Why Churches Should Go Portable First with Their Next and Maybe Every New Location
by Jeff Beachum
Launching a new campus is an exciting milestone for any church whether you’re multisiting or planting! But it can also be a significant financial and logistical challenge. While the long-term goal may be a permanent facility, starting with a portable church model is often the wisest decision. Before committing millions of dollars and multiple years to a permanent space, launching portable first provides a strategic, cost-effective, and flexible way to establish a new sustainable presence in a new community.
Why Portable is the Smarter First Step
Portability is The Most Cost-Effective Expansion
One of the biggest obstacles to launching a new location is cost with time coming in a close second. The most compelling reason to start with a portable strategy is the dramatic difference in cost and timeline compared to permanent options. Consider these approximate costs and timeframes for securing a permanent space:
Cost & Time Comparison for a New Church Location:
Option
Estimated Cost
Estimated Time to Launch
New Build (from the ground up)
$20 – $25 million
3 – 5 years
Existing Commercial Space (40k SF.)
$8-10 million
3+ years
Existing Church Purchase (Merger)
$1-2 million
2 years
Portable Church
$250,000 – $750,000
6-8 months
*Generality allows for geographical differences.
*Timeframe to Launch includes fundraising, negotiations, local permits/approvals, design, build, occupancy.
Starting with a portable location allows a church to establish its presence for a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the time. Instead of investing millions upfront, a church can launch in months rather than years, begin reaching the community immediately, and assess the long-term viability of that location before making a larger financial commitment.
Portability Provides Speed to Ministry: Reaching People Faster
A new campus represents an opportunity to impact lives, and every delay means missing opportunities for ministry. Launching in a rented facility can happen in 6-8 months for an amount not even considered a capital purchase by most churches’ standards. This lowers financial risk and increases the speed to impact—meaning your church can start reaching people now, not years from now.
In portability, you can start holding services in a new community within 6-8 months. This means:
Faster impact: Your church begins ministering immediately.
Momentum-Driven Growth: Your new location can begin growing organically, gaining attenders and financial supporters, before moving into a permanent space.
Less Risk: If the location isn’t as strong as expected, adjustments can be made without a multimillion-dollar commitment.
Community Acceptance: while in portability, you have an option to gain recognition as a “part of the community” making it easier for approvals and zoning permits down the road when its time to move into a permanent space.
Portability Allows for Flexibility to Pivot and Adapt
Starting with a portable campus provides an invaluable opportunity to test the waters in a new community. What if the location doesn’t attract the expected attendance? What if demographic shifts or economic conditions change? This strategy gives a church, leveraging their learned experience, the ability to shift to more favorable situations:
Geographically, a church could determine another location within a targeted community would allow them better opportunities and could act quickly.
Within a given space, a church could discover more effective function and flow and simply reorient their use of the current spaces.
Numerical growth might require an expansion of a particular space. The flexibility that portability provides can allow a church to add more children’s environments, expand seating in worship environments, or even make the delivered system more robust.
Portability is a Proven Model: Many Churches Have Succeeded in This Strategy
Many of the most effective multisite churches in the country have followed the “Go Portable First, Permanent Next” model. 60% of the fastest growing, and 85% of the largest churches have more than one location. Most include or have included portability as a significant part in their strategy. This approach allows for momentum-driven growth, launching new campuses quickly and efficiently, then transitioning to permanent locations once the congregation has grown and stabilized.
Churches like Life.Church, Elevation Church, LiberyLive, Church of Eleven22, CCV, Union Church, Summit, Liquid, Manna and many more have all used the portable to permanent model to expand rapidly and successfully. These churches testify that a portable location does not mean a lower-quality experience. With today’s advanced equipment, volunteers, and intentional design, portable churches can provide excellent worship environments that rival permanent facilities.
Conclusion: A Wise First Step for Multisite Expansion
Going portable first is a smart, strategic, and sustainable approach for multisite churches looking to expand. By launching quickly, minimizing financial risk, and maintaining flexibility, churches can grow new locations effectively before making a permanent investment.
Church leaders who can cast a vision that is stronger than the desire to be comfortable, can innovate their church using portability to realize significant kingdom reach!
For churches considering their next location, the best path forward may not be a building—it may be a well-executed portable church strategy that lays the foundation for future success.
Portable Church Industries is the leading partner in the country helping churches launch new campuses in portable facilities with minimum expense and maximum effectiveness. 95.6% of new church launches who partner with Portable Church Industries are still viable after five years.
There are other ways to launch a portable church, but no company offers the expertise, efficiency, and customized solutions that PCI provides.
What Makes PCI Unique?
✅ Custom-Designed Solutions – PCI doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all packages. They work directly with your church to create a tailored solution that meets your specific needs. ✅ High-Quality Equipment – From sound systems to children’s ministry setups, PCI provides state-of-the-art gear designed for portability and durability. ✅ Expert Training & Support – PCI equips your staff and volunteers with comprehensive training to ensure a smooth setup and teardown process every week. ✅ Efficiency & Speed – With PCI’s systems, your team can set up and tear down quickly, preventing volunteer burnout and making portable church sustainable long-term. ✅ Proven Track Record – With over 25 years of experience and thousands of churches served, PCI has perfected the science of launching strong with a portable model.
Common Misconceptions About Portable Church
Some churches hesitate to go portable because of misconceptions like:
Myth #1 – “Portable = Lower Quality”
Reality: With the right equipment and in the right system, portable churches can create a high-end worship experience that rivals the experience at any permanent location.
Myth #2 – “Setup and teardown will burn out our volunteers”
Reality: A good system, and a design built for efficiency and ease allow volunteer teams to setup and teardown with minimal time and effort.
Myth #3 – “We need a permanent building to feel legitimate.”
Reality: The church is the people, not the building. Some of the most thriving church communities started in schools, theaters, YMCA’s, and community centers before moving to permanent locations. And they did so stronger and without debt!
Jeff Beachum is the Multiplication Specialist & Marketing Director at Portable Church Industries®, where he helps church leaders develop strategic plans for multisite expansion and church planting. With a background in marketing, nonprofit development, pastoral ministry, and commercial real estate, he equips churches to make informed decisions about their next campus. Jeff’s passion is helping leaders build momentum for multiplication and effective church growth.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
Too many believers are ill-equipped to share the gospel and lead someone to a life-changing relationship with Jesus. But there are many who can…. If they have the opportunity and choose to. A large segment of believers depends on the alternative option – to bring a friend to The Church where they can hear that there is a Great Living God who knows and loves them. And that He loved them enough to send His son to save them from something from which they cannot save themselves and bring current and lasting peace.
Each church has to wrestle with its faithfulness and effectiveness to every one of these opportunities! And each church sets up fail-safe redundancies along the “lost to discipled pathway” to make sure no opportunity is squandered away or missed.
It starts with a focus on God’s Word and Worship. Preachers clearly communicating, Elders and Discipled members greeting and inquiring, worship teams drawing people into the presence of God, tech teams hitting every target with a sensory bullseye. It extends out to the streets – people being guided off the street, finding their way into a space where they are genuinely and warmly received, where they are impressed with the space young children can be cared for, and making their way into a worship space intentionally designed communicate life change with great clarity.
