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    Zingerman’s Deli & Multi-Site Ministry:  Are We Cloning or Pioneering Ministry?

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    I was reading an article in Inc. Magazine about Zingerman’s Deli in Ann Arbor, MI and the decisions they made to make them the coolest small company in America. They made intentional decisions to avoid the lucrative model of franchising, instead choosing to pioneer a new vision for small businesses...a community of businesses. They had a vision in 1994 to have 12 to 15 separate businesses by 2009. Each would have the badge Zingerman’s but would have its own niche and identity. Each company would have a manager/owner and they didn’t even have to be limited to the food-service industry.

    “We wanted the passion. We wanted people who had visions of their own. Otherwise, whatever we did would be mediocre, and the whole idea was to elevate the quality of each element of the company.”
    - Ari Weinzweig, co-founder

    The article goes on to talk about the incredible success of their vision. Moving from 1 business in 1994 to 8 currently. They average one new business every 18 months. They went from employing 125 to over 545 now as well as moving profit from $6 million to over $30 million. And now Zingerman is looking again to the future as the NY Times wrote an article this past week about them.

    OK...How does this all have anything to do with the church and its multi-siting rage? I see the Zingerman’s vision for their company as inspirational to the church. How can we expand our influence and scope without sacrificing the uniqueness that attracted people in our community the first time? Are we creating mediocre _______ (place your church name here) clones instead of creating pioneering places with dynamic visions? Or are we creating a community of churches sharing vision but having their own niche and identity? No tidy answer here for now but a provoking example for us to use as food for thought (pun intended).

    “Our goal in 2020 is to leave our world better than it was when we came here,” Weinzweig said.

    About the Author:  Ryan Hartsock is the Creative/Community Director of