Last night we were down 25% in our normal attendance.

That means I was down 25% of my normal happiness.

What?

If you’re honest, you know what I am talking about and what that feeling is. It doesn’t matter how big or small your group is, you feel when 25% of your group is gone. And trust me I know, it’s the end of the school year and there is the end of the year banquets, choir shows, senior dinners and final rally preps but for whatever reason even though I know this time of year comes it still gets at me. If you have no idea what feeling I am talking about then you might be inhuman or just a better human than I and I would love to learn from you.

I don’t know why I always ask for the numbers. I really do believe that numbers are A thing and they are not THE thing but I just want to know and when I got them last night a part of me sunk a little bit. I started to rack my brain of who was where and what did I see on Instagram stories that day of where students were at or what events were going on in the schools that night.

And then…

A still small voice came into my head and said something like this:

Isn’t it crazy how the numbers you are bummed about tonight were the same numbers you were praising Me for this time last year?

Whoa. Gut check.

In one instant I forgot all that God has been doing in our ministry, forgot the life change that has happened, forgot about the great conversations of faith in small groups and the baptisms after summer camp. And it was true. Our new low in attendance was our old high in attendance last year.

Perspective.

It can be easy to get caught in the numbers game and it can be even easier to forget about the moments God has doing all year long in your ministry. Remeber you are in this for the long game. One week will not make or break you. Stay faithful. Love Jesus. Love most students, like some of them, and praise Him for the work He is doing in the lives of your students and leaders.

Perspective.

 

@justinknowles3