The MultiSite Church Planting Strategy: One church operating in multiple locations

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The Multi-Site Church Planting StrategyOne
church operating in multiple locations!

• By
• Tom Cheyney

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Original Material

• The original material for this resource grew out
  of my personal experience with Elmer Towns
  (1984), when he challenged a group of us to
  consider Multi-site and Expanded Geographic
  Strategy for our present church plants.
  Additionally, it grew out of chapters 16 and 17
  of a church planting manual I authored in 1989.
  It has been updated with current on-field
  multi-site church planting. In the past, about
  12 churches were trying these planting
  strategies. Today, there are over 1,200
  multi-site churches, and the number is increasing!

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The Challenge

• Many new church plants, and existing churches,
  are faced with the challenge of having located in
  a community where there is little growth.
  Usually, for new churches, it is due to
  inadequately understanding the shifts taking
  place in the target area.

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The Challenge

• For long established churches, they are faced
  with the challenge of having located in a
  community where there is little growth compared
  to 20 years ago! When this happens, these
  churches look toward new, developing areas
  outside their community.

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The Potential

• Perhaps, they ought to relocate.
• Perhaps, they ought to plant another church!
• What is the answer?
• How about doing both -- in a better way?

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What to doWhat to do?

• Many new and established churches have seen many
  of their members move into new areas across town
  or out on the fringe of town.
• Faced with such situations, many new and
  established churches begin the laborious work of
  relocation.

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What to doWhat to do?

• How about starting another new church by
  developing multiple sites?
• Lets consider this idea Stay here and move
  there!

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Point to ponder!

• Our strong churches are growing large by growing
  smaller simultaneously.
• They blend the strength that size offers, with
  the convenience of smaller and closer venues.
• Multi-site plants enable the new work to have
  punch, while keeping the excitement of something
  new!

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• The eighth innovative strategy, which we will
  discuss briefly, is one that was just beginning
  to be used in the United States in the early
  1980s.
• It is the Expanded Geographic Strategy. This
  strategy is when a new or existing church
  begins to expand its ministry by developing
  satellite locations.
• The first pastor to develop this concept was Fred
  Smith out of Texas. He started these satellites
  as additional preaching opportunities on Sundays.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Once they grew to sufficient size, he called a
  church planter on staff to lead it further. As he
  added the extra staff, the church quit being an
  expanded geographic church, and became its own
  automous work.
• An Expanded Geographic Strategy has at least two
  locations. The church ministers in both places
  every Sunday.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• AN EXAMPLE FROM THE PAST (Circa 1980S)
• In the San Fernando Valley of California, there
  is an early example of this type of strategy. It
  is the Church on the Way (Jack Hayford, pastor).
• Some church structures would say this concept is
  where one complete staff pastors two different
  congregations.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Originally, this church was called The Van
  Nuys Foursquare Church, but was later changed. It
  identifies itself with Jesus, who called Himself
  "the Way," and with Christians, who are willing
  to be "on the way with Jesus" to touch needy
  people.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• The Church on the Way, like many of the other
  churches that are innovative, design their
  services for the nonbeliever, as well as the
  believer.
• This church has experienced growth without some
  of the traditional methods, such as revivals or
  evangelistic preaching, altar calls, and
  visitation programs.
• At The Church on the Way, the preaching does not
  center on denouncing sin, but on exalting Christ.
  One very important aspect of Expanded Geographic
  churches is that it focuses on new worship
  dynamics and experiences.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Hayford says the church must "redefine,
  unwrap and unseal" worship. To him, this means
  that worship must be more than the adoration of
  God it also includes intimacy between the
  worshiper and God.1 The unwrapping means
  removing sectarian prejudices. Unsealing worship
  means that worship becomes a whole-person
  reformation process.
• 1Jack Hayford, The Billy Graham School
  of Evangelism, Wheaton, 1991, July 14-18.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• For a further understanding, his book,
  Worship His Majesty, is an excellent source of
  this worship strategy.
• Another excellent resource is Sally
  Morgenthalers book, Worship Evangelism Inviting
  Unbelievers into the Presence of God.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE EXPANDED
  GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY
• The only way a strong, expanded, geographic
  church can continue is for the professional staff
  to be completely committed to the strategy.
  Having a two campus church can be exciting, but
  it also could lead to growth pains along the way.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• In order to facilitate an expanded location
  ministry, The Church on the Way used two
  facilities, about one quarter of a mile apart.
  The congregations use both auditoriums and Sunday
  School space, but they alternate locations each
  hour in order to solve the problem of parking
  between services.
• The Expanded Geographic Strategy is an idea we
  will hear more about as we face the turn of the
  century.

