Crunching the Numbers

Yesterday marked the end of my first month of blogging on Patheos. The goal was to have 25,000 readers of my posts for the month (that’s cumulative readers of all my posts). I came in with 23, 405.

Came. Up. Short.

Traveling around the UK and Ireland I am often apologized to by my hosts for the “low turnouts” to my speaking engagements. I say the same thing to everybody. Numbers don’t matter. If one person shows up, it’s party time!

Why don’t I care about numbers?

Because numbers are just a mimetic phenomenon.

I would rather have a small group of three or four truly interested persons with me in a Bible study or at a talk than 1,000 that are just there to be there.

Numbers cannot be a validation of ministry. I know that many churches and schools validate their work by counting heads (or dollars).  The more people that show up or the more people are reached seems to many to be an indication of how God is using one. I was reminded of this this past weekend when a person spoke to me of a certain ministry which God is ‘blessing’ by insisting that the number of people they reach is a sure sign that God is with them. I could not disagree more.

Popularity and God’s blessing are not synonymous.

I know for Patheos that numbers count. Why? Because they have bills to pay. I understand that. Looking at my stats page I can also tell that my ‘edger’ posts were the ones more widely shared and thus more widely read. Posts where I am telling my own story or reflecting on a theological theme were not so popular.

Such is life.

I did not set out to be popular. If that were the case I would have a consistently critical posture, or a consistently positive approach. One or the other. However, I mix it up. I don’t fit into boxes very easily. If popularity comes with the message I bring, that’s fine. if it doesn’t that’s fine too.

My books are not exactly best sellers, nor is my website the hottest thing out there.

Should I change who I am or what I say in order to be more popular? There is always that temptation. It would be so easy to just tweak this or that part of what I do, to be a little less critical of this or that group, to be a little more ‘populist’ in my writing, to be a little more edgy in my posts, to be a little more culturally relevant.

But frankly, I can’t see changing what I do or who I am to fit a particular marketing strategy or model. As Popeye would say “I yam who I yam.” Or maybe it was God that said that somewhere.

Sometimes I have the privilege of preaching and teaching in venues where there are hundreds of people present. I love the energy of those crowds. But I am often left wondering just who it is that has been changed or transformed by our encounter. In a small group there is time for much more intimate involvement and the sharing of personal stories and I can get to know people. I really enjoy that very much.

I speak with no fees. That means that if there are only two or three persons I might be giving a six hour seminar and walk away with $30. So be it. That number could be disappointing if it were not for the sheer number of folks who make contributions to Preaching Peace. Occasionally Lorri and I have had to ask the Board to ‘lay us off” because there simply wasn’t enough money for salaries. It happens. It may happen again. Such is life.

So, maybe this month I can hit the 25,000 reader goal. Maybe this month I can have enough people attend my talks so the Preaching Peace bills can get paid. Either way I really do trust our Papa in all this.

If ministry is to be validated by numbers then I am near the bottom. On the other hand, if ministry is validated by the effects one has on the real lives of real people, on the quality of seed one sows, then maybe I am not so near the bottom. maybe there is no bottom and there is no top! Maybe we are all just in this thing seeking to share Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Maybe God is smiling on us and our silly methods of trying to figure out just where God is working. As for me, I woke up this morning, the sun was shining, the birds are singing, and I have the privilege of blogging on Patheos and writing to you. That’s good enough for me. A blessing on your day.