Summary: Success in ministry is not about what you do. Success is ministry is what happens if you were to never come back.
If there is one statement or phrase that typifies my philosophy or heart in ministry leadership, it would be this: “Success in ministry is not about what you do. Success is ministry is what happens if you were to never come back.”
Success in ministry is duplicating yourself. It is that simple. It is that straightforward. Success in ministry is about you transferring your leadership life into another life. Here is a test: If what you have built is thriving 18 months after your hands have released it, you have been successful. If it will only succeed if your hands are required to prop it up, you have your work cut out for you. If you have to be present to ensure its success, you should start to reframe your idea of success.
HOW ABOUT YOU. Imagine the impact you could have if you slowly and methodically trained a small handful of leaders and equipped them. What if you trained them and gave them small outposts of ministry authority. What if your greatest impact was in the lives of those you built up as leaders and not only the lives of the children or teens in your ministry. Consider who you might seek to develop and where you can pass on the blessing of ministry to another.