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THE EXPANDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Well, we are here in the 21st Century and the
  strategy that started with a few churches has
  blossomed!
• (More on that later.)

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What does it look like today?

• Conjoined congregations One church meeting
  simultaneously in two or more locations. They
  usually share the preacher by one site live and
  the other video linked.
• Example Larry Osborne,
• North Coast Church, Ca.
  Jack Hayford,
• The Church on the Way,
  Ca.
• 2. Video Cafes Multiple congregations of one
  church, meeting at different times on the main
  campus, often with different worship formats,
  watch the same preacher on recorded video or live
  link.

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What does it look like today?

• Satellite Congregations Multiple congregations,
  still controlled by the mother church but
  operating on remote campuses, watch recorded
  sermons of the preacher at the main campus.
• Examples Andy Stanley, Bill Hybels and Dave
  Ferguson

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What does it look like today?

• The Preacher-less Church An independent
  congregation that uses recorded sermons from
  another ministry, while providing its own
  worship, leadership, programming, and governing
  body. Example Charles Stanley and
• Bill Hybels

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Same Idea Different Location
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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• The ninth strategy, and the second along the
  line of geographic-oriented strategies, is the
  Extended Geographic Strategy. Like the previous
  strategy, there was not a lot of written work on
  the concept in the early 1980s. As we moved into
  the 21st Century, that all changed. In 1990,
  Elmer L. Towns, Vice President of Liberty
  University and Dean of their School of Religion,
  coined the term "Extended Geographical Parish
  Church."ii For the next three years, there
  would only be one example.
• iiTowns, p. 90.

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• AN EXAMPLE FROM THE PAST (Circa 1980S)
• It worked and it didnt! Others tried it and
  they were successful.
• Again, Elmer Towns states, "Inasmuch as a church
  is the extension of the length and shadow of its
  pastor, so is the unusual extended geographical
  strategy of Perimeter Church to reach the entire
  metropolitan population of Atlanta."iii
• iii Towns, p. 90.

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Their pastor, Randy Pope, originally had a
  vision of planting 100 church fronts around the
  interstate perimeter of Atlanta, Georgia. That is
  how it actually got its name. Popes vision was
  to touch the entire metro area of Atlanta for
  Christ. Pastor Pope states, "I didn't want to
  build just one super church touching only one
  socioeconomic group in one part of Atlanta," he
  says. "Instead, I wanted to find a way to impact
  the whole of the city- reaching far beyond the
  influence of one church in one location."

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Hence Perimeter Church would be designed to be
  one "local church," but one that meets in many
  locations."iv It still uses the same idea of
  one senior pastor like the Expanded Geographic
  Strategy of The Church on the Way, but that is
  where the similarities change.
• ivTowns, p. 90.

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• Yes, there is one pastor leader, but each of the
  perimeter locations has individual pastors and
  separate outreach programs. There is one board
  that runs these churches with three elders from
  each congregation serving on the board.

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• The Extended Geographic Strategy uses the
  principle of referral. Friends tell friends about
  the church and help them find the Perimeter
  church closest to them. One very unique part of
  the Perimeter Church of Atlanta is their DAWN
  (Discipleship and Weekly Nurture) group for men.
  The first church (location) was begun September
  25, 1977.v
• v Towns, p. 90.