Winning the right to share the gospel. Every day, with every relationship, I am compelled to win the right to (somehow someday) share the Gospel with someone in my home or neighborhood that God has put in my way. The number one reason people say they attended church for the first time is because they were personally asked to attend.Further, Dechurch’d individuals state the same – they came back because a friend asked them to!
Corporately, my church has the same intentionality – compelled to live next to others in a way that allows them to win the right to share the Gospel. Our church calls it “building bridges that can bear the weight of Truth.” Through a hundred different expressions, it is being faithful and is marvelously partnering with God where He is working, seeing countless lives impacted, futures changed, family legacies turning on a dime!
And yet….
I was recently engulfed in worship, trying to digest a wonderful helping of God’s Word that had just been served up. I had been challenged with an unmistakable clarity to GO and serve THE King where I live. And we began to sing, rehearsing the life-changing phrases:
[King of Kings – Hillsong Worship]
“And the morning that You rose All of Heaven held its breath ‘Til that stone was moved for good For the Lamb had conquered death And the dead rose from their tombs And the angels stood in awe For the souls of all who’d come To the Father are restored
And the church of Christ was born Then the Spirit lit the flame Now this gospel truth of old Shall not kneel, shall not faint By His blood and in His name In His freedom I am free For the love of Jesus Christ Who has resurrected me
Praise the Father, praise the Son Praise the Spirit, three in one God of glory, Majesty Praise forever to the King of Kings”
With my eyes leaking because the full impact of God’s mercy and grace had confronted my unworthiness, that’s when it happened! I looked around the overcrowded room and thought, “What if the church gets everything else right except opening up new seats for the hearing of this wonderful Gospel?”
A church… your church has all the signs of God’s blessing: crowded parking lots, crowded entry spaces, people declaring their faith before the church, babies being dedicated, and services consistently bumping 80%, 90% capacity…. sometimes more!
What happens when God is blessing, and more seats are NOT opened up for the hearing of His Gospel?
So, What!?!
Should we Assume we are healthy?
Are we effective at accomplishing our mission?
Are we impacting and growing people the way we planned?
What is my church’s capacity?
What is the timeline where we run out of room?
What is our sweet spot attendance level where everything is humming well?
What are our NEXT options and when should we begin considering them?
I want to invite you to a webinar where we discuss these very questions…
Is your church ready to launch its next campus but unsure of where to start? Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Join Rich Birch and leading experts in church multiplication strategy for a webinar designed to give you the clarity and insights you need to confidently take your next steps.
Learn directly from Shawn Maxwell, Scott Payne, Josh Whitehead, and Jeffrey Beachum, experienced leaders who have successfully launched multiple thriving campuses. This is your chance to gain actionable strategies for choosing the right location, aligning your plans with your church’s DNA, and ensuring a successful launch that makes a lasting impact in your community.
This practical, engaging session will help you:
Identify the right time to launch. Learn to recognize the indicators that signal it’s time for your church to expand.
Choose the best location. Discover the process for selecting a community where your church can grow and thrive.
Create a strategic launch plan. Understand timelines, facility options, and the portability solutions that will set you up for success
You don’t want to miss this opportunity to learn from some of the most accomplished leaders in church growth. Reserve your spot today and get ready to take your church’s vision to the next level!
Register here now: https://helpchurchleaders.com/your-churchs-next-community-triggers-timelines-thinking/
Confirming what’s Important in Launching New Church Locations! by Jeff Beachum
I was recently struck by a data point that has been celebrated by some decision-makers in the church and lamented by others. 68% of new church locations are still open after4 years. From the rearview mirror, that means that 32% fail. Gulp!
So just what are some of the reasons a new church location might thrive or fail?
A couple weeks ago, I was settling into seat 8C on a short flight to meet with a few church leaders and a key strategic partner. I started the customary small talk with my seatmate. “Good morning!”, “Are you heading home or away from home for a few days?”, “Is this a business trip or for pleasure? Usually something in that exchange gives a starting point for a nice little pre-flight conversation. When she asked the business or pleasure question, I honestly answered, “both!” And she was taken aback like it was something astounding. I explained that I love what I get to call “work” and the people I was going to see had become very dear friends. She could not withhold her curiosity and asked, “what do you do?” So I got to explain that I get to talk to church leaders about how God is blessing them and their church, and how they’re going to handle the growth. Specifically, to offer the use of a tool that might help them with their great problem of a growing church.
Her responses began to flow easier and with a bit of excited curiosity. I could tell she was familiar with the language I was using. I could tell she was churched. As she shifted slightly toward me in her seat, the conversation began to go to a different level.
“What is it that you do?” She wanted to know. With my best 30 second explanation, I put my hands together almost touching as if I were actually holding the church, “when a church over here is growing, and they need to start a new location say, over there” motioning toward the window of the plane, my. company can help the church start a new location in a rented space like a school, YMCA, movie theater, and hundreds of other rentable facilities. We provide everything a church needs to load into one of those facilities in about an hour, they can do their services, and then load out in under an hour.” The marketer in me quickly added, “it’s the quickest, least expensive, most professional way for a church to start a new location.”
To my amazement, she responded, “Oh! I know all about a church in a school! We tried that once.” Now it was my turn to shift toward her in my seat because things were getting good. “You say that like it didn’t turn out to be a good solution.” She sheepishly replied, “no, it didn’t work for us.”
I paused for a moment trying to determine if I should press in with more questions. I didn’t know what vantage point she had within the church to answer my curious questions. I didn’t want it to get uncomfortable. And certainly, I didn’t want to unintentionally offend her somehow. “Can I ask where this church was?” and she told me the name of the town. I blurted with excitement, “I know what church it was and I know the launch location!” She looked surprised and said, “No way you could know that!” So I told her the sending church and the site of the then new location. “How do you know that!” she almost demanded with a big smile.
In my mind, it was all coming together now. I didn’t know until I got on that plane that morning that this particular church launch had failed. And I NEVER get excited about a church failing with its strategy – especially a strategy that involves portability. But I was truly excited about this one only because I knew why it failed. And with great relief, I was confident it didn’t fail because of it being portable, or because of the Portable Church Solution they were using. I turned even more now to my new friend, “I haven’t connected with any leaders in your church in more than 5 years. Can I share with you why I would guess your new location didn’t work?” Her curiosity was peaking. “Please do!”
So with her permission, I proceeded slowly with my observations. “When we (PCI) helped to launch [NAME] Campus, [Campus Pastor] had a great location, a great new PCI solution, and a wonderful core group that seemed to have significant momentum.” She agreed, “yep!” She wanted me to continue, “The only thing I could see that had the potential to make this Kingdom venture fail was leadership. [Campus Pastor Name] was energetic, organized, and consummate shepherd. But I always felt that there was no vision and continued support (nourishment) from leadership at the sending campus. And I shared some details as to what would make me draw that conclusion.
Stunned, she turned away from me a bit, looking straight forward now, and said, “I think you’re right!” The lead pastor and the campus pastor are no longer around.
Leadership is everything! As a leader, praying for and getting a vision is only exceeded by casting that vision and providing an execution strategy for it. If you have a vision to be a sending church, then fully be a sending church! The end of a maturing process for both individual believers, and corporately as a church, is the SENDING process.
There are a lot of reasons why a newly launched church location might thrive or fail. Many times, the difference can be found in the way individuals are SENT out ON MISSION, and continue to be supported by the sending body.
