This past weekend I participated in the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s training conference, known affectionately here as “Horizons.” One of my assignments was to deliver a presentation on “The Multi-Site Revolution: Evaluating the Options.” That presentation will be posted at our online training webiste, which you can reach by clicking here or in the right margin below; check back very soon. You can also download the powerpoint by registering for free at the site.
As a result of a considerable amount of study on the subject, I have formed some opinions on the subject. They are listed here, in no specific order.
- Multi-Site churches are here to stay for the foreseeable future. This is not a fad.
- Multi-Site churches will explode in number on this continent over the next ten years, growing by possibly as much as 25,000 new churches attempting it.
- There are advantages over church planting, in that it will grow quicker and likely with less money.
- There are disadvantages to church planting, in that it will over-extend leadership and does not multiply from each congregation.
- The variations of how multi-site is “done,” are almost endless, with personal values, outcomes and context making up a lot of the differences.
- North Coast in Vista, CA, Seacoast in Charleston, SC and Community Christian in Naperville, IL are the national leaders in this at the present, but many others are “gaining” on them.
- The campus pastor is THE NUMBER ONE KEY to the success of a multi-site location. He needs to be a people person, a care-giver yet an equipper, outgoing and engaging.
- Cost will typically run you between $50,000 and $100,000 to start a multi-site (there are exceptions of course), adjusted to the cost of living in your area. Most can be self-sufficient in 6 months post-launch.
- You must also develop a surplus of musicians and technicians to be “fluent” in multi-site.
- Multi-site is still a church growth strategy, maybe even a church extension strategy, but it is not a church planting strategy, since it “fails” all three of the “self” strategies normally attributed to a church (self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating).
What do you think?
What are some ways to know “when it’s time” to go multi-site?
Great question Wally! Here’s some things I discovered.
You should be running 250+ in worship already.
You should be maxxing out your parking space.
You should have already added another worship experience onsite first.
You should have your key leadership on board.
You should have a passion and a burden for reaching the lost and for developing future leaders.
All of this should align with the mission, vision and values of your congregation.
When you have these things, you should be willing to step out in faith and “go multi-site.”
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