MULTI-SITE as strategy … is hot

Recently, I met with Geoff Surratt, author of The Multi-Site Church Revolution: Being One Church in Many Locations. I was amazed to hear Geoff point out that, of the 100 largest churches in America, 65 reported having multiple sites. As a strategy, multi-site is hot.

Tony Morgan identified five key factors when launching a new site:

1. Leader. The most critical factor to the success or failure of a new campus is having the right leader. They don’t necessarily need to be charismatic, but they do need to be team builders, good communicators, champions of the vision, driven and highly relational. There needs to be a specific person who has the gift of leadership leading the campus.
2. Location. There isn’t a black and white formula here, but location matters. That includes proximity to your existing campuses and proximity to the people you’re trying to reach. Where do people shop, eat and experience entertainment? That area is where they’re most likely to also invite friends to attend a service.
3. Music. Churches think message first when it comes to multi-site, but the quality of the music is just as important. If the worship arts programming (music, video, etc.) isn’t on the same level as what people experience at the existing campuses, they won’t stay at the new campus.
4. Time. To launch with the most chance for success, you need time to identify leaders, build teams, select locations, equip facilities, develop new systems and mobilize people. We’re talking months not weeks. With the right systems and leadership development strategy; however, this time frame can be shortened dramatically. (See Proverbs 21:5)
5. Money. The amount of money will differ from church to church, but multi-site will require a financial investment. You’ll need money to purchase technology, signage and children’s ministry equipment. You’ll need money to purchase or lease space and then modify it to meet your needs. You’ll need money to pay staff as the campus grows. And, don’t forget, new people will typically take 18 to 24 months before they start giving. (See Luke 14:28)

What to hear the stories of pastors who have multi-site experience?

John Bishop at Living Hope Church (Vancouver, WA)

What was the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge was, has been, and still is, to have adequate systems In place to support campuses, to encourage campus pastors, to stay unified as “one church” in multiple locations with unity.

Is there something unique about the DNA of Living Hope that made it work?
Living hope is a highly invitational church.  I really believe we are a dangerous church.  We have multiple stories of people who come to Living Hope and instinctively invite their friends.  That’s what makes living hope the place that it is.  I very rarely have to ask people to invite their friends – they naturally do it every week. (Read more at Books@Leadnet.org)

Steve Stroope, Senior Pastor at Lake Point Church (Rockwall, TX)

Some have critiqued the multi-site movement believing that it feeds a diminishing pool of leaders.  You told me that you believe it has exactly the opposite effect.  How so?
This is a great time to be a participant in the church leadership world.  There are so many different kinds of opportunities to lead that require different types of leaders.  The multi-site movement is an example of this.  It is providing many more opportunities for strong leaders who may not fit into the “senior pastor” leadership mold.  Some do not possess a strong gift for communication or teaching, but they are high capacity leaders and the multi-site model is creating a variety of brand new categories for those leaders. (Read more at Books@Leadnet.org)

Robert Emmitt, Senior Pastor at Community Bible Church (San Antonio, TX)

What is new about the multi-site ministry at Community Bible Church since we last talked?
We quit playing the CD’s of Robert, and let the pastors do the preaching.  We are looking more like a church planting ministry than a traditional multi-site. We are moving from a part time pastor to a full time pastor model. It costs more, but if you want the churches to grow, then the pastors need to devote their full time to it. (Read more at Books@Leadnet.org)

Dave Browning (twitter – @bigdaverino), Christ the King Community Church. (Burlington, WA)

I think it is interesting that you have a commitment to international campuses and a high value for use of technology in developing leaders but no Internet campuses?  Any reason for that?
Our international reach is more of a “God-thing” than anything else.  We had no plan to be outside of our own county, much less around the world.  But once you define the church by relationship, instead of geography, you realize that relationships do not respect geographical boundaries.  We say that we can go as far as relationships will take us.  Our goal is to raise up people to do ministry, so we view technology as a tool, not a strategy. (Read more at Books@Leadnet.org)

Craig Groeschel, LifeChurch.tv

You have developed a model for connection with LifeChurch.tv that has three tiers – Open, Network and United. Why “qualifies” a church to become a part of the tightest affiliation – United?
Far more churches are becoming a Network Church rather than a United Church. As of today, we have 74 Network Churches. These are totally separate 501c-3s that use our weekly teaching. (Many also use our kids curriculum and worship all at no charge.) Churches who are part of the LifeChurch.tv Network are reporting great responses and stories of changed lives from their members and attendees. In order for a United partnership to occur, we’re looking for a unique set of circumstances where we can do more together than apart. Only in rare situations is it worth uniting since merging churches can be painful, and there are so many effective ways to partner. (Read more at Books@Leadnet.org)

Want more orientation and resources related to the multi-site strategy? Check out D J Chuang’s “class about multi-site churches” and find loads of free resources.

Reaching Out To the Next Generation

Do you think the next generation is easier or harder to reach? Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor of LifeChurch.tv, wrote a series of blogs on this topic and thinks easier. Why? 

1. Their world is smaller and their perspective broader
2. They have a wider definition of “friends”
3. They’re more experiential
4. Most have been under-challenged
5. Their world is gray
6. They’re searching for a cause

Read how Craig Groeschel expands these points.

There are implications for each biblical purpose of the church, with a possible relationship to many of the Rockbridge Seminary courses you have taken.

Here are points Craig makes in related blogs:

• This generation doesn’t want to hear about what you believe. They want to see your beliefs in actions. And if you’re daring enough to live like Jesus, you’ll have a shot at reaching the next generation. (Read more)
• This generation wants to talk. Conversation matters. Relationships matter. Intimacy matters. (Read more)
• In their mostly gray world, they hunger for a someone to point to black and white. (Read more)