Note: It can be argued that when a church uses a portability strategy and executes with Portable Church Industries, the solution that is provided is rarely the reason for failure. In fact, with the challenges presented in being portable, a PCI solution can be considered an advantage to thriving long term. 95.6% of new church locations launched with PCI are viable after 5 years. So, whether you are launching portably with an open ended stay, or are leveraging portability to get well established in a new community aiming for the NEXT permanent facility, a PCI solution can only help!
The Exciting & Uncomfortable Side of Growing Churches.
“Hey there friends, have any of you figured out how to……?”
If you are involved in any gathering of leaders, either in a physical or digital space, you’re likely to hear a question like this one. Within hours, sometimes minutes, a host of peers are reaching out with clarity questions, and many viable solutions to the issue at hand. Church leaders are no different.
Good church leaders, laser focused on mission, are always looking for help and resources. They are always growing in their leadership, their capacity, their ability to bring others around them to lead, and to stay laser focused an On Mission. One key to helping the church go through the growth process is to allow discomfort to become an expected and natural feeling for them and their members. People are usually willing to be a little uncomfortable if the mission is getting accomplished.
The Annual edition of Outreach 100 was recently released. The Sept/Oct 2024 issue contains a plethora of ideas, and examples of churches that are knocking it out of the park (I believe God is a baseball guy!). The Editor, Ed Stetzer, in his opening message for the issues theme – The Story of America’s Growing Church – holds out two very positive statements:
“One of my hopes for the future is that we might hold our church models loosely and our gospel clarity firmly.”
“A church with mission-shaped people living together for the gospel makes all the difference.”
In this age, the church cannot make comfort a value that supersedes “Gospel Clarity” and being “On Mission.” Nor should any other distraction, personal or corporate, move us off the path to complacency and shiny objects. We need an ever-growing sense of urgency about proclaiming the Gospel and reaching the Lost!
Initially, a growing church’s answer to capacity issues could include:
Adding more seats
Adding more services (multiservice)
Adding more venues at the same facility (Multivenue)
These are the easiest solutions until they just aren’t anymore. God is always faithful to getting you to the NEXT place with the NEXT Solution you need. A part of growing in capacity is to intentionally get uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel. The first uncomfortable steps might include squeezing every person possible in a crowded room. Or battling for a parking place….or exhausting leaders, staff, and volunteers….or noticing your digital attendance going up because they can’t get in the room.
The next “uncomfortable” steps a growing church must face is sending some of its own out ON MISSION. Congratulations!!! By getting uncomfortable in your faithfulness to Gods desire to reach the lost, you have somehow gained His favor and trust to participate in His NEXT Kingdom expanding idea for your church!
The next steps in a growing church’s life will require a growing vision and leadership with capacity. Because the next two adventures God has for you, will indeed be exciting and painful all at the same time:
Sending a “momentum of the faithful” to another part of your region as a plant.
Sending a “momentum of the faithful” to be an extension of your very own capacity (Multisite)
We at Portable Church Industries looked at both the list of Fastest Growing and Largest Churches in the Outreach top 100 lists to learn how these “successful” churches are growing. PCI’s research of these lists determined that 60% of the fastest growing, and 85% of the largest churches have more than one physical location. And many of these churches are both multisiting AND planting.
Mind you, planting and multisiting is not a strategy reserved only for The Mega Church that is going to be noticed by Outreach Magazine. There are thousands of churches of all sizes, that are learning the dynamics of launching new locations. Certainly, the mega churches have learned, and many of the mid and large churches have learned how to launch new locations strongly:
The stronger the vision the better chance of staying ON MISSSION.
The higher the capacity of leadership/leadership teams the smarter the launch
Stronger the funding the Stronger the Launch
The larger the Launch Team the more forceful the sustaining momentum
The relatively recent strategy of churches launching new locations is in stark contrast to a time when the go-to solution to a capacity issue was building bigger and bigger buildings, either new or expanded remodels. The enormous expense of new and bigger facilities has been crippled by the cost of real estate, the economy, and the cost and time involved in vast amounts of money.
Launching Strong is an intentional act of leadership. A worn statistic in church-circles is that after 4 years, 68% of new churches are still open. The urgency of launching new locations comes from of churches knowing that 32% of new location launches fail within 4 years. PCI is thrilled to be a part of many strong launches over the years. We have determined that more than 90% of churches launching new locations with a Portable Church Solution are still open after 5 years. Many of those churches have excelled well into a permanent presence in their community.
Ramblings of an innovative Church Multiplication Specialist….on Launch Strong & Thrive
Knowing for weeks that this post needed to be written, I began thinking about how important momentum is, oddly enough, at the State Fair!While watching my grand-twins enjoying the mid-way rides for small people, I glanced over to see the rollercoaster full of riders trying to anticipate the exhilaration yet to come.The slow click click click of the cars arduously being towed up the stupidly steep slope made me smile.I could see what was coming – and the riders could only anticipate it.I’m just that kinda guy!The inexperienced riders shake their heads profusely anticipating the forces of gravity as they break the summit!Then it happened, the screams and wild laughter began as it felt like their momentum was out of control, yet knowing it was under complete control!That’s why it was fun!
There are a few observable rules about momentum:
Gravity can be wonderful and mean all at the same time.
Pushing anything uphill is hard – and rarely fun!
Riding downhill can be fun and exciting – as long as it’s under control.
Building momentum before going uphill is more hopeful than starting from a dead standstill.
Nobody likes pushing big things uphill themselves – but they don’t mind having others do it!
When a church is launching at a new location, whether as a solo planter or a church that is planting or Multisiting, MOMENTUM is a big deal.Church Planters and Churches that launch new locations should always consider the momentum generators they can harness.What does momentum look like for a rapidly growing church?
Sent people on mission is a part of the DNA, culture, and expectation.
Dedicated and focused leadership.
Excellence – How does “good enough” even work in the church???
It is Funded well.
In 2022, ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) launched a survey titled ‘The New Faces of Church Planting and Multisiting” under the leadership of Warren Bird, Ph.D., ECFA’s Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping.https://www.ecfa.org/Surveys.aspx!
Warren has done extensive research on sustaining momentum in the church.I’m not sure I ever saw him use the word Momentum, but his heart for the church just screams the sentiment.Some of the conclusions that can be drawn from this research suggest, when a church is launching a new location, there are several factors that impact momentum.Two of the most critical are underfunded launches, and not having a strong launch team (numbers not quality, although quality doesn’t hurt).That means not even sniffing, much less crossing the line of “this will do.”
Specifically, Dr. Bird addresses momentum and the individual/solo church planter (New Faces of Church Planting).My take on his conclusions include:
A vision for multiplication (more than 1 new expression of the church) sets the tone and the momentum in the “Thrive Direction”
New Churches that grow are more focused on Evangelism and less on existing believers
Top three reasons for closing a recently planted church:
Lack of adequate core group/launch team.
Lack of funding.
Lack of adequate facilities.
Equally, Dr. Bird considers the numbers on momentum of existing churches that Launch New Locations (both planting and/or Multisiting).My take on his conclusions for multisite in “New Faces of Church Multisite” include:
There is a high drive and vision for reaching new people with Jesus’ Gospel and doing so by taking the church closer to the people we’re trying to reach.This means sending members back to their home communities to be effective agents at home.
“Multisite Churches” effectively do so by both campusing AND planting.
