Church Growth

10 Statistics/Figures Church Leaders Should Know

Chuck Lawless | February 19, 2026
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Below are ten statistics/figures I would want church leaders to know. See how many of them you know about your church:

  1. Worship center seating capacity. Knowing this figure can help you prepare for growth. If you don’t know it, measure the pews and assume 18-24” inches per person.  Or, just count the chairs . . . .
  2. Parking capacity. Where parking is limited, growth is most often limited as well, even if the building has more room for growth. It’s good for leaders to keep an eye on this issue.
  3. Attendance decline or growth. Sometimes the decline or growth is so slow that few people recognize the trends. Somebody in leadership needs to know reality.
  4. Budget giving shortfall/overage. Not only does this figure give you a snapshot of the church’s giving and spending, but it also helps you to pray as needed regarding finances.
  5. Conversions vs. transfer growth. Church leaders should know whether the church is growing by reaching lost persons or by transferring members—or both. Most “growing” churches are growing primarily by the latter.
  6. Missions giving percentage. This figure helps show whether or not your church has a heart for missions.
  7. Personnel budget percentage. Most of the time, this percentage directly affects how much of the budget remains for actual ministry.
  8. Number of pastors or missionaries called out from the church. Too few church leaders emphasize the task of “calling out the called” today.
  9. Number of unchurched people in the community. Church leaders who have no knowledge of the spiritual state of their community often lead churches that are not outwardly focused.
  10. The church’s statistical goals for this year. I realize that numerical goals can become an idol, but having no goals seldom leads to healthy growth.

How well did you do?

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at chucklawless.com.

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  • Church Growth
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  • Setting Goals
  • Statistics
Chuck Lawless

Director of the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

Dr. Lawless currently serves as Senior Professor of Evangelism and Missions, Dean of Doctoral Studies, and Vice-President for Spiritual Formation at Southeastern Seminary, where he holds the Richard & Gina Headrick Chair of World Missions. In addition, he serves as Team Leader for Theological Education Strategists for the International Mission Board. Dr. Lawless served as pastor of two Ohio churches prior to joining the faculty of Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY, in 1996. He received a B.S. degree from Cumberland College (now the University of the Cumberlands) and M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary. He is the author or editor of twelve works, and he has contributed several chapters to other resources. He and his wife, Pam, have been married for more than 30 years, and they reside in Wake Forest with their Aussie Shepherd, Max.

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