Every pastor and church leader knows the tension: the Holy Spirit alone grows the Church, yet God calls us to steward the resources he places in our care. How do we balance trust in the Spirit’s power with our responsibility to plan and assess? Too often, the very idea of “metrics” can feel unspiritual—as if setting goals or assessing impact might be an attempt to program the Spirit. Yet the opposite danger is real too: without any assessment, ministries can drift without accountability.

This breakout will explore a faithful middle ground. Setting goals does not mean controlling outcomes, but it does mean being intentional with the opportunities God places before us. By establishing clear ministry benchmarks, leaders can better evaluate how their stewardship aligns with their mission. Metrics, rightly understood, become tools for reflection and encouragement, not measures of worth or success. When handled with humility, goals and assessments can help ministries stay focused and purposeful—while leaving the results where they belong: in the gracious hands of the Spirit who alone gives the growth.