. Or if we do, it’s with wailing and gnashing of teeth. We imagine church elders shaking their heads in frustration at the job we’re doing to reach local students.
Or we laugh at the image of the same elders shaking their heads with concern because the numbers are up… But the students you’re reaching are causing serious problems. Like an occasional swear word and wearing earbuds on church property.
Here’s the truth: Youth ministry metrics are important. Numbers matter.
Try as we might to help leadership see the discipleship process as more than a head count? Numbers remain a universally accepted currency of “health” in student ministry. Here are a few youth ministry metrics to keep an eye on.
Follow These Youth Ministry Metrics
1. Youth group attendance
First up: We use a simple head count to track this metric. Attendance reveals trends in the year, trends by series/topics, and shifts in big-picture participation. Many church cultures (ours included) often weight this measurement too heavily. But it can still be a helpful number to watch because people do vote with their feet.
A growing number reflects a strong ideal entry-point for our student ministry. Teens are entering the ministry through the top of the funnel. To some degree, this reflects the health of friendship evangelism in our ministry.
2. Small-group signups
Next, joining a small group takes an additional level of commitment. So we expect this number to be less than the youth group number. Knowing how many students are signed up and/or actually attending can be helpful to make sure students are entering and flourishing at the next step in the discipleship process.
This number should grow in proportion to the weekend number. If 60% or more teenagers are active in a small group, we’re thrilled.
3. Salvations/baptisms
Each week we share the life-changing message of Jesus Christ, and once a month we have baptisms. It’s continually important and recharging to see how God is changing lives. We celebrate any student who comes to faith and gets baptized, because it’s such an important step across the line of faith. We usually compile this number from response cards collected at youth group.
