"Are you as apastor all about numbers and if so Why?"

I have recently been questioned by several wonderful folks on several different occasions, “Are you as a pastor all about numbers and if so why?”

Let me just clarify something for you at this moment to start this off:

Yes, I as a pastor, preacher of the gospel am all about numbers because numbers represent souls.

I am about the number of lives that can be reached with the preaching of this great gospel message of salvation and bring souls to salvation.

I am about the number of marriages that can be restored through the preached word of God.                                                                                  

I am about the numbers of children that can be touched by Bus ministry, Sunday School and Children’s ministry so they can be taught the ways of God and be filled with the Holy Ghost at a young age and miss the evils of this world.

I am about the number of teenagers that can get involved, converted and filled with the Holy Ghost at a young age, taken off the streets through the preaching and teaching of the Word.                                    

I am about the numbers of people who are hooked on drugs and alcohol giving up their addictions and turning their life over to our savior and reaching the people around them to this great truth.

I am about the number of people who are living in the pit of sin coming to our churches and being delivered, forgiven and filled with the Spirit of God to live in newness of life.                                                                

I am about numbers of those who are oppressed, depressed and possessed by evil spirits to be set free and delivered by the blood of Jesus Christ so they will become active in church and find hope and salvation through Jesus Christ.

What else really should matter? What else should we be about as saints of God?

This might come as a shock to a lot of people that read this, but measuring numbers and putting an emphasis on them is not a new phenomenon. Two thousand years ago, Luke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote:

Acts 2:41 KJV,

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:47 KJV,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Apparently, God is all about numbers. So I want to be about numbers also. And so should every saint of God.

It is unacceptable to me as a God called preacher of the Word that The Church would stop growing when the Lord wants to add to our number daily those who are being saved.

You might be one who is adverse to numbers for a number of reasons. Maybe you do not like the idea of big crowds in church. If that is the case, you would be one that would not have liked the New Testament Church and you really will not like heaven.

Whatever your reason is, remember: every number is indicative of a story.

Personally, I do not want to put a cap on the number of stories God wants to redeem through my ministry and my efforts and all of the ministers and saints combined, especially when I read this:

Revelations 7:9-10 KJV,

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

Now that is a number worth shooting for. And I do not know about you, but I do not want to wait until I die to see this happen. I want to see this partially fulfilled in my lifetime. More people worshipping Jesus than I can count.

I want to see a little heaven on Earth through work and effort of every preacher and every church. I think that is the will of God even for today, and that is why I feel I should be about numbers.