On average when launching new location, Multisiting churches invest 8x more $$ than planters, and launch with twice as many in attendance on launch day as planters, reaping the benefits of that momentum into the future.
Average worship seating for multisite regardless of the venue is 201-500.
Leaders who are helping to grow strong and healthy churches, and even launching new expressions of the church, should generate as many downhill experiences as you can.Certainly, when gravity hits as it often does, the momentum you’ve developed will sustain your THRIVE!
Portable solutions and streamlined logistics can help to avoid pastor burnout during launch season by focusing on boundaries, support, and more.
When a pastor chooses to plant a church, it’s not because he has a passion for AVL or check-in kiosks. Rather, a pastor sees all of those incredible tools as a means to an end: people meeting Jesus.
And yet, Barna has reported that pastors are struggling with burnout at unprecedented levels. In March 2022, they stated: “the percentage of pastors who have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year sits at 42 percent.”
For multisite and church planting teams, launching a church can be a daunting task that requires a significant amount of time and energy. Unfortunately, this leaves pastors with little time to do what they are passionate about: connecting with people and sharing the message of Jesus. Instead of building relationships, they’re often consumed by logistics, such as setting up audio consoles and deciding on the best bistro cart, which can quickly lead to burnout.
But the solution is simple: rest and balance. And no, rest doesn’t necessarily mean taking a nap. In fact, there are many ways to experience rest and balance that don’t involve sleeping at all! In this article, we’ll explore various ways to rest and recharge, both personally and professionally, in order to avoid burnout. Moreover, these ideas will not only help you to avoid overwhelm and burnout but also support you in staying energized throughout your church’s launch phase.
4 Ways to Avoid Pastor Burnout While Launching a Church
1. Develop healthy boundaries.
We know, you’ve heard it before. But, there’s a reason it’s the first item on every list that discusses reducing stress and burnout. Balancing work, life, and ministry can be a significant challenge for pastors. Without proper boundaries, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overwhelm and eventually burn out.
Here’s a very practical suggestion: make yourself available only at specific times to specific people. By setting clear limits on your availability, you can avoid bending over backward to fit into others’ schedules and find balance in your life. This approach can also help you prioritize self-care and rejuvenation, which are essential for avoiding burnout. This might seem counterintuitive during the launch season, but it’s important to compartmentalize when possible, which will help to strike a balance between life and ministry.
How? For some, the answer may be to build availability into a regular schedule. While we know that life doesn’t always fit perfectly into our calendars, setting healthy boundaries is critical. Maybe you tell your team that you will have an open Zoom during a 2-hour span every day? Or, on the flip side, tell your staff and team that you will cease all communication after 5PM. Not only will these boundaries help you gain more balance and avoid burnout, but it will also keep your time in check and, likely, more manageable.
When pastors set healthy boundaries and prioritize balance and rest, they can make a lasting impact in their ministries and communities. Instead of burning out like a firework that fizzles out quickly, they can build a fire that burns steadily for years to come.
Pastors often assume the majority of the responsibilities, leading to stress, burnout, and even disillusionment. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
One of the most effective ways to lighten your load is by tapping into the vast resources available within your launch team and congregation. In other words, recruit volunteer help.
There are likely many people in your circle who are eager to help but don’t know how or haven’t been invited to do so in the right way. By reevaluating your approach to volunteer recruitment and management, you can feel confident about the work ahead of you during the preparation phase and launch season. In the end, this method creates a much more sustainable ministry model.
If sharing the work is difficult for you, check out these resources for practical help:
Need help with your tech team? Download this free AVL guide and get practical ideas for timelines, roles, and task lists.
3. Find a small group that you don’t have to lead.
While God has an infinite supply of patience and care, pastors do not. That’s why it’s essential to allow others to pour into you as well. Without taking time to rest and recharge, it’s like being a heart with only arteries—sooner or later, you’ll bleed out.
This is where some kind of small group or support group involvement is crucial.
Instead of spending every waking moment on ministry concerns, we encourage you to make time for relationships that permit you to simply be. Whether it’s gathering with other local pastors or church planters, or spending time with a close friend, make sure it’s something that fills you up and prepares you to pour out again.
A small group of praying, encouraging supporters will become a kind of fuel that will keep you going during the sometimes-grueling season of launching a church. With their friendship and guidance, you’ll be able to pour out and lead from a place of abundance.
After working with churches for more than 25 years, we understand that launching a multisite or church plant can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. That’s why we offer custom solutions tailored to fit each budget, vision, and venue—so pastors can focus on building relationships instead of worrying about logistics.
Our solutions include everything from inviting worship spaces to kids’ ministry areas and ensuring your weekly volunteer teams have the resources they need to succeed. By taking care of the logistics, we make it easy for pastors to craft an exceptional worship experience for their congregation. Also, pastors can spend more time building connections with people and less time fussing over details. This not only leads to more energized volunteer teams but also enables pastors to focus on their core mission: making a profound impact on people’s lives.
6 Ways Choosing Portable Equipment Can Help to Avoid Pastor Burnout
Here are just 6 ways that multisite and church planting teams will avoid pastor burnout by choosing a portable solution:
Less time spent on logistics and setup, allowing pastors to focus on building relationships with their congregation. For example, instead of worrying about setting up equipment every week, pastors can recruit volunteers to help with setup and spend more time interacting with the people.
Portable equipment that can easily be transported, providing flexibility and versatility for church plants and multisite launches. The easier it is to transport equipment and pack trailers…the fewer things to worry about.
Customized solutions tailored for each church’s budget, vision, and venue, reducing stress and streamlining the process
Pre-wired audio and visual systems that save time and reduce technical difficulties during services. AVL translation: fewer last-minute tech hiccups that can cause stress and anxiety!
Clear signage and branding materials that create a professional and inviting atmosphere for visitors. As a result, pastors can connect with church visitors and not play the role of Traffic Director.
High-quality sound and lighting equipment that enhances the worship experience and engages attendees. How can this help a pastor to avoid burnout? Fewer tech worries, but more importantly—confidence in the quality of the Sunday experience.
These benefits not only help pastors avoid burnout but also allow them the freedom and time to focus on doing what they’ve been created to do for the Body.
Avoid Pastor Burnout With Easy Solutions: Testimonials
Looking for more evidence that choosing the right portable church solution for your launch can have a significant impact on your state of mind and help to avoid pastor burnout? Here are some of the encouraging reports we’ve received from church leaders we’ve worked with over the years:
“I’ve done portable AVL without PCI and I will NEVER do it again.”
Jody, Campus Expansion Coach and Campus Pastor at @cypresschurchtv
“Thanks for the practical wisdom in our consultations, for the clarity and patience in our training, and for the immediate availability when we’ve had questions and follow up needs. So thankful for you guys and the role you played in planting our church!”
Justin, Lead Pastor, Fieldstone Church
“I can’t imagine doing portable church without portable church industries! The logistics and plan make all the difference for a team of volunteers.”
Tommy, Campus Pastor at First Christian Church
As evidenced in these testimonials, working to make the launch process as stress-free as possible has a significant impact on avoiding pastor burnout and supporting volunteers. By minimizing logistical challenges, pastors can focus on building relationships and empowering volunteers to succeed. This not only leads to a more thriving church community but also promotes a healthier work-life balance for pastors.