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THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC STRATEGY

• In less than three years, Randy Pope had the
  church ready to launch its second location (on
  the other side of the Atlanta perimeter loop in
  Marietta, Georgia).
• In 1980, Perimeter Church of Atlanta began its
  second ministry center, which was a little over
  10 miles from the original congregation. Since
  that time, a new congregation has been planted
  about every three years.
• The third plant was located about 20 miles from
  the original in Gwinnett County. Today, they have
  multiple locations around the perimeter area.

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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC
STRATEGY

• It is easy to realize that such a strategy takes
  a group of individuals who believe in missions.
  The model is a servant to the mission of reaching
  lost souls for Jesus Christ.
• Once again, this strategy is geared toward
  reaching the un-churched in America today.

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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC
STRATEGY

• As Perimeter Church moved into the 1990's, it
  took a bold step, constituting each of the five
  churches with each one remaining committed to
  starting perimeter churches around Atlanta.
• Each give 5 percent of its budget to a new
  congregation through Perimeter Ministries
  Incorporated.
• Still, its main purpose is to plant new
  congregations around the perimeter of Atlanta.

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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC
STRATEGY

• Remember I said, It worked and it didnt!
  Others tried it and they were successful?
• Though the Perimeter experiment worked, today
  the mother church exists as the strongest of the
  five with some of the others having become
  automous.

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CONCLUDING THOUGHTS ON THE EXTENDED GEOGRAPHIC
STRATEGY

• Yet, others followed this strategy in the late
  1990s and found tremendous success!
• Some call this strategy a church planting
  strategy, while others call it a church
  expansion strategy.
• Regardless, God has been honored and strong new
  churches have been started.
• It did work! It still does.

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Seven Reasons to Start a Satellite or Multi-site
Option

• To break the stalemate between remaining at the
  old site and relocation.
• a) Those who oppose abandoning a sacred site do
  not have to yield.
• b) Those who want new facilities on a larger
  site at a more strategic location, can also have
  their way.
• c) Both groups are winners there are no
  losers.

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Seven Reasons to Start a Satellite or Multisite
Option

• 2.To offer the possibility of reaching and
  serving a larger and more diverse group of people
  than could be achieved by concentrating all
  resources at only one place.
• 3.To have a larger membership that can provide
  the financial resources needed to purchase land
  and construct new buildings.

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Seven Reasons to Start a Satellite or Multisite
Option

• 4.To retain the advantage of a large and
  competent staff, a large cadre of volunteer
  leaders, and the institutional strength of a big
  church for implementing ministry.
• 5.To offer a broader range of choices than either
  could if the decision had been made to divide.
• 6.To expand physical facilities.
• 7.To create a vacuum that challenges more people
  to serve in leadership roles.

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Some Guidelines to Utilizing the Multi-site
Option

• Have only one governing board, one set of
  administrative committees, one budget, one
  treasury, one staff, one senior minister, and one
  definition of purpose and role.
• If two sites, this usually means the senior
  minister will preach at both places on at least
  35 Sunday mornings every year.

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Some Guidelines to Utilizing the Multi-site
Option

• Neither site should be perceived as
  second-class.
• Determine the number of sites that the
  congregation and staff can handle.

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Seven Variations of the Multisite Option

• 1.The Downtown Church - satellite is only a
  preaching point, not a seven-day-a-week ministry
  center.
• 2.The Urban Church - has two, three or four
  off-campus meeting places.
• 3.The use of a satellite as one step in an
  extended relocation process.

