Yesterday, at our Friday night youth group, one of the team caught me at a busy moment and popped the question, ‘Shall I do a head count?’ I nodded, and off she went. At which point, I had second thoughts – aren’t we supposed to disregard numbers?

There’s a school of thought that tells us ‘it’s not about the numbers’, ‘quality over quantity’, ‘don’t chase numerical targets’ and so on. I understand what they’re getting at, but increasingly, I dont agree.

Not for a moment am I suggesting that sheer volume of bodies should become the ultimate measure of success. But I am saying that success should be reflected in growth. Yes, the spiritual growth of the individual, but also the numerical growth of the group. After all, if we’re dong something right with resonate, then I’d rather be doing it with 100 young people than 10.

We’ve recently seen an expansion in our regular numbers. Now, there’s a part of me that’s reluctant to even type that, but it’s true. It’s meant that we’ve had to rethink how we run some of our programmes, as what’s cosy with a small group becomes crowded with a bigger group, but it’s an effort worth taking on. Currently, things seem to have levelled off a little, and we’ve begun to look at what we can do next. Why? Because we want the biggest group in the city? Because I want to be ‘better’ than everyone else? No. It’s because we want as many people as possible to hear the good news that gives purpose to everything we do.

Chasing numbers for their own sake is not what we’re called to do. But building positive, Christ-centred, life-changing relationships as many people as we possibly can for the sake of God is exactly what we should be doing! Let’s never be ashamed of fulfiling our God given mission – instead, let’s learn to value our successes in whatever form they take.

(And just in case you were wondering, 37)

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