OUTSOURCE LOGISTICS TO AVOID PASTOR BURNOUT
We understand that launching a mobile church or multisite is a big undertaking, which is why we design custom solutions tailored to fit each budget, vision, and venue. Our solutions include everything needed to create inviting worship spaces, kids’ ministry areas, and more, making it easy for weekly volunteer teams to succeed. With our help, pastors can achieve rest and balance amid an exciting but overwhelming season of ministry.
Are you ready to start planning your launch and want to do it without the overwhelm and burnout? Let PCI be your partner in ministry. We’ll take care of the logistics so you can focus on doing what you love to do—connecting with people and sharing the love of Jesus.
Teach church volunteers and staff how to safely and efficiently manage cases and portable storage systems with this helpful case tutorial.
For more than 25 years, cases have been the key component of our storage systems. As such, it’s essential to understand the basics of these cases and how to use and transport them effectively.
Do you own any of our Portable Church Industries (PCI) cases? We hope you’ll use this case tutorial to help your volunteers and staff brush up on how to safely and efficiently manage the church’s investment in their cases. If you don’t own any and would like to learn more, feel free to contact us today to schedule a consultation.
If you want to jump straight to the sections, use the links here:
Let’s jump in with our case tutorial to train those who are new to your volunteer crew or to refresh those who have been in the trenches for a while.
Portable Church Case Tutorials for Beginners and Experts
What is a Portable Church Case?
PCI cases are a testament to our commitment to providing the best possible experience for our clients. These cases are not only constructed on-site but are also carefully crafted to ensure that every detail is taken into account, making it incredibly easy for volunteers to transport and manage them.
Here are 3 things that make our cases unique:
1. Wood
PCI cases are constructed from wood, which has several benefits. Wood is light and durable, making it an ideal material for protecting your gear while also providing flexibility in the trailer and building. Additionally, the case is carpeted, which helps to reduce noise and prevent damage to your gear.
Bonus: If the case does get damaged or dinged, the carpeting can help to hide those imperfections.
The placard, a sign on the side of the case, provides critical information about the organization of the system, including the trailer pack, case number, contents, and location within the building. With this information, it’s easy to ensure that the case contents remain consistent and that volunteers know exactly where to find what they need.
3. Casters
The shelf case has two swivel casters on the handle side and two rigid casters on the other side. It’s essential to push the case rather than pull it, as doing so can lead to accidents and injuries. The ball corners on the case are designed to protect your gear, not the venue, so care must be taken when maneuvering the case to avoid damaging walls or other surfaces.
In the case tutorial below, Barrett, one of PCI’s Launch Specialists, shares some case basics. He teaches viewers how to safely open the case and how to quickly read, understand, and follow the case placard and diagram.
Case Tutorial for Safely Moving Cases
Cases are an essential part of a portable church’s equipment. They serve numerous purposes, from carrying AVL equipment to transporting nursery gear, bins, and musical instruments.
However, handling cases can be challenging, especially when we lack knowledge of the best way to move them. As a result, we often develop bad habits that can lead to injury or damage to the cases the church has invested in, or worse–damage to the volunteer who’s handling them.
Churches must educate their teams on the correct ways to handle cases to avoid these issues.
In the video below, you’ll learn from a pro how to safely move these large pieces of equipment, including which side is the right one from which to push and pull your case.
Fortunately, portable church cases are designed to be moved easily and by virtually anyone who knows how to do it correctly. Even though the size might be intimidating to some, they are very manageable if handled carefully.
To help your team learn the best practices, this case tutorial has been created, featuring Jesse, PCI’s Director of Sales & Marketing.
Case Tutorial for Mastering Loading and Unloading Onto a Trailer
PCI designs every church’s portable system to fit effortlessly inside designated trailers, but there is still order and sequence to getting it right. To make this process easier, Church Launch Specialist Debbie walks us through the steps to load and unload portable church cases into a trailer in two separate videos.
In the case tutorial for loading a trailer, Debbie covers several essential topics to ensure safe transportation, including:
Reading case and trailer organization placard diagrams
A simple system for keeping items in their designated cases
Moving and loading cases safely
How to secure everything with an E-Track strap
The biggest tip to make loading extra fast and simple is to stage loaded cases outside of the trailer before bringing up the ramp. This will ensure every item is safely packed away in its proper case.
In the case tutorial for safely unloading a trailer, Debbie explains how to:
Easily unlatch the E-Track strap
Strategically remove cases based on placard information
Observe safe procedures for securing the area and removing cases.
By sharing these clips with your team members, you can remove the guesswork and avoid any potential damage or injury caused by mishandling portable church cases.
Loading and unloading cases with just the right technique may seem like a tedious task, but doing it the right way can save you time, effort, and money.
FAQs: Cases & Trailers
CASES
I see portable items online. What’s the difference between your stuff and what we see for sale on Marketplace or resale sites?
At Portable Church Industries, we offer more than just gear—we provide access to our 27 years of experience serving over 4,000 churches. Whether it’s sharing best practices, providing custom wiring, or creating cases for your equipment, all of these elements are vital to ensuring the success of your launch when partnering with PCI.
Is there a way to do this cheaper? We have people at our church who are willing to volunteer their craftsmanship skills and supplies.
Yes, there are definitely ways to do it cheaper—in the short run. If you want a dependable system that won’t exhaust your volunteers, our custom solutions are the way to go.
For example, here’s what Jody, Campus Expansion Coach and Campus Pastor at Cypress Church in the Columbus area, had to say about the security our cases provide:
“I have been doing portable church for 15 years in multiple states, in different churches, and in wildly different roles. While brands of AVL gear matter and some gear is better than others, nothing has been more critical to making AVL excellent in my ministry experience than PCI’s design of their cases in every environment— but especially in the AVL world. I’ve done portable AVL without PCI and I will NEVER do it again.”
Although it may be tempting to opt for cheaper alternatives, we hope you take experiences like Jody’s into consideration.
Yes, we can work with you on this. Simplycontact our office and we’ll hook you up with one of our specialists.
TRAILERS
Can we use our own trailer?
In most scenarios, your trailer is not going to be tall enough to handle our cases since our trailers are a custom height. Often the specs on stock trailers are rated at lower weight tolerances as well. For instance, 8′ and 8.5′ trailers are common, which is too large. Sometimes churches think more space is better, but in most cases, this leads to hassles with dead space in the trailer, like wheel wells. Our trailers are a very tight and clean pack.
To see it for yourself, check out this video of one of our team members executing a trailer load:
What size truck do we need to tow the trailer?
You’ll need a 1/2 ton for 16′ trailers, and a 3/4 ton for 24′ trailers (both with trailer tow packages). Be sure to match the truck’s capacity to the trailer’s weight rating.
Can I use a box truck?
You can use a box truck but we strongly recommend a trailer purchased from PCI.
View cases of all shapes, sizes, and purposes in our gallery.
Build Case Care Awareness Among Volunteers
In conclusion, cases are an essential component of our storage systems and have been for more than 25 years. They are designed to protect your gear while providing flexibility and easy access.
Make sure to use the available training resources with your team to ensure everyone is aware of the best practices. Remember, prevention is better than cure, and investing in proper case-handling education is a wise decision for any church.
We hope your questions were answered and your volunteers found this one-stop-shop case tutorial helpful. If there’s anything else we can help you with, do not hesitate to contact us.
