I remember the first time Frank told me about his church. He said, “We have about 60 people who show up regularly, and that’s probably a good size for us.” At the time, I thought to myself, They should be doing a lot more. They should be bigger. They should be better.

But over the coming weeks and months, I started to see things differently. Frank’s church is tucked in the middle of a very struggling community. There’s crime of opportunity, drugs, alcoholism, broken homes, and divorce rates far above the national average. Honestly, it felt like something out of a movie; a little like the wild west.

And yet, those 60 people? They aren’t just attendees. They are the heartbeat of that community. They are gospel-centered, Jesus-driven, and deeply connected to the people around them. What they are doing with those 60 people to care for their neighbors, mentor kids, restore families, and show hope is more impact than I’ve seen in some churches with 1,000 members.

That’s when it clicked for me: growth and health in ministry cannot be measured by numbers alone. A bigger number does not automatically mean a bigger impact. What actually matters is what those numbers represent.

Growth That Tells a Story
In ministry, the real metrics are the stories of transformation. That might mean a teen stepping into leadership, a couple finding restoration, or a volunteer who discovers a calling they never knew they had. These are the markers of life change, and they matter more than raw attendance or dollars in the bank.

Serving Beyond Attendance
Look at your volunteers, not just your visitors. Are people moving from spectators to participants? Are they taking ownership of the mission? In Frank’s church, each of those 60 people is actively serving, not just sitting. That kind of engagement is a growth metric you can’t find on a standard dashboard, but it’s real and it’s measurable through impact.

Depth Beats Breadth
A crowded service is great, but it’s not the ultimate goal. What matters is relational depth. Small groups, discipleship relationships, mentorships—these are where real spiritual growth happens. Frank’s 60 people aren’t just gathering—they are building meaningful connections, mentoring kids, helping families, and caring for neighbors. That relational depth is a far more accurate reflection of health than a headcount.

Community Impact as a Metric
Healthy growth stretches beyond your walls. Ask yourself: Are you touching the community? Are you meeting real needs? Frank’s church may be small in numbers, but it is enormous in impact. Their growth is measured in lives changed, not in seats filled. That is what makes it healthy and sustainable.

Leaders Who Are Healthy
Finally, consider your team. Growth that isn’t sustainable often starts with burned-out leaders. When your leaders are thriving, your ministry thrives. Frank’s leadership team models this. They’re invested in both the spiritual and relational health of their people, and it shows in what the church accomplishes.

The lesson is simple but profound: growth looks different in every context. A 60-member church in a struggling community may be doing more kingdom work than a 1,000-member church in suburbia. Metrics matter, but only when they point to life change, engagement, relationships, and impact.

So next time you look at your dashboard, don’t just ask, “Are we bigger?” Ask, “Are we making a difference?” Because that is the growth that truly matters.