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Seven Variations of the Multisite Option

• 4.The predominantly black, central-city
  congregation and the predominantly Anglo,
  suburban congregation.
• 5. As a product of the Key Church Strategy.
• 6. As an expression of the large congregation
  caring for wounded birds.
• 7. As a practical strategy for mothering a new
  mission.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 1. Perimeter Example - Atlanta, GA
• Design one congregation, one senior minister,
  one budget, one treasury, and several meeting
  places.
• Began in 1977 when Randy Pope was called by the
  Presbyterian Church in America to plant a new
  mission on the north side of Atlanta.
• By 1993, the church had six locations with plans
  being finalized to plant a seventh in Buckhead
  and an eighth in Atlanta.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 1. Perimeter Example - Atlanta, GA
• _ Created a corporation in 1990 called
  Perimeter Ministries International (PMI). It is
  an outreach mission of these churches. It has
  three objectives
• A. To plant and nurture healthy churches reaching
  a variety of socioeconomic and ethnic groups,
  both here and abroad.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 1. Perimeter Example - Atlanta, GA
• B. To unite the resources of each member church
  to make an impact on culture by ministering to
  the under-resourced people of Atlanta, targeting
  groups that shape the social, economic, political
  structures of our society.
• C. To resource existing churches with materials,
  ideas and training for effective ministry.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 2.An Ohio Example - Columbus, OH
• By mid 1980's, First Community Church had many
  assets, but needed to relocate.
• Decision to relocate was voted down three times.
• In 1990, presented new plan renovate the old
  site and start new site.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 2.An Ohio Example - Columbus, OH
• Lessons learned by Ohio
• Count the support of those willing to invest
  their time, energy, creativity, and money on a
  new tomorrow.
• Proposals for radical change often must be
  presented several times before they are
  implemented.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 2.An Ohio Example - Columbus, OH
• Lessons learned by Ohio
• Love for the old, sacred place, the hope to
  perpetuate the past, and the preference for
  modest changes can be powerful, motivating
  forces!
• Having multiple sites can create a win-win
  situation.
• Only in the existence of a widely perceived
  crisis, is it easy to move fast.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 2.An Ohio Example - Columbus, OH
• Lessons learned by Ohio
• Nostalgia, the past, feelings, and emotion often
  are more influential motivators than logic,
  reason and a concern for the future.
• To reach new generations, invite them to help
  pioneer new ministries at a new site in a new
  building that is not filled with traditions and
  precedents.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 2.An Ohio Example - Columbus, OH
• Lessons learned by Ohio
• The importance of program staff rotating through
  both facilities.
• -- People learned to replace the
  word competition in their thinking about
  ministry with the word complement.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 3. A Texas Example - Houston, TX
• By early 1990's, First United Methodist Church
  had 14,000 members and a 27.4 acre site.
• In 1993, decided to start a separate site
  including
• 900 service lead by senior minister with a
  traditional setting.
• 1100 service lead by associate minister with a
  more contemporary setting that included drama,
  testimonies, contemporary music, and an informal
  setting.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 3. A Texas Example - Houston, TX
• Their ministry was motivated by
• Strength not weakness. (One of the largest
  downtown Protestant congregations on the North
  American continent.)
• Not by overcrowding, but by a desire to reach and
  serve people who would not come downtown to
  church.
• A compelling vision of a new model of ministry
  for a downtown church in a huge metropolitan area.

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Examples of Multisite Option Churches

• 4. Two more facets of multi-site option
• The stronger and more venturesome the
  congregation who initiates the design, the more
  likely it will arouse apposition from other
  ministers and denominational officials.
• The greater the resources available to the
  initiating church, the less likely it will be a
  significant diversion from the traditional
  ministry of that initiating congregation.

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Multi-site ideas

• What makes the multi-site unique? It is that it
  can use the existing churchs mentors and
  encouragers to support, encourage and organize
  volunteers of the new site.
• They can care for and train so new volunteers are
  more willing to serve.

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Multi-site ideas

• While the average member will drive longer
  distances to participate in celebration services
  of a large church, if they live more than 20
  minutes away, they usually will be unwilling to
  serve and bring friends. The distance diminishes
  active participation.

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Multi-site ideas

• The multi-site church reaches out to produce more
  Christians and more mature Christians.
• The multi-site church has the strength of what
  used to be reserved for denominational churches,
  i.e., loyalty.
• Today, this same loyalty is found in the trusted
  brand of the same church in multiple locations
  (brand loyalty).
• Your new location becomes a trusted brand, while
  offering something new!