Following a trailer upkeep routine is crucial to retain its value, prolong its life, and keep portable church volunteers happy. Keep reading to get the simple checklist.
When you invest in a portable church trailer, it’s important to keep it in good condition. Regular maintenance can ensure that your trailer lasts longer and that you get the most out of your investment.
To make sure your trailer is functioning at its best, you should keep track of a checklist of different maintenance items. Your owner’s manual will likely contain trailer upkeep suggestions, but regardless of make or model, these basic but crucial steps will help to keep your equipment in tip-top shape.
Some of the most important items include checking your trailer’s brakes, wheel bearing grease, and seams, as well as maintaining your door hinges and locks. You should also make sure that you clean and oil your locks regularly. It’s also essential to grease your hitch and keep your jack clean. We’ll explore those subjects in more detail below.
To easily navigate the contents of the article, use the links listed here:
Trailers that are used for portable church settings often take a beating. They are used routinely, with numerous items rolling in and out of the unit at least once a week. When a trailer is used in this way, it requires proper maintenance to ensure that it retains its value, functions correctly, and lasts a long time.
Portable church settings are temporary in nature, and they require a flexible and versatile solution. A trailer provides that solution. It holds everything necessary for your gathering, including a kidsmin area, storage cases, welcome spaces, and an inviting worship space. However, the very flexibility that makes the trailer so valuable can also cause it to wear out more easily.
Regular maintenance can save you a lot of money in the long run by reducing the risk of breakdowns, prolonging the life of your trailer, and minimizing the need for costly repairs. In addition, a well-maintained trailer can ensure your safety on the road and make your towing experience a lot smoother.
And as portable church planters are well aware, regular maintenance of portable church equipment—like trailers—can help keep volunteers happy and satisfied by providing reliable resources.
Let’s dive into the 4 steps we recommend for regular trailer upkeep, and one bonus tip for making sure nothing falls through the cracks.
5 Steps for Portable Church Trailer Upkeep
1. Check Hinges and Locks
Maintaining the door hinges of a portable church trailer is crucial for three key reasons. First, regular maintenance ensures ease of use, making it easier for volunteers to access the equipment and supplies inside the trailer. Also, neglecting door hinges can lead to rust and corrosion, gradually weakening the trailer over time. Proper maintenance can help preserve the longevity of the trailer. Finally, a malfunctioning door hinge can be dangerous if it causes the door to swing open while the trailer is in transit or while someone is accessing the trailer. Regularly maintaining the door hinges can help prevent such accidents from occurring, ensuring safety for those who use the trailer.
Here are 4 steps to care for trailer hinges and locks:
Use a rag to clean the Zerk fitting, which is where the grease will be sprayed.
Applying a grease gun to the fitting, pump in the grease until the new grease starts to appear on the edges of the hinge.
Remove the excess with a rag and move on to the next hinge.
In the wintertime, remember to put a little oil in your locks. We like WD-40, but other brands work well, too.
Pro Tip: You can also add antifreeze compounds to ensure that hinges and locks don’t freeze.
There you have it! The first step in routine trailer upkeep is done.
2. Protect Electrical Connectors
It is essential to protect the electrical connections in your trailer from water and moisture, which can corrode the connectors, causing electrical failure and necessitating expensive repairs or replacements. In addition, corroded electrical connectors can affect the performance of the trailer’s electrical system, leading to various malfunctions and putting other vehicle systems at risk, such as brakes. Also, ensuring that the trailer’s electrical system operates correctly reduces the risk of electrical malfunctions that may lead to accidents, ensuring the safety of everyone using the trailer.
Here’s a simple way to protect the electrical connectors of your portable trailer: use dielectric grease to fill the connection. Simply fill the connection with dielectric grease, ensuring that it’s protected against the elements.
This simple step will help keep them protected, allowing them to function properly and efficiently.
To grease a trailer hitch on a portable church trailer, start by applying grease to the hitch. This allows the grease to transfer onto the receiver when you hitch up the trailer. It’s essential to ensure that both the receiver and the hitch are adequately greased.
Following the trailer upkeep task of applying grease means that you can make sure that your towing experience is smoother, there are fewer noises, and it keeps rust from building up on the surfaces. Properly lubricating the hitch and receiver helps to maintain all components and prevent costly breakdowns over time.
By taking the time to grease your trailer hitch, it ensures that all components remain running smoothly, making the towing experience smoother and safer for everyone involved.
4. Clean Your Jack
To care for your jack on a portable church trailer, start by identifying the post for your jack. Over time, dirt, sand, and debris can accumulate, especially if the trailer has sat in a parking lot or experienced rain. To prevent the buildup of debris, use a brush or a rag to clean off the jack’s post regularly.
As you crank the trailer up and down, the jack can also accumulate buildup, which can affect its performance over time. By keeping the jack clean, you can help ensure that it lasts for as long as possible.
Properly cleaning your jack is crucial for keeping it functioning effectively. Dirt and debris that build up can cause the jack to wear down faster, requiring service or replacements. Making sure that all components of the trailer are clean and well-maintained helps extend the lifespan of your trailer, ensuring that it’s always ready for use.
To keep your jack in top condition, you need to regularly inspect it and clean it as needed. By doing so, you can be confident that it’s always ready to use and that it’s safe for everyone to use.
5. Perform Annual Maintenance
It’s crucial to read the maintenance schedule that’s inserted into the owner’s manual for your portable church trailer. Doing so can help you keep track of the different maintenance tasks that your trailer needs to remain functional and safe. The manual is found inside your trailer kit along with all the other supplies.
As part of the maintenance schedule, it’s important to take your trailer in for a check-up about every 12 months. Here’s what Jesse Reed, Portable Church Industries’ Director of Sales & Marketing, recommends you request from your maintenance provider:
“Have them check things like the brakes, wheel bearing grease, and seams. Sometimes you need a little bit of new grease, or you might have a spot that could use a little bit of care. That’s all part of the 12-month checkup process that will help make sure that your trailer has a nice, long lifespan and takes care of you.”
Failing to follow the maintenance schedule can lead to breakdowns, rusting, and corrosion, and can even compromise the safety of your trailer. By taking care of your trailer and regularly following the maintenance schedule, you can help ensure that it serves you well for years to come.
Would you rather see a demo of these trailer upkeep steps? Here’s a short video from Jesse, demonstrating the routine maintenance steps on a trailer.
By following these maintenance steps, you can make the most of your investment and save more in the long run. Schedule a regular maintenance check-up today and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Together, let’s keep your portable church trailer in the best possible condition.
Trailer Upkeep FAQs
Can we use our own trailer?
In most scenarios, your trailer is not going to be tall enough to handle our cases since our trailers are a custom height. Often the specs on stock trailers are rated at lower weight tolerances as well. For instance, 8′ and 8.5′ trailers are common, which is too large. Sometimes churches think more space is better, but in most cases, this leads to hassles with dead space in the trailer, like wheel wells. Our trailers are a very tight and clean pack.
You’ll need a 1/2 ton for 16′ trailers, and a 3/4 ton for 24′ trailers (both with trailer tow packages). Be sure to match the truck’s capacity to the trailer’s weight rating.
Can I use a box truck?
You can use a box truck but we strongly recommend a trailer purchased from PCI.
Trailers & Other Portable Equipment to Help Churches Thrive
Do you have questions about our trailers? Or do you need assistance with finding a custom solution for your church’s portable needs?
