We need to approach evaluation in a thoughtful and nuanced way, focusing on understanding the true impact of the sports movement rather than simply gathering data. Let us learn to use evaluation as a tool for positive change and development, rather than a means of judgment or control.

The purpose of evaluation:

• Demonstrating the impact of God's work through the sports movement.
• Identifying areas for improvement within the movement.

The nature of evaluation:

• Evaluation is a spiritual endeavor as well as a social science one. It should involve both spiritual discernment and careful observation.
• Evaluation can be done poorly when it is focused on judgment, accountability, or narrow metrics. Instead, it should be seen as a tool for leadership and improvement.

Challenges of evaluation:

• Distinguishing between effort and effect.
• Avoiding satisfaction as the primary metric.
• Capturing the complex impact of the movement beyond numbers.

Guiding principles for evaluation:

• Leadership: Evaluation should help people focus on what truly matters and align their efforts accordingly.
• Effect over effort: Evaluation should focus on the outcomes of efforts, not just the outputs.
• Participant-centered: Evaluation should keep the spotlight on the participants, not the organization or its programs.
• Mixed methods: Evaluation should use both quantitative and qualitative data to get a complete picture of the impact.
• Metrics with context: Metrics should be used, but they should be interpreted in the context of rich qualitative data.

Additional points:

• The importance of integrating spiritual discernment into evaluation.
• Recognizing the limitations of metrics and valuing different types of data.
• The project's goal of building capacity within the movement to conduct future evaluations.