1. Record keeping creates an environment of orderliness in what appears as a chaotic world. In the beginning God took His creation and step by step brought order to the heavens and earth. God considered this "work," but His final evaluation declares, "It was very good" (Gen. 1:31). Thorough and well-kept church records are hard work, but they also can help bring order to the world of Christian ministry and serve as a valuable tool for the leader's task.

2. Record keeping promotes renewal by helping churches remain focused on their God-given purpose and mission. Redemptive history recorded in the Old Testament reveals God as a God of mission. He desires to seek and restore the lost. His mighty acts in history are culminated in sending His only Son (John 3:16). Jesus accepted the passing of the Father's torch, and His Father's mission became His mission (John 6:38). Jesus concluded His work by passing the torch to the church (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Record keeping is the essential first step in accepting the torch and demonstrating a seriousness about the Father's business.

3. Record keeping serves as a reminder that God has placed eternal value on every single person. Jesus spent His earthly ministry in close personal contact with individuals including the twelve disciples. He modeled and taught about the value of each living soul. According to Jesus, a good shepherd would risk leaving ninety-nine sheep to seek just one gone astray (Matt. 18:12-14). He revealed that in heaven there is joy when even one person repents (Luke 15:10). Accurate and thorough records serve as a reminder that each number represents a soul more valuable than the entire material universe-a soul worth a shepherd's time and care.

4. Record keeping establishes the necessary groundwork for accurate evaluation of methods. Jesus taught that discipleship carries a high cost, and He illustrates it with two insightful parables. A person desiring to build a tower and a king facing the prospects of war would be wise to sit down and thoroughly evaluate their condition before taking action (Luke 14:25-33). Nehemiah understood the principle of wise assessment. After returning to Jerusalem, he carefully inspected the walls by night before proceeding (Neh. 2:11-18). Past church trends and present ministry conditions are often hidden from easy view. Hidden in small and unnoticed changes are trends that can affect a church's future. When brought together, these small changes can reveal large movements. Good records provide the necessary groundwork to clear the fog and unveil the trends for accurate evaluations.

5. Record keeping forms the knowledge base for informed planning. From the beginning God has had a plan for humankind, and He is still working the plan (Gen. 12:1-3; Eph. 1:3-6). The church is part of and participates in God's redemptive plan. Our partnership with God and His agenda is revealed in passages like: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth" (1 Cor. 3:6). Faithful stewardship calls for informed and intelligent planning, just as good farming calls for intelligent planting and watering. Thorough and accurate records form the knowledge base for faithful planning.

6. Record keeping reveals concrete opportunities to give God praise and glory. The Father is presently working in our lives and in our congregations (Phil. 2:12-13). Paul opens his letter to the Ephesian church by describing the wonderful works of God through Christ on our behalf, and the appropriate response should be, "To the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6). Unfortunately, some members are unaware of what God is doing in their congregation when there is no recording or reporting of divine activity. On the other hand, recording, reporting, and praising God benefits everyone. One of the greatest human needs is knowing that one's life has meaning. Nothing fills that need greater than seeing ways God is working through our lives and congregations. Diligent record keeping will reveal opportunities to praise God publicly and build His people.