PCI offers custom-designed and volunteer-centric solutions that include everything from technical systems and kids’ environments to hospitality, signage, and storage. We understand that every church is different, and we work with you to create a solution designed specifically for your facility and your people.
Our attention to detail and innovative ideas allow us to bring your vision to life, whether you need a complete remodel or just a few changes.
With our technical expertise and dedicated team, we can help you create a church that will continue to grow and thrive.
Schedule a consultation with us today to learn more about our custom solutions and how we can help your church execute a successful launch.
These tech team tips will ensure the front-of-house is prepared and organized to create a worshipful experience for all of your church attendees.
As technological advancements continue to shape our world, it’s no surprise that tech teams have become indispensable in virtually every event, service, and church gathering. If you’re a part of this team or leading one, you know that it goes beyond just pushing buttons and turning knobs. A successful front-of-house tech team must possess qualities such as preparation, organization, and attention to detail.
In this article, we provide some useful tech team tips to make your church’s front-of-house experience easier.
Use the links below to easily navigate to helpful areas within the article.
Being prepared is the most basic yet crucial element in ensuring that everything runs smoothly during the service or event, whether you’re serving in a permanent facility or a mobile church.
In a portable setting, we understand the importance of having an especially reliable and efficient tech team to run the Sunday services. Being prepared is the most basic yet crucial element in ensuring that everything goes according to plan during the service or event. Here are just a few of the many areas that are positively impacted by the front-of-house team’s preparedness:
Smooth Service Flow
The contribution of the front-of-house team to a seamless service cannot be overstated. It is crucial for them to show up fully prepared and ready to go. Even a small glitch during worship can disrupt the flow of the service, leading to a loss of focus for the congregation. For example, a lack of knowledge by the AVL volunteer regarding the song order or which musicians are leading could cause them to accidentally mute the wrong microphone or miss crucial transitions.
Sound Clarity
Ever jump out of your seat when a mic emits super-loud acoustic feedback? If so, then you understand how technical difficulties can hamper the focus of the congregation and detract from the message. Your tech team must be ready to check equipment like microphones and speakers, as well as output levels, before the service.
Lighting & Visuals Coordination
To create an immersive and meaningful worship experience, the tech team must ensure that the lighting is properly set to enhance the visual elements of the service and coordinate with visuals such as slides and videos to align with the sermon topic and worship. It sounds simple, but as you know, it requires preparation and focus.
Livestreaming Support
It’s becoming increasingly common to livestream church services. If your church chooses to livestream, the tech team needs to have its setup optimized and ready before the service begins.
Troubleshooting Abilities
Finally, a prepared front-of-house tech team is the unsung hero that ensures a seamless service; they should be experienced and knowledgeable enough to troubleshoot and resolve any technical difficulties promptly.
The importance of cable management as it not only applies to lighting and sound, but to everyone involved in the setup process, ensuring that all cords are neatly arranged and secured on stage. This not only prevents hazards and accidents but also ensures a professional look for your worship space.
When cables are disorganized and sprawled out on the ground, they not only pose a tripping hazard, but also distract from the overall experience of the service. To be sure, it’s indispensable for your tech team to have a keen understanding of stage setup and safety precautions.
Your front-of-house team’s knowledge of safety precautions and cable management can make a significant difference in the overall look and feel of your worship space and the overall success of your mobile church services.
As the primary point of contact for your worship space, the front-of-house team must coordinate with various volunteer teams to ensure that every aspect of the service goes off without a hitch. This includes communicating with the worship team, the production team, and any other teams involved in the setup and execution of the service.
During setup and rehearsals, the tech team must communicate with the worship team to understand their needs, which could include specific mic placements, sound levels, or lighting cues. The production team needs to ensure that all equipment is checked and accounted for, while also coordinating with the tech team to ensure that everything is in place and tested for the service.
For instance, they can check in with other teams to make sure everything is ready before the service begins, provide cues to the musicians during musical transitions, and handle unexpected problems with minimal disruption.
A tech team tip that is critical but often overlooked is that good communication between the front-of-house tech team and the volunteers involved in the service can also improve overall morale and collaboration.Volunteers who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to enjoy their tasks, which can lead to a more successful service.
4. Be aware of your surroundings
The front-of-house tech team plays an essential role in the creation of a safe and engaging worship space in portable church environments.
As part of their technical setup, the front-of-house tech team should ensure that all equipment is securely placed. Beyond cable management, as discussed above, this includes speakers, microphones, lighting stands, and any other equipment that may be used during the service. The equipment should be arranged in a way that maximizes both functionality and safety.
The tech team should also take into consideration the movement of the worship team and other volunteers on stage. They should be aware of how people move, ensuring that all lighting fixtures and audio equipment are securely fastened to avoid any accidents.
It’s wise to request that your tech team make periodic safety checks during the performance to ensure that everything is secure and no hazards exist that might pose a risk to the worshipers or team members.
The front-of-house team must be prepared for any unforeseen problems that could occur during the service. Having backup plans can ensure that the worship experience or event runs smoothly, even if something goes wrong.
One common backup plan is having extra equipment available in case something malfunctions. This could include additional cables, microphones, or even an alternative sound system. Having backup equipment prepped and ready to go can help mitigate the impact of technical issues and reduce the downtime needed to troubleshoot problems.
Another backup plan is making sure that all necessary equipment is properly powered during the performance. This means having additional batteries or ensuring that all equipment is charged. If batteries are low, having backup batteries readily available can keep the service running smoothly and avoid any unnecessary delays or technical difficulties.
In addition, it’s important that the tech team takes preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of technical difficulties in the first place. This includes testing all equipment before the service, ensuring that all equipment is plugged in correctly, and replacing any faulty equipment before it becomes a problem.
Finally, teach your front-of-house team to remain calm and composed when something goes wrong. Investing time in building the confidence of the team can guide them to develop a clear understanding of how to resolve common equipment issues and empower them to escalate more complex problems. This can strengthen their ability to handle any issues during a worship service and ensure a seamless experience for all involved.
At the core of a successful portable church experience is creating an environment that encourages the attendees to connect and experience Jesus in new ways. As such, the front-of-house team must pay close attention to the needs of the worshipers and make the necessary adjustments to provide a conducive, safe, and comfortable environment.
Adapting the worship space to create an environment that encourages spiritual connection, growth, and fellowship is key. Through this, the tech team plays a pivotal role in helping to achieve the mission and objectives of the church to expand the kingdom.
The front-of-house tech team plays a vital role in creating an environment that facilitates connections during a worship experience, including being attuned to the needs of the congregation, creating user-friendly setups, and ensuring high-quality sound and lighting.
Being a member of the front-of-house team requires more than just technical skills; it requires preparation, organization, attention to detail, communication, and awareness of your surroundings. And ultimately, it requires a heart for the mission of the church: to expand God’s kingdom in your area of influence.
If you’re a church planter or multisite leader who wants to make sure your front-of-house team is operating at its best, we can help. Our team of experienced professionals can guide you to set up a seamless and engaging worship experience for your portable church’s worshipers.
Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our services and how we can support your church plant or multisite location’s front-of-house needs.
To maximize impact and gain tailored resources to promote success for new launches, teams can start with a portable church plant consultation.
Starting a new church is an exciting, yet challenging venture. You have a vision to share with your community but bringing it to life can feel overwhelming. It can be difficult to envision how your church vision can be transformed into a physical reality, complete with equipment, gear, and systems.
