In the business world, Southwest Airlines was born because industry veterans recognized an opportunity for alternate flight routes. Southwest’s new “hub-less” approach made it more appealing for some people to fly. Elsewhere, leaders at Harley-Davidson motorcycles discovered that if they changed the image of their motorcycles, they could attract a whole new clientele toward becoming Harley riders. Yet another sector of the transportation industry, Mercedes-Benz automobiles, became accessible to more types of people by broadening its product line. It still sells distinctive, quality cars, but it now offers everything from an entry-level coupe series to child-friendly SUVs. Churches today are making similar kinds of adjustments with the places they “do church,” many experiencing new areas of fruitfulness as a result. Their discoveries involve all the dynamics mentioned above—alternate options, increased convenience, modified image, expanded targets, greater accessibility, additional choices—and more. A buzz surrounds this church experimentation even though no single buzzword has emerged yet to define it. The term multi-site may not have monopoly status, but multi-site is often used to describe this new approach to doing church. More Than Multiple Services...
Most North Americans are familiar with the idea of doing multiple services in the main sanctuary (or equivalent), such as Sunday morning at 9:30 and 11:00, and perhaps Saturday evening as well. But what happens when a church expands farther to include: · An on-premises additional venue, such as a live service with video sermon in church gym? · An off-premises satellite or branch or regional-campus location, such as a school or converted warehouse across town? · A sponsored church, whether in the same community or halfway around the world, where the staff, style, or content comes from the parent campus, and where the church in turn identifies itself as a site of the parent campus? The term multi-site covers all of these concepts, up to the point of starting a totally new church. A church’s multi-site location might sponsor all the same ministries as the parent campus, or it might offer only worship services at its various sites. The common thread is that the church “happens” at more than one location. In short, multi-site summarizes today's approach to church where geography is no longer the defining factor. Gone is the day where gatherings must happen Sunday morning and in the church sanctuary (or equivalent) for it to be called “church.” Both Christians and the general public have accepted this reality. I would love to hear your thoughts on the multi-site church concept. Any feedback?
The multi-site concept of church growth is something I have been studying and praying about for over 1 ½ years. I love the idea of reaching more and more people for Christ and seeing their lives transformed by the Word of God. In short…I love RTL’s! (Radically Transformed Lives!)
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