Avoid potential mistakes in your multi-site launch by learning from a multi-site church expert.
Going multi-site is no walk in the park. Indeed, the benefits to your church and the kingdom are immense, but there are a number of things that if forgotten, could negatively affect your launch and long-term success.
Thankfully, after years of churches going multi-site, we have the benefit of experts in this field who are more than happy to impart their knowledge and save us from making the same mistakes they, or other churches, did.
Rich Birch is one of the early multi-site church pioneers in North America. He has led numerous churches in going multi-site. Rich is passionate about helping churches reach more people, more quickly, and through excellent execution. He recently shared 5 tips with us that will help your church successfully transition to multi-site status.
5 Insider Tips From a Multisite Expert
1. Plan, plan, and then plan again
Conversations about your first campus should focus on what you “need” to make it successful, rather than what you “want.” Your first campus will serve as a model for those that are opened in the future and so, if you plan for every scenario leading up to your first launch, you will not only keep hardship away from that launch but also for launches to come.
Did you know that 85% of churches do not open more than one additional campus because the difficulty and hardships associated with the first launch are too great? Keeping the discomfort at bay requires planning, planning, and more planning.
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2. Systems are important
After the first campus, repeatability reigns supreme. To go to two or more campuses, you’ll need to hire (or recruit) people to build a central system and see it through week after week. Individuals with a core support function are essential for expanding your campus count. It just will not happen unless you have a strong person in that capacity.
Of course, out of this, you will probably find your church’s very own multi-site expert emerging. After a few launches and the repetitive planning required to launch, imagine someone rising up and acknowledging they enjoy the process of executing a seamless launch.
Plan and prepare, always. 85% of churches do not open more than one additional campus because the difficulty and hardships associated with the first launch are too great. Planning is a key component. Click To Tweet
3. Your budget today affects your campus growth tomorrow
Often, we find churches who have structured their budget around a magical number that isn’t backed by research. It is critical that your church works on real numbers, realistic predictions, and a keen awareness of the goal to launch new campuses.
The more money spent on one campus, the harder it is to get the next campus up and running. Keeping your spending in check and efficient at your original campus will mean that your new campuses are not under the immense pressure of unrealistically performing and growing financially. If your campuses are careful with their expenses, it will also mean that your next campus will be able to launch sooner rather than later.
The bottom line is that your budget must support your goal to launch multiple campuses, and this involves restrained expenditure.
Keep moving: Facing The Kryptonite Of Multisite Momentum
4. Be a church of campuses, not a church with campuses
Division, whether genuine or in jest, must not be tolerated when it comes to being a church of multiple campuses. You must go from mono-site to multi-site in everything you do, including your language.
Some churches never get beyond the “us” and “them” language when referring to campuses other than the one they regularly attend. To thrive, every campus must be seen as core to your church.
Divisive language, even in jest, must not be tolerated when it comes to being a church of multiple campuses. To thrive, every campus must be seen as core and reject using “us” and “them” language @richbirch Click To Tweet5. Understand that there will be differences
While it’s essential that all your campuses should be seen as core to your church, you must allow for and understand that there will be differences between each campus.
The core mission of each campus will be united but each campus will cater for a different group of people. One of your campuses may be situated in a largely affluent area, whereas another is situated in a lower-income community. Cultural differences must also be taken into consideration. No campus will be exactly the same, as leadership teams get to know their people and cater to their interests and situations. Thus, never set unrealistic across-the-board standards because no two groups of people are the same, and that is okay.
Learn more about Rich at Unseminary and follow him on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook.
CONSULTING A MULTI-SITE EXPERT
Just like any entrepreneur doing their due diligence, there’s wisdom in seeking information from those who’ve gone before you. If nothing else, let their mistakes serve a purpose and help you in your multi-site efforts!
Don’t spin your wheels or waste time when a simple call could point you in the right direction. We’re here to help. Get in touch with one of our experts today.
