Used to think event success was simple. Count how many people showed up subtract number of major disasters and if more good things happened than bad things call it a win.

Turns out measuring success is way more complicated than that.

Last spring had family movie night that looked like complete failure on paper. Projector died fifteen minutes in half the popcorn got burned and it started raining so hard we couldn't hear backup audio we switched to.

But three months later kids were still talking about it. Not the movie nobody remembered what we were supposed to watch. They remembered how we all ended up sitting in circles telling stories when technology failed. How parents started sharing embarrassing childhood stories.

Was that successful? Depends how you measure it.

Spent years obsessing over attendance numbers like they meant something definitive. "Thirty-seven people came to family game night!" Sounds impressive until you realize twelve of those were toddlers who spent most evening crying or trying eat game pieces.

"Only fifteen families at spring picnic." Sounds disappointing until you consider those fifteen families actually talked to each other kids played together across age groups and two families who'd never connected before exchanged phone numbers.

Numbers are easy to count but they don't capture what actually matters.

Like mom who told me our Valentine's party was first time her shy daughter willingly participated in group activities. That conversation doesn't show up in attendance spreadsheet but probably more important than head count.

Asked our elementary kids what their favorite part of summer kickoff was. Expected them say games or prizes or ice cream.

Nope. Favorite part was when Mrs Johnson's lawn chair collapsed and she ended up sitting on ground laughing so hard she couldn't get up.

That moment lasted maybe thirty seconds. But it's what they remembered three months later.

Best indicator of event success might be volunteer willingness help again. If volunteers enjoyed themselves enough sign up for next event something went right. If they're suddenly too busy help with future things that tells you something too.

Had summer cookout that looked successful from outside. Good attendance kids playing happily parents chatting and relaxed.

But three of my regular volunteers mentioned afterward they felt overwhelmed and unprepared. Those volunteers didn't sign up help with fall festival.

Event might have been fun for families but wasn't sustainable for people making it happen. That's kind of failure even when everything else goes well.

For ministry leaders learning smooth logistics don't guarantee meaningful impact, anyone discovering disasters sometimes create best memories, people ready to measure what actually matters instead what's easy to count.