A while back, a friend recommended the book Measure What Matters. At the time, we were deep into creative and tactical work for ministries, trying to develop better metrics for tracking results. This book introduced a new way of thinking about goals and measurement that was both practical and transformative.

Many ministries hesitate to apply structured performance metrics to their work, fearing that measuring outcomes might seem unspiritual—as if tracking progress indicates a lack of trust in God’s vision. But the truth is, measuring the right things is both biblical and beneficial. When done well, it doesn’t undermine faith; it actually helps ministries achieve greater impact.

Introducing OKRs: Objectives and Key Results

Measure What Matters centers around the concept of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)—a framework widely used by businesses, tech companies, nonprofits, and even faith-based organizations.

Many ministries set goals based on simple checklists:

• “We need to complete 10 tasks.”
• “We need to increase attendance to X number.”

While checklists provide a sense of accomplishment, they often fail to measure what truly matters.

For example, many churches set attendance growth as a primary goal. But attendance is not the goal—it’s the result of something deeper. Instead of merely tracking numbers, ministries should focus on what leads to those results.

Example of an OKR in Ministry

Checklist-Based Goal: “Grow church attendance to 500 people.”

OKR-Based Goal: “Equip church members to be better encouragers in their communities and workplaces.”

Key Results:
1. Train 50 members in relational evangelism.
2. Launch three small groups focused on outreach.
3. Provide weekly encouragement tools for members to share.

In this model, attendance growth is a natural byproduct of empowering people, rather than an arbitrary number to chase. The true win is that people are being equipped and engaged in meaningful ways.

How to Implement OKRs in Your Ministry

If you want to shift from measuring outputs to measuring impact, here’s how to start:

1. Define Your Objective – Identify the bigger picture goal that aligns with your mission. Example: “Strengthen discipleship within our church.”

2. Set Key Results – Define measurable outcomes that indicate success. Example:

• “Launch 10 new discipleship groups.”
• “Equip 100 members with mentorship training.”
• “Increase Bible study participation by 20%.”

3. Track Progress & Adapt – Regularly review whether these key results are driving the desired transformation. Adjust as needed.

Why This Matters

By shifting from basic checklists to meaningful objectives, ministries can:

• Focus on transformation rather than just tasks.
• Measure what truly impacts lives.
• Create a culture of growth, not just activity.

At the end of the day, measuring what matters allows ministries to better steward their calling—ensuring that their work leads to real, lasting change in people’s lives.