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Multi-site ideas

• The multi-site church begins with a fuller staff,
  as compared to most new launches. Planters are
  generalists, whereas multi-site launches offer
  specialists.
• Multi-site plants cost less, and staffing
  correctly enables both churches to reach more
  people for Christ!
• Both churches will be better organized than a new
  plant.

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Multi-site ideas

• The multi-site church offers excellence from the
  larger church, as well as celebrative
  expectation.
• Excellence will then flow both ways! Innovation
  from one will inspire the other.
• The technology is in place to deliver consistent
  teaching every week via video. Now the issue is,
  will our theology allow us to try something new?

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Some Updated Modern Examples

• Dave Ferguson, Community Christian Church
  Naperville, Romeoville, and Montgomery, Illinois.
  Total weekend attendance 3,000
• Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church South
  Barrington, McHenry, Wheaton and Rockford,
  Illinois. Total weekend attendance in
  off- campus sites 3,500!

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Some Updated Modern Examples

• Andy Stanley, NorthPoint Community Church
  Alpharetta, Buckhead and Cumming, Georgia.
  Total weekend attendance 20,000
• Irwin McManus, Mosaic Church Los Angeles, two
  high schools and one nightclub 1,500

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Still Other Examples

• Life Church, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
• St. Pauls Lutheran, Aurora, Illinois.
• Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock Arkansas.
• North Coast Community, Vista, California.
• Life Journey Christian Church, Bakersfield,
  California.
• Eastside Baptist Church, Marietta, Georgia.
• New Hope Church, Peachtree City, Georgia.

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Ian Butain

• The following is originally from Dr. Ian Butain,
  Nehemiah Professor of Church Planting, North
  American Mission Board, SBC

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Church PlantingMethodologies

• The Satellite Model

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The Satellite Model
Occurs when the mother ship sends out a probe

• Occurs when the mother ship sends out a probe

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The Satellite Model

• When the head office opens up a new branch.

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The Satellite Model

• Occurs when a mother church duplicates itself
  in another location.

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Characteristics of the Satellite Model

• Worship service is in a different location.
• Will sometimes reinvent itself at the new
  location.
• Will often attract pioneering leaders from the
  main campus.

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Characteristics of the Satellite Model

• Often requires a senior pastor with tenure.
• Uses the same leadership, administration and
  budget.
• Requires excellent communication mechanisms.

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Criticisms of the Satellite Model

• Mother church, board, and pastor have control
  issues.
• Its not really church planting.
• Its just building somebodys personal kingdom.
• It is dividing the church.

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Strengths of the Satellite Model

• Satellite churches will meet the needs of
  different people.
• Satellite churches can try new things without
  affecting members at the main campus.
• Satellite churches allow the mother to change at
  her own pace.
• The new church is able to borrow credibility from
  the mother.

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Strengths of the Satellite Model

• Satellite churches allow an older, ingrown church
  to fulfill the Great Commission.
• Satellite churches allow a church that is
  cramped for space, to continue to grow.
• Satellites can duplicate what works.
• Satellite churches may result in new churches.

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Potential Weaknesses of this Model

• Satellite churches may result in the loss of key
  leaders, threatening the tenure of the lead
  pastor.
• Satellite churches may become a threat to the
  mother church.
• Satellite leadership may not be well represented
  in the decision-making process of the church.

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Potential Weaknesses of this model

• It is often difficult to maintain unity in the
  church.
• There is often a tendency to grow apart over
  time.
• Separation can be painful and messy.

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Places to find other resources on Multi-site/
Satellite

• www.ChurchPlantingVillage.net
• www.leadnet.org/resources
• Leadership Journal Spring 2003
• davel_at_communitychristianchurch.org
• www.newchurches.com

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Critical Question

• Are you up to the challenge? Are you willing to
  branch out and try the multi-site church planting
  strategy?