Month: March 2011

by Jeff Tunnell

I believe the most important statistics to keep and track are the number of cell groups and how many people are in those cell groups each week.  Secondarily, but just as important, is knowing how many potential new leaders are currently being equipped to open a new cell group and what step they are on in the equipping track.  Complete reporting in these areas is vital to accuracy; each cell MUST report every week without exception.  The most important activity of the cell champion, cell supervisor or whoever collects and compiles the statistics is obtaining the reports from the leaders.

Keeping a record of Celebration attendance is only needed to compare how well you are moving people from the large weekly meeting into the small group gatherings.  For example: if I have 10 cells and my weekly reports from leaders tell me there were 80 people in cell meetings last week and there are 120 people in the celebration, then I know there are at least 40 more possible new cell members waiting to be assimilated.  This leads me to the conclusion that I need at least 4 new cell leaders soon (if the existing 10 cells cannot accommodate the average of 4 new persons each).  Certainly this is an example, not a rigid mathematical suggestion.  Statistics gathered must serve us, not us them.

Comments?

Jeff

by Joel Comiskey

Last week we blogged about the “why” of statistical reporting. Let’s now look at the “what” question. What are the essential statistics to ask for? One common error is to overload the reports with details that will never be examined. Here are some important, bottom line statistics:

• Whether or not the group actually met
• How many were in the group
• Facts about the group such as conversions and new visitors
• Prayer requests

Some other importnat details include:

• What the leader did during the week to visit attendees
• How many from the group are in the training
• Goal for multiplication

A normal report might look like this:

Weekly Life Group Report  Please return to Life Group mail slot in church workroom by Sunday. Leader: ____________________ Attendance: _______ Date: ___________ Conversions: __________ Topic/Theme of gathering: ____________________________ Multiplication date: ___________ Multiplication Leaders: ___________________ Contacts of members/visitors: _______ Visitors: __________ How many in Training Track: ________ Meeting with Coach: __________ Utilize the back for prayer requests or information you deem important to communicate with your Coach/Pastoral Staff.

Another good example from the International Christian Center in Staten Island, New York is:

Weekly Bridge Group Report  Date: ____________________ Leader: __________________________________________ Coach: ___________________________________________ Weekly Activity Report: Total Attendance: ________ Visitors: ________ Conversions: ___________ Bridge Group Trainees : _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Number of Follow-Up contacts during the week: Phone: _______________________________ One-on-one Appointments: ___________________________ Other: ________________________________________ Utilize bottom of sheet for prayer requests or information you deem important to communicate with your Coach/Leadership Staff. If you need more room please use back of page. Thank You. Please return to Angela Munizzi’s Ministry Office mailbox in the Choir Room .

As Steve Cordle mentioned in his blog last Thursday, only ask leaders to report on items that will be looked at, examined, and communicated.

Comments?

Joel

 

 

by Steve Cordle

It’s said “We count people because people count.” This is very true in cell ministry work.

However, one way to make sure leaders stop reporting is to ignore the statistics they send.

If you never mention or refer to the statistics the leader provides, they will assume it makes no difference whether they report or not. So, to give yourself a fighting chance at receiving information from your groups:

1. Use the reports. Study the trends. Look for signs of a great leader or a struggling one.

2. Refer to the reports in your coaching of the leader. When you speak with the leader about their group, mention something you learned from their report.

3. Contact the leader when they do not send the report. Otherwise, they will assume it makes no difference.

It can be challenging to get leaders to submit their statistical reports, so anything we can do to make it easier for them is a good idea. The least we can do is let them know we are noticing!

Comments?

Steve

 

 

 

by Michael Sove

Prov 27:23 “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks…” This principle is very important if you are going to develop people. That’s what the cell church is all about.  So it is important to have a process for developing people and a way to measure whether you are being effective or not.  Our church focuses on four core processes as we help people to “Connect, Grow and Serve.”

• Bring Them In – The focus here is outreach through both “Celebration and Cell.”
• Retain Them – The focus here is to connect them to cell and release them to serve.
• Disciple Them – The focus here is make “disciple-makers.”
• Send Them Out  – The focus here is to impact the local community and nations.

Since we feel strongly about what we’re trying to do, we need something to measure whether these goals are being realized.  Certain reports and statistics help us to gauge how we’re doing.

In a later blog I will explain what it is we look at and measure.  I think there are some foundational measurements to take and as the ministry grows there may be other levels of things to watch and measure.  A starting place is to take your mission or vision statement and ask yourself what it is you are trying to do, then, find a way to gauge your progress as you follow the Lord’s leadership to expand His kingdom for His Glory.

Comments?

Michael

 

 

by Mario Vega

Cell statistics are very important because they relate intimately to cell goals. You can only know how a church is doing in relation to its goals through the statistical records.

Whatever can not be measured, can not be monitored. The progress of  cell ministry, however,  can be measured and should also be monitored.

In order to monitor effectively, the statistics must be reliable, accurate and regular. When this happens, the statistics become a powerful tool to assess and direct cell ministry.

There is no doubt that the numerical aspects are only one part of the cell church.  But they are a part of it and must not be neglected. Statistical control must not be tossed aside by the excuse that cell ministry is not about numbers.

Obviously, keeping accurate statistics demand effort and perseverance. However,  once the data collection mechanism is established, the process will go quickly without much difficulty. There are outside computer programs to facilitate the work, but a church is likely to develop its own system. The important thing is not to set aside this  vital tool, which can help a church accomplish its goals.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish:

Las estadsticas y las metas.

Llevar estadsticas de las células es importante porque es un asunto que está muy ligado al de las metas. Solamente se puede saber cómo se encuentra una iglesia con relación a sus metas por medio de los registros estadsticos.

Como bien se ha dicho: lo que no se puede medir, no se puede monitorear. Pero el avance del trabajo celular s puede ser medido. Consecuentemente, también puede ser monitoreado. Por ello, las estadsticas deben ser fiables, precisas y periódicas. Asegurando esas caractersticas, las estadsticas se vuelven una herramienta poderosa para evaluar y dirigir el trabajo celular.

Sin duda que los aspectos numéricos son solo una parte del trabajo celular. Pero, siendo parte de él, es importante no descuidarlo. No se debe dejar de lado el control estadstico bajo la excusa que lo más importante de las células no son los números sino la comunión o el evangelismo. Pero, aún la comunión y el evangelismo son medibles.

Obviamente, el llevar registros estadsticos demanda esfuerzo y constancia. Pero, una vez el mecanismo de recopilación de datos está establecido, el proceso transcurrirá sin dificultades cada semana. Existen aplicaciones informáticas para facilitar el trabajo. Pero, es probable que una iglesia prefiera desarrollar su propio sistema. Lo importante es no dejar a la deriva una herramienta vital para el alcance de las metas.