What Matters Most—Fruitfulness or Faithfulness?

Buon giorno ! You’re listening to “Going: Where God is at work,” a podcast where cross-cultural workers discuss everything from faith and fear to finances and faux pas. We’re walking out our call  to ministry in far-away places and happy to have you join us on the journey. I’m your host, Jesse Pauly, a mission leader serving in Rome, and I’m here with Alessandro Di Leonardo, church planter in Cisterna di Latina,  and Jenn Williamson, our missiologist who lives and works in Lyon. Summary In this episode, Jesse and Jenn discuss how to define and measure success in missions. They share personal stories and insights on the topic, exploring the tension between fruitfulness and faithfulness. They also discuss the importance of metrics and how they can help missionaries evaluate their effectiveness. The conversation highlights the need for a balanced approach to measuring success and the value of ongoing conversations and feedback. Takeaways Defining success in missions is complex and can vary depending on cultural context and individual calling. There are two schools of thought when it comes to measuring success in missions: fruitfulness (measuring outputs and responses) and faithfulness (measuring the work done). Both perspectives have their merits. Metrics are important for accountability, transparency, and improvement, but they should be used wisely and interpreted in the context of conversations and feedback. Measuring success in missions should consider both the frontline work and the enabling work of behind-the-scenes roles. Metrics should be regularly evaluated and adjusted to ensure they are measuring what truly matters and aligning with the mission and vision of the organization. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Travel Experiences 11:25 Measuring Fruitfulness and Faithfulness 27:21 Balancing Frontline Work and Enabling Roles 31:36 The Need for Ongoing Conversations and Feedback