I read a few posts last week about the 10% students to total attendance ratio in churches being a “healthy” attendance number for your student ministry. It raised all kinds of concerns and issues with so many different people. Some that claimed the metric is stupid, others that raved about it not being high enough. Still others that for the sake of encouragement told you to look elsewhere for evaluating your student ministry.
Now I think there is an argument for both ways.
For Example, using weight as a metric for health, if you are overweight, you can still be generally healthy. However, that extra weight that you are carrying is weighing your body down every day. But on the other side of the coin, you can be skinny and be completely unhealthy with a disease that no one has discovered yet.
I think we would all agree that weight is a good metric for health but in no way does it tell the entire story. Cancer, heart disease, etc. aren’t just occurring in the lives of the obese.
I think Youth Pastors get caught up in the Comparison Game quite easily. From facilities, budgets, staffing, volunteer ratios and everything in between. The best way to stop and get past the comparison game is something that we all know but often don’t put into practice.
Be Thankful.
I mean seriously, stop right now and find a sheet of paper, write down 25 things that you are thankful for in your ministry and then write down 25 things that you are thankful for in your personal life.