Careful Quote by Ray Stedman
“It has always seemed unfair to me that many churches (and some individual Christians) keep careful records on how many converts they make to Christianity, but never keep any record of how many they drive away from Christ!”
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Church and Outreach, 1975
Tracking conversions without noting those who leave ignores the full impact of ministry and can mislead growth strategies.
In simple terms: Count both gains and losses in faith.
Key Takeaway
Measure both outreach and retention.
Themes
church growth
accountability
mission
faith
Mood
reflective
concerned
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- church leadership
- mission planning
- membership analysis
- pastoral care
Key Concepts
spiritual health
conversion metrics
community impact
Questions to Reflect On
- How can churches balance evangelism with caring for existing members?
- What signs indicate a person is drifting away?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on numbers may overlook relational depth.
![“[A]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.” quote by Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/da8/dr-seuss-1224_advice_a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-f_6806.jpg)
