Club: Goals

Do you ever feel weird about counting kids in club or perhaps an emphasis placed on numbers going to camp? It is a funny balance. "Numbers People" (like myself) will argue that we want to reach EVERY kid. EVERY is a number. It means ALL. But before we get to EVERY we need to get from 40 to 50 (if you are a "non-numbers person" you are now cringing). 

Those who dont like numbers will argue: its about the individual kid. If I impact one then this whole thing is worth it. They might also say, numbers are human and not divinely inspired. Who said 50 was a magical number of kids we need to take to camp ("numbers people" response: the bus company). 

So how do we find a common ground here. Most likely there are leaders with each of these very different views. As you plan a semester this is an important thing to figure out. After all, if your team is trying to set goals and one person is thinking "I want 100 kids at club" and the other person is thinking "I want to connect with kids well" then someone will not be very happy with the outcome. No goal will matter and your team wont be on the same page. 

Here is what I suggest (you may not like this so if you dont then give me another option below). You need a little of both (this is not a copout answer). To throw out numbers all together is silly. To be all about numbers and miss people seems to be the exact opposite of what Jesus did with his ministry. So use both. 

I have always been taught that goals need to be tangible. There is no way to measure if kids had fun at club. How do you measure this? What if 20 kids had fun and 4 kids didnt? There is no right answer. It can be argued either way. So make your goals tangible (numbers people like this). We want  60 kids to club and we will fill a bus to camp. Now, have your "non-numbers people" evaluate the goals IN THE CONTEXT of how you are doing with kids relationally. If we have 70 kids in club (met our goal) but dont know 20 kids names then are we really doing a good job of ministering to ALL the kids? Of course not. 

You need both types of people. 

A note for SENIOR LEADERS: know what you have on your team. Numbers or Non-Numbers people. You might be able to tailor your goals so that everyone is happy. 

A note for LEADERS: your Senior Leaders are not bad people if you do not agree with them on what a goal should be or how it is written. Try to be open and see how you can use different types of goals.