Keeping Score...

People frequently ask me, "How is your church doing?" I've noticed that often times what they are really asking is "How many people are coming but they don't usually come out and ask that bluntly?" It's not a wrong question or even a bad question, but it does represent something significant.

Whether at home, at work, or even church, we all long to know when we are winning. My staff, our volunteers, the friends of Ridge Church and partner churches across the country all want to know if we are being successful.

So how are we doing? The short answer---We are doing great. How do we know? We know because we have identified some of the things that for us are "success".

• We value conversations not just conversions
• We value excellence and creativity in presentation
• We value being an easy place to invite friends, co-workers , family etc
• We value relationships, and creating environments that foster them

After our last worship gathering, a young man in his early twenties, told me his life was "completely different". By his own admission as a result of his experience at Ridge Church a week ealier when he drew a line in the sand and said he was ready to quit running from Jesus. He said the peace and purpose that he experienced in the days following that decision were "beyond explanation"...for us that is success!

It is vitally important that we learn "what things indicate success" and then celebrate those things consistently. We consider it a privilege that God sees fit to use us in "His plan" for this generation, in this city.