Life got a little hectic in the last several days, and I didn’t get the chance to conclude the series on multi-site strategy. Links to the previous posts in the series are listed below.
Before we move on, I wanted to offer a handful of mistakes I see churches making when they jump into multi-site. Some of these come from researching the topic. Some of these come from the experience of various churches. Some of them come from my own personal experiences. Here are…
5 Factors to Avoid Multi-site Mistakes
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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)
That’s my top five. If you’ve been a part of a multi-site campus launch, do you agree with this list? What would you add or subtract?
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Previous posts in this series:
