Measuring Faithfulness In A World Obsessed With Numbers

Send us Fan MailWhat if the most “successful” church strategies are quietly starving discipleship? I sit down with Alex Kocman of ABWE to unpack why missions and church life must be governed by Scripture, not trends, and how to recognize fruit that lasts. Alex’s own story—from predictable routines to telling the stories of nearly 1,000 missionaries—becomes a lens for rethinking the way we measure impact, send people well, and stay faithful when the numbers don’t sparkle.We take a hard look at the church growth movement and how a simple missiological observation morphed into a marketing playbook. Alex explains why targeting a demographic may fill seats but can shrink souls, and why the Great Commission demands more than decisions—it demands disciple‑making and covenantal churches built around the whole counsel of God. Along the way, we tackle cultural flashpoints with open Bibles: the role of law and gospel in addressing sin, where gender debates truly surface around the world, and how mercy ministries create space for honest conversations about Christ.A standout section addresses the crisis of male leadership in missions. Alex names the reasons single women are overrepresented on the field and offers practical, non‑gimmicky ways to call men into courageous service: heralding preaching, singable congregational worship, and a gathered posture that feels like a commissioning, not a performance. We also map out a healthy church‑agency partnership: churches identify, test, and send; agencies train, team, and sustain. To close, Alex previews his forthcoming book, Ordered to Love, which ties love of home to love of the nations, restoring an order of affections that fuels local faithfulness and global mission.If you’re ready to trade quick wins for deep roots, this conversation will give you language, frameworks, and next steps. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about missions, and leave a review with one change you’ll make in your church or small group.Connect with Alex:•X: @ajkocman•ABWE X: @ABWEInt•Missions Podcast X: @missionspodcast•Facebook: facebook.com/abweministries•Instagram: instagram.com/abwe_intl Subscribe and tell a friend!Get my book "The Seven Disciplines of Uncommon Freedom" on Amazon! Visit bekandkev.com today to sign up for our email newsletter.Access our Ideal Health Map HERE