Most churches track attendance and giving. And while those numbers matter, they don’t always tell the full story of what’s actually happening beneath the surface.
Healthy churches pay attention to a broader set of metrics. Not to chase numbers, but to understand engagement, momentum, and where people are truly connecting.
Here are six church metrics worth tracking that can give you a clearer picture of your church’s health.
1. Giving Units (Not Just Total Giving)
Most churches know how much money came in each month. Fewer know how many households actually gave.
A giving unit represents one household, not one individual. A family of four who gives together is one giving unit.
Tracking giving units monthly helps you answer better questions:
- Is giving up because more people are giving?
- Or because a few people gave more?
- Is attendance growing but giving units staying flat?
- Are fewer people giving consistently?
This metric provides clarity that raw totals cannot. Over time, it helps you understand generosity patterns, seasonal trends, and real engagement.
2. Small Group Attendance
Sunday attendance is important, but group participation often tells a deeper story.
Tracking how many people are consistently involved in community groups, small groups, or Sunday school gives insight into relational engagement and discipleship.
At many churches, group attendance can actually be more consistent than Sunday attendance. People travel, miss weekends, or rotate Sundays, but groups often remain steady.
Tracking average monthly group attendance helps you see:
- How many people are truly connected
- Whether engagement is growing or slipping
- If your group strategy is working
3. Active Members
If your church has members or partners, it’s worth tracking whether they’re actually doing the things you say matter.
This doesn’t need to be legalistic. But if you ask members to:
- Be in a group
- Serve regularly
- Give financially
Then tracking those behaviors helps you understand real commitment.
A simple spreadsheet can help you see who is engaged, who may be drifting, and where follow-up or care is needed. This also helps pastors avoid assumptions and lead conversations with clarity and grace.
4. Connect Cards Received Each Sunday
Most churches track attendance. Fewer track how many connect cards or first-time guest forms are completed each week.
This metric helps you see:
- Are new people actually taking a next step?
- Are certain seasons more fruitful?
- Are changes in services affecting guest response?
Connect cards help reveal whether new people are just attending or beginning to engage.
5. A New Guest Follow-Up Funnel
Having connect cards is only half the equation. What happens next matters just as much.
Tracking where new guests are in your follow-up process helps prevent people from falling through the cracks. Whether you use a spreadsheet, Trello, a CRM, or planning software, having a simple system helps ensure consistency.
This metric isn’t just about efficiency. It’s about care.
6. Online Metrics That Actually Matter
Not all online numbers are equally helpful. Two that tend to provide meaningful insight over time are:
- YouTube subscribers
- Website page views
Tracking these monthly helps you see long-term trends, not short-term spikes. While online engagement shouldn’t replace in-person ministry, it plays a real role in discipleship, communication, and discovery.
Consistency matters more than polish. Churches that show up regularly online tend to see compounding impact over time.
A Simple Observation
People are far more likely to serve when they can clearly see the need.
Roles that feel obviously essential tend to fill faster than those that feel abstract or invisible. When leaders clearly explain why a role matters and how it helps people encounter Jesus, engagement follows.
Visibility creates ownership.
A Personal Growth Reminder
Indecision is often more damaging than making the wrong decision.
Mistakes can be corrected. Inaction cannot. When leaders avoid decisions out of fear, progress stalls and momentum fades.
A wise question to ask is:
“Given what I know right now, what is the best next step I can take?”
Final Thoughts
Attendance and giving matter, but they rarely tell the whole story.
Tracking a broader set of metrics helps church leaders see reality clearly, care for people better, and make wiser decisions over time.
Healthy churches pay attention. Not to numbers alone, but to what those numbers reveal about people, connection, and mission.
At Mission Support, we help churches like yours streamline operations, improve communication, and build stronger teams. Whether it’s branding, strategic planning, or website development, we partner with pastors so they can focus on what matters most.
Need help getting your systems in place? Let’s talk.👉 Click HERE to set up a meeting.
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This post is just the tip of the iceberg. Most of this content comes straight from our Practical Church Podcast—a bi-weekly show packed with real-world insights, honest conversations, and practical solutions for life in and around the Church.
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