However, we’ve witnessed this transformation firsthand thousands of times over the 25 years that we have partnered with churches. With our expertise, we can help you turn your dream into a concrete plan that can be executed with precision and excellence.
To easily navigate the contents of the article, use the links below.
Here’s a glance at the transformations we’ve witnessed in church plants, multisites, or efficiency upgrades.
To facilitate these transformations, the first critical step is a comprehensive on-site assessment. Our portable church plant consultation has been designed for new launches and provides detailed maps, reports, and plans that form the framework for transforming your vision into a concrete reality.
In this article, we will delve into what church plant teams can expect during this transformational process and how it can impact the church moving forward.
9 Valuable Resources Churches Can Expect to Gain During a Portable Church Plant Consultation
While the term “consultation” can evoke various associations, not all of them positive or helpful, our portable church plant consultation will not leave you empty handed. In fact, Jeremy Brown from Journey Church in Tennessee said:
“I wouldn’t plant a church without these guys.”
This is because we follow a proven process that will equip you with tangible and valuable resources for your church’s unique setting, culture, and goals.
Here is an overview of the nine valuable resources that churches can expect to receive following a consultation with our expert team.
1. Dedicated Design Time from an Expert Consultant
Churches benefit from a dedicated design time from an Expert Consultant, as part of the promise to do whatever it takes to help you succeed. We design powerful and efficient environments that engage your attendees and volunteers while keeping your plan in mind.
2. Customized Facility Report
As part of our PCI Promise, teams who participate in a portable church consultation can expect to receive a customized facility report, designed to provide them with all of the information needed to transform their dream into a reality. Our experts will complete a thorough on-site assessment, assessing your unique church culture, facility strengths and weaknesses, capacity restrictions, optimal layouts, and more.
By assessing your facility, including capacity restrictions, optimal layouts, and acoustic isolation, our design experts will create a comprehensive layout that embodies your unique vision for worship. This valuable resource allows you to visualize your worship space in detail and ensure the efficient use of your space, equipment, and budget.
4. Children’s Ministry Area Layout
During the portable church consultation, our teams will collaborate to understand the aesthetics and space that you envisage while focusing on safety, efficiency, and authenticity. Based on your unique needs and vision, we’ll create a customized design that engages children of all ages, allowing them to engage with and thrive in a safe and welcoming kidsmin environment.
5. Audio & Video Rack Layouts
We understand the importance of clear and effective audio and video systems in delivering a powerful worship experience. Our design experts will assess your unique needs and vision to create a customized layout that maximizes the space, enhances acoustics, and delivers an immersive audiovisual experience for your congregation. You can trust that all equipment recommendations will be geared towards excellence and compatibility, making sure that your AVL system is both user-friendly and efficient.
Our expert team will assess your church layout and develop an optimally effective signage plan for both the interior and exterior of your facility. This resource will help ensure that your visitors can easily navigate your space, enjoy your ministry programs, and access important communications. Our strategic planning takes into consideration signage style and branding so that your message and ministry are effectively communicated to attendees and the community.
Our team takes into account your equipment, preferences, and budget to create an optimized storage solution that ensures a smooth and efficient portable operation. You can be assured that our design will help you streamline your teardown and loading process, saving you valuable time and resources. Our attention to detail ensures that all equipment is organized and stored correctly, providing further longevity and reliability to your tech (and human) investment.
8. Itemized List of Equipment Needed
Imagine having all our recommended equipment in one place, just like the “shopping list” section on Pinterest recipes. That’s precisely what you’ll get with our itemized list of equipment needed—your one-stop-shop for all the equipment recommended during our portable church consultation.
9. Two Revisions of Your Custom Design
We want to ensure that you are fully satisfied with the final product of our consultation. That’s why we offer two revisions of your custom design to guarantee that your unique ministry needs are fully met.
Our team will collaborate with you throughout the design process to ensure that your vision is translated into a functional, optimized design. However, we understand the importance of flexibility, and we allow for two rounds of alterations to ensure that you are entirely happy with the final product.
With this commitment, you can be assured that the outcome will be a fully customized solution, optimized for both efficiency and excellence.
A Consultation will Reveal Your Unique Church Culture
PCI understands that every church has its unique culture. That is why the portable church plant consultation process begins with team dialogue and a facility assessment. With a design in hand and portability obstacles removed, your church’s main story remains focused on doing the work of advancing the kingdom.
Here are a few of the benefits churches experience as a result of the consultation:
Powerful worship experience
Engaging kids and community environments
Optimized portability and volunteer longevity
Maximized budget and resources
With optimized equipment and design, you’ll experience a more engaging worship experience, safer and more welcoming children’s program, and ease of portability. Our careful planning conserves your budget and saves time and resources, enabling you to channel more energy and resources towards ministry. Ultimately, we provide the tools and resources you need to maximize your ministry impact, empowering you to reach more individuals with the gospel message.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding our church plant consultation process.
What’s the first step for working with you?
Simply book a 20-minute call with us—it’s free and there’s no pressure or commitment. We’re excited to hear about your vision!
What is an on-site consultation and do I need one?
A consultation with a specialized team member is a critical step in ensuring that the portable church system you purchase best serves your church’s needs. For a complete system, a consultation is necessary.
SYSTEM QUESTIONS
How long will it take to get my portable church system?
In 14 weeks, you should have your system! This takes into account the supply chain concerns we are seeing everywhere.
How much does a system cost?
Every system is custom and there is no flat rate. Once we meet with you for a consultation and discover your church’s needs, we can discuss costs. The first step is to book a 20-minute call with us. We’d love to connect!
I see portable items online. What’s the difference between your stuff and what we see for sale on Marketplace or resale sites?
At Portable Church Industries, we offer more than just gear—we provide access to our 27 years of experience serving over 4,000 churches. Whether it’s sharing best practices, providing custom wiring, or creating cases for your equipment, all of these elements are vital to ensuring the success of your launch when partnering with PCI.
Is there a way to do this cheaper? We have people at our church who are willing to volunteer their craftsmanship skills and supplies.
There are definitely ways to do it cheaper—in the short run. If you want a dependable system that won’t exhaust your volunteers, our custom solutions are the way to go.
For example, here’s what Jody, Campus Expansion Coach and Campus Pastor at Cypress Church in the Columbus area, had to say about the security our cases provide:
“I have been doing portable church for 15 years in multiple states, in different churches, and in wildly different roles. While brands of AVL gear matter and some gear is better than others, nothing has been more critical to making AVL excellent in my ministry experience than PCI’s design of their cases in every environment— but especially in the AVL world. I’ve done portable AVL without PCI and I will NEVER do it again.”
Although it may be tempting to opt for cheaper alternatives, we hope you take experiences like Jody’s into consideration.
Do you offer financing?
We do not offer financing, but we can recommend trusted companies that are happy to help you with the process.
Maximize Impact with a Portable Church Plant Consultation
Starting a new church can seem daunting, but with the right resources and guidance, it is possible to turn your vision into a reality. By building long-term partnerships with our clients and providing exceptional service every step of the way, we equip churches with powerful tools to help maximize their ministry impact and reach more individuals with the gospel message.
If you’re ready to bring your vision to life, schedule your consultation with us today. Let’s create something truly remarkable together.
