Random Thoughts About Multisite Ministry

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry
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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Never aim at an age group when considering the
  multi-site strategy, aim at a mind-set.
• Always think mind-set not generation!

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Today, there are 1,500 churches in North America
  using the multi-site strategy!
• Often, a citys ordinances will cancel any plans
  for building a larger facility, so going
  multi-site is often the only option besides
  planting a new church!

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Growing church plants today, always have an
  apprentice (leader-in-training) who could be
  given the reins of a multi-site campus.
• Do not expect to hear that going to a multi-site
  strategy is a good idea!

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Using a video venue, or video casting, is a
  non-issue to todays younger generations!
• Multi-sites also work well in rural locations.
• The multi-site strategy lends itself to small
  groups within the church. It is often hard to
  hold Bible classes in an off-site location.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Remember that the good enough principle is in
  place. Once you reach a certain degree of
  excellence, adding more will not bring further
  dividends it will just be spent money and
  resources you cannot recoup!

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Some churches use a one week, delayed viewing of
  sermons with no problem (ex Andy Stanley).
• Some churches have the pastor float from one
  location to another (ex John Piper).

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Once multi-site churches grow to at least three
  off-site locations, they will discover a greater
  degree of decentralization!
• If you choose to launch a long distance site two
  hours or more away, you might be at risk. This
  area is still emerging.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• It takes longer for a distance campus to catch
  on.
• Usually distance campuses stay in the red longer
  than local multi-site campuses.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Some churches launch this strategy with as little
  as 10,000 invested, while others invest much
  more.
• The general investment is around 75,000 -
  100,000.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• There might be a numeric cap on the multi-site,
  but it is still too early to be sure. It seems
  clear that between 200 and 500 is attainable in
  an multi-site campus.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• The catalytic, campus pastor is the most
  important guy in a multi-site strategy.
• It is important to build a culture of flexibility
  and change in multi-site work.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• If the new location is not building leadership
  from within, there will eventually become a
  leadership vacuum within the initial location.
• It is wise to bring the campus pastor within six
  months before launch.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• Have the campus pastor intern at the initial
  location the first three months before he moves
  to the new location.
• Have the campus pastor begin core group
  development the immediate three months before
  site launch.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• If you wait too long to get the campus pastor, it
  will hurt the new location, because they will
  long for those beginning the site and not be open
  to the new campus pastor.
• The wrong location is never the right place for a
  multi-site campus.

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Random Thoughts About Multi-site Ministry

• When choosing a location (meeting place), look
  for places that have a high reward and low risk.
• Buildings eat into your ministry investment!
• It is wise to initially have a small group of at
  least 50 adults in the new site core group 75
  would be better!