Multi-Site Conference—Session 3

Orginally published on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 at 10:45 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Session Three featured Greg Surratt, Lead Pastor from Sea Coast Church.  He shared on the myths of the multi-site church:  MYTH #1:  Multi-site is Always The Best Option:  --Add a service at our current location at an off-peak hour --Add a venue at our current location --Add an off-site within 10 minutes of our current site --Add an off-site within 20 minutes of our current site --Add an off-site one hour or more from the current location --Add an off-site in another community or state --Plant a church in another community --Help revive a church in another community --Build a new building…

MYTH #2:  Multi-sites are Only for Large Mega-Churches
--the issue is "health", not "size"

MYTH #3:  Multi-sites Have to Cost a lot of Money
Multi-sites CAN cost a lot of money, but they don't have to.  Two things drive the cost of multi-sites:  Staff and Technology. 

Questions:
1.  How will we staff?  (Sea Coast starts with a full-time campus pastor; part-time administrative assistant; and part time worship service.) 

2.  How much will we spend on technology?

MYTH #4: Multi-Sites are Impersonal and Culturally Irrelevant:
1.  How can you relate to someone who doesn't even know you?
Honest Answer:  It stopped being personal for most pastors at around 30 people.  That's why we do small groups, etc.

2.  How can you have community when the pastor isn't even in the building?
Honest Answer:  Rather than the whole church meeting in one room; the multi-site church meets in separate rooms; and there is at least one pastor on site at every site, usually more!

3.  How can a pastor 200 miles away speak to the needs of the local community?
Honest answer: 

Five Ways to Stay in Touch
--Become a student of culture
--Feed your campus pastors (they will let you know what's happening locally)
--Build campuses based on community
--Remember who you're talking to (and tell their stories)
--Take advantage of technology (blogs, VODcast, PODcast,

MYTH:  #4  Multi-sites Don't Produce Leaders
People think that it's not a real church unless there's a preaching pastor on-site.  But... you cannot excel at multi-site without creating leaders.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit Greg's blog here.

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

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