Published on June 01, 2025
By Roger Leandro Zanelatto Lüdcke¹
Translator: Natália Vergani Cartelli²

It’s a reflection I wrote about the importance of evaluation as a continuous process of learning and improvement, especially within Christian ministries, such as the camps where I serve with TeachBeyond.

It all started when I was invited to participate in a TeachBeyond conference in Albania, in January 2024. I was challenged to share about how to establish evaluation processes in the organization’s projects. With 25 years of experience in camp ministries, I drew on everything I’ve learned from mentors, books, trainings, and real-life experiences to build my approach.

In the book of Luke 10:17–20, we see an example of evaluation when the 70 disciples return from their mission and report to Jesus what had happened. Jesus guides them and helps them properly assess the values drawn from their experience. From Scripture, authors like John Maxwell, and specialized literature, I came to understand that evaluation should be a five-step process:

1. Report what happened – The disciples reported to Jesus what they had seen and experienced. I believe that listening to and recording experiences are essential. That’s why we use evaluations with campers and counselors to understand the impact of the camps. These evaluations help us determine whether we are fulfilling our mission.

2. Celebrate the results – The disciples were filled with joy as they shared their accomplishments. Jesus also celebrated with them, highlighting the importance of rejoicing over the outcomes. Celebration rewards, affirms, and encourages us to keep going. After our camps, for example, we organize outings and lunches to celebrate together. This strengthens our bonds and renews our enthusiasm.

3. Reflect on the results obtained – Jesus confirmed the disciples’ authority over the enemy. Reflection is the process of examining how the project is functioning to check whether each part of the plan is working as it should. I’ve learned that we need to analyze data with balance: not focusing only on the mistakes, nor overestimating the successes. When we took the English Camp to Brasília, I realized through the evaluations that we needed to adapt the program to the local context. That was an important learning experience.

4. Reaffirm the authority given to them – Jesus reminded the disciples that true joy comes from the fact that their names are written in heaven. Remembering what we do and why we do it helps us grow and mature. I’ve seen that recognizing each person’s gifts and calling helps motivate and value them. When we identify and encourage people’s strengths, the team grows and serves more effectively.

5. Remind them why they were there – In the end, Jesus reminded the disciples of their mission and of what is truly worth celebrating. It all comes down to our purpose: relationship with God and with people. Every time I serve at a camp, even when I’m tired, I remember the transformative impact it has. That keeps me going.

I’ll close with something I learned from John Maxwell: “Practice doesn’t make perfect. Evaluated practice does.” I’ve tried to apply this principle in everything I do. If you’re already using evaluation, keep going. If not, consider including it — it can transform the ministry God has entrusted to you, just as it has transformed the one through which I serve Him.

1. Roger Leandro Zanelatto Lüdcke: Bachelor in Theology, with further studies in Team Management, Postgraduate in Business Pedagogy and Corporate Education. He has worked as a missionary, professor of leadership at the Lutheran Faculty of Theology and manager of Lúdikos, working with experiential learning. ↩︎
2. Natália Vergani Cartelli: Bachelor’s degree in Design, with an international ESL certificate. She is an Assistant to the Latin America Regional Informal Educational Services Coordinator in TeachBeyond. She is an English teacher and translator. Email: ncartelli@teachbeyond.org ↩︎