A Divine Return on Investment

Value, in its essence, is often captured in the word “return.” Do you grasp the most profound return on your endeavors? Your board, your stakeholders, your clients, and your very discipline seek one thing: a return on time spent, effort invested, and the bold decision to innovate: A return on investment (ROI).

You possess dashboards and spreadsheets teeming with data, meticulously measuring the return on every venture throughout its lifecycle—every venture, that is, except one.

What is the paramount ROI you fail to assess? Business leaders often shelve their professional acumen when stepping into a church or engaging in matters of faith. They contribute to charity and faith-driven initiatives from the heart, not expecting a tangible return, merely the satisfaction of having helped.

Yet, through faith, they hope their gifts will yield value. But what if you, a business leader endowed with faith and exceptional business acumen, could synergize your inclination to give with the extraordinary business mind God has bestowed upon you? Envision the profound personal growth and fulfillment that could emerge from this divine amalgamation of skills and values.

By quantifying the impact of your contributions, you attain a sense of empowerment and stewardship. You witness the fruits of your labor, discern the transformative difference you and your peers are effecting, and cultivate a legacy worth sharing. This revelation might even inspire you to invest further.

You are already versed in KPIs, leading indicators, lagging indicators, and other metrics that govern business returns. But how do these translate into a faith-based paradigm? What are the divine metrics? What signifies success beyond merely achieving a financial target?

Consider the following divine metrics:

1. Souls Touched and Lives Transformed: Reflect on the number of individuals whose lives are touched and transformed by your contributions. This could be through feeding the hungry, providing education, or supporting those in need.
2. Community Upliftment: Gauge the positive change within communities. Are your efforts making neighborhoods safer, more prosperous, and spiritually enriched?
3. Spiritual Growth and Development: Measure the spiritual growth of individuals. Are more people finding faith, growing in their spiritual journeys, and contributing to the kingdom?
4. Generational Impact: Assess the long-term impact on future generations. Are your contributions helping to create a sustainable and hopeful future for the next generation?
5. Joy and Peace: Quantify the joy and peace your efforts bring to others. Are hearts lifted, burdens eased, and souls comforted through your endeavors?
6. Faithful Stewardship: Track your journey as a steward of God’s resources. Are you utilizing your talents and resources to their fullest potential for His glory?

When you apply these divine metrics, you embark on a sacred journey that marries your business expertise with your faith, creating a tapestry of eternal value. This is the ROI that transcends spreadsheets and dashboards, touching the very heart of the kingdom.

In this convergence of faith and business, may you find success, profound fulfillment, and divine purpose.

Discovering Kingdom Performance Indicators: Transforming Your Faith-Based Giving

As we embark on this journey to understand four essential “Kingdom” Performance Indicators (KPIs), we unveil a new perspective on your faith-based giving and the projects you support. Grasping these divine metrics will empower you with wisdom and clarity, enhancing your faith-driven contributions.

The First Kingdom Performance Indicator: Shepherding Souls

Imagine a shepherd guiding his flock. The first Kingdom Performance Indicator focuses on leading souls to the top of the spiritual funnel. This represents the role of a teacher, mentor, or pastor who actively seeks out those yet to experience the Gospel. This shepherd is a believer, passionate about the Great Commission, who nurtures their relationship with God and takes deliberate steps to share the message of salvation.

Best Practice Insight: Investigate how the faith-based organizations you support foster discipleship and training programs. Their efforts must extend beyond converting new believers to equipping these believers to share their faith with others.

Evaluation Questions:

• Do your faith-based projects report on the number of teachers being trained?
• Are there metrics showing the number of individuals graduating from discipleship programs?
• Can you see data on how many people these newly trained teachers reach?
• Have you considered the multiplying effect of your investments in projects that prioritize creating new disciples and training teachers who will, in turn, make even more disciples?

The Second Kingdom Performance Indicator: Cultivating Spiritual Growth

Visualize a garden where each plant represents a believer growing in faith. The second KPI measures the depth of spiritual growth among these believers. This isn’t merely about counting new converts; it’s about nurturing mature, committed disciples who can effectively withstand life’s challenges and share their faith.

Best Practice Insight: Evaluate whether the organizations you support have strategies for continuous spiritual growth. Look for evidence of mentorship, small groups, and other resources that help believers grow deeper in their faith.

Evaluation Questions:

• Are there programs in place for ongoing spiritual education and growth?
• How does the organization measure the spiritual maturity of its members?
• Can you see tangible outcomes of personal and communal spiritual development?

The Third Kingdom Performance Indicator: Expanding the Harvest

Consider a farmer with a vast field ripe for harvest. The third KPI is about the scope of potential reach—the “harvest field.” This is akin to the business concept of the total addressable market, which focuses on the population that can be reached with the Gospel.

Best Practice Insight: Assess the size and accessibility of the target population for the projects you’re considering. Ensure these projects can reach a large audience, providing fertile ground for sustained growth and multiplication.

Evaluation Questions:

• How large is the target population for the projects you support?
• Are the environments conducive to long-term growth and the multiplication of believers and disciples?
• Does the project have a strategic plan for expanding its reach over time?

The Fourth Kingdom Performance Indicator: The Multiplication Effect

Picture a single candle lighting another until the room is filled with light. The fourth KPI focuses on the multiplication effect—how well the project empowers individuals to become disciple-makers themselves.

Best Practice Insight: Prioritize projects with a clear strategy for training disciples who will, in turn, train others. This multiplication effect ensures that your contributions have a far-reaching and enduring impact.

Evaluation Questions:

• Does the project have a track record of training disciple-makers?
• Can you see evidence of second and third-generation disciples?
• Is there a sustainable model for ongoing discipleship and growth?

Understanding and applying these Kingdom Performance Indicators transforms your faith-based giving into a strategic, impactful endeavor. You align your resources with God’s purpose, witnessing a return that transcends earthly measures and echoes into eternity. May your journey in faith and giving be richly blessed and bear lasting fruit.