Evaluate: to determine or set the value or amount of; appraise.
In August we do lots of Evaluating around the Passport Administrative offices. Camps end in late July, and we usually take a week to breathe for a bit, and then we start reading. We read the youth evaluations that campers fill out after their week of camp. We read the adult chaperone and the group leader evaluations. We read the detailed summer staff evaluations, and then highlight things from all of these evaluations about every aspect of our summer ministry.
Then we lock ourselves in our conference room and dig through it all – from the brochure, first inviting churches to join us, to the very last moment of closing celebration. It is a meaningful process, where we celebrate God’s grace among us, try to own our mistakes, and work to make changes to avoid those mistakes in the future.
Of course, this isn’t the first time these evaluations are read. Our summer staffers read them each week and then set goals on how to adjust the major stuff for the next session. It is important that we help our staffers learn to make adjustments along the way so the ministry improves as the summer progresses. But also, this skill can impact the way they interact with their work or ministry for a lifetime.
Evaluation is hard – feelings can get hurt, and people may want to be defensive about their area, but evaluation is a critical component to help any ministry focus their efforts toward greater effectiveness and efficiency. It causes me to wonder how our churches would manage the kind of evaluation that we receive weekly during the summer.
“How did you experience the presence of Christ this week?”
“What did the adults say about Bible Study?”
“Please rate your worship experience.”
“Tell us how you were welcomed when you arrived this morning.”
“How can we make church better for your family?”
“Do you plan on attending church next week?”
“Do you know a family that may want to attend church next week?”
Whatever the questions for your context, I would invite you to consider a time of honest evaluation of your church’s programs, ministries, and outreach. Celebrate what is working, and honestly address what is not. How can we improve if we don’t invite others to help us see our blind spots?
We are thankful for a good summer of ministry through Passport. And we are thankful for lots of honest feedback to help us improve for next year. Stay tuned!
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David Burroughs
David Burroughs is the president & founder of of Passport, Inc.