Check out this suggested list for determining successful ministry:

  1. The number of cigarette buts in the church parking lot.
  2. The number of adoptions people in the church have made from local foster care.
  3. The number of pictures on the church wall of unwed mothers holding their newborn babies in their arms for the first time.
  4. The number of classes for special needs children and adults
  5. The number of former convicted felons serving in the church
  6. The number of phone calls from community leaders asking the church’s advice
  7. The number of meetings that take place somewhere besides the church building
  8. The number of organizations using the church building
  9. The number of days the pastor doesn’t spend time in the church office but in the community
  10. The number of emergency finance meetings that take place to reroute money to community ministry
  11. The amount of dollars saved by the local schools because the church has painted the walls
  12. The number of people serving in the community during the church’s normal worship hours
  13. The number of non-religious-school professors worshiping with you
  14. The number of people wearing good, free clothes that used to belong to members of the church
  15. The number of times the church band has played family-friendly music in the local coffee shop
  16. The number of people who have gotten better because of free health clinic you operate
  17. The number of people in new jobs thanks to the free job training center you opened
  18. The number of micro-loans given by members in your church
  19. The number of churches your church planted in a 10 mile radius of your own church

It's certainly dynamic!

(via Integrating Missionally)