It’s that time again. Yes, your church will soon receive emails from your state convention and GTBN about completing the good ol’ ACP, the Annual Church Profile. The good news is that our convention partners have simplified it since it’s days as the Annual Church Letter. Back then, it brought as much joy as completing your tax returns.
But why complete the ACP? Why is it necessary to count attendance, baptisms, giving, etc.? And why report it to the denomination?
Certainly, ministry is not all about the numbers. It’s about loving the Lord through worship and disciple making. But the numbers, and especially the changes in numbers over time, provide you, your church, and your denominational partners with some important information.
The numbers provide a snapshot of your congregation’s participation, the current reach of your worship, small groups, and other ministries. And, while a number alone cannot adequately indicate the health of these ministries, the trendlines over time often do.
Numbers do not always say what we assume they say. For example, a year with zero baptisms may indicate the loss of evangelistic zeal. But it might also reveal cultural change within a community, or the community’s population decline. This is why any examination of the numbers should include the question “why?” What is it about our church and ministry context that explains the number?
As I consult and coach congregational leaders, I use the numbers collected over time to help them understand present realities and the options they have to advance their mission. State convention and SBC leaders use them similarly, as well as for assessing the overall health of our Southern Baptist movement. All of your partners rely on the numbers to determine priorities for the mission gifts provided through your church.
So, when you receive that ACP email (and GTBN will surely send you one) don’t brush past it, leaving it as one among many unread emails within the inbox. Please take the time to consider the questions, gather the data, and complete the survey. It’s not the most important thing, but it serves so many of the important things we’re about.
Blessings,
Jim