8 Questions to Consider Before Launching Multisite Worship (Part One)

8 Questions to Consider Before Launching Multisite Worship (Part One)
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September 30, 2010

8 Questions to Consider Before Launching Multisite Worship (Part One)
Better to ask than not receive what you were expecting...

The multisite paradigm has been getting stronger for several years now and literally thousands of churches have ventured into what are, by now, fairly well-charted waters. The success stories are incredible. By definition, this is what constitutes a multi-site church—one church meeting in several locations—be that multiple venues on the

same campus and/or different locations in the same city (or even locations spread across different regions). Multi-site churches share the same vision, budget and leadership across all of their locations, no matter how distant from one another they may be. Here are some prudent cautions that churches might consider before leaping into the paradigm. Have this discussion over several months in order to make a wise choice.

Question 1

Have we done our homework about how this phenomenon came into being?

Comment: Start with a Google search Multi-site Churches www.google.com/search and slowly work your way through the process of acquiring as much information as possible. There are many fabulous books on this topic currently on the market. As a suggestion, make sure that you read books that are written by unbiased authors as well as books written by passionate leaders within the multisite movement.

Question 2

Are we organizationally competent enough to take on this very large and complicated undertaking and make it work?

Comment: Institutions are often guilty of over-promising and under-delivering. For example, if your church decided to double its membership from 1000 to 2000 within one year, there would have to be an incredibly well thought-through plan to make that really happen. Statistically the odds would be against pulling it off. Having said that, it certainly is possible where there is sufficient leadership and troops to make it happen. In the multisite world, over-promising is sometimes a recreational sport. The often quoted line from Field of Dreams ("if we build it, they will come") has often proved to be untrue. Conversely, many churches are launching multisite programs with huge growth ensuing within a year. One thing is clear about those churches that succeed in this endeavor—they're highly organized. It will take every resource you have to make it work.

Question 3

Have we built sufficient professional and lay leadership to implement the launching of these diverse locations?

Comment: Every multisite initiative requires at least one year of careful training and encouragement for those who will ultimately be responsible for turning a new venue into a church. In the past, many congregations became passive because there were well-trained professionals to drive the programs and leadership of their large church. In order to be an effective multisite congregation, the lay leadership will have to grow by at least a factor of 10. Often, to move people into that kind of leadership, there is a need to have weekly training sessions on many different aspects of ministry. This very time-intensive work can be done by both a combination of staff and laity. Occasionally this will lead to cessation of the other programs in the church because a church that decides to become multi-site often has to reduce programmatic offerings on it's main campus by at least half in order to do a new people-intensive thing.

Question 4

Do we have sufficient funds available to acquire the needed site locations?

Comment: Few churches can afford to launch multiple church sites without at least a small capital funds drive. Having said that, the church doesn't need millions of dollars to begin the initiative. Many churches launch adequate programs with a few thousand dollars for media tech equipment and minimal rent. In the business world, entrepreneurs are encouraged not to undercapitalized their ventures and the same could be said for a church stepping into multisite waters. There are many publications which will provide step-by-step costs and suggestions on adequate venues. Be sure you have done your homework before committing yourselves to a launch.

Look for Part 2

Blessings,

Doug

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—Doug Lawrence, internationally recognized speaker, author, and advisor, helps churches assess and improve their skillfulness in creating engaging worship experiences by utilizing his more than 35 years of "deep trench" worship leadership in prominent mainline churches. You may reach him at dlawrenceconsult@mac.com. Or, if you wish, call 650.207.8240 for assessment information and scheduling. Doug now teams with the slingshotgroup.net to place extraordinary worship leaders in extraordinary churches.