in my on going conversations in light of our recent decision making from our bishop, cabinet, conference coordinator, and personnel committee (note that there is no youth, young adult, camping, children committee group represented) your think tank of seeing numbers that indicate people leaving the church might have wanted to ask us in the field, we could have alerted you to some myths that don’t show up in your data.

4. A strong healthy ministry WILL produce numbers!
Healthy ministry never guarantees spiritual growth let alone numerical
growth. Spiritual growth is solely a work of the Holy Spirit in a
person’s life. Numerical growth happens in both unhealthy ministries
and healthy ones a like. I know many healthy ministries that aren’t
growing numerically. Why? I guess because God’s plan for them right now
is be diligent in focusing on the few students who are already there.
Numerical growth can be an indication of health, but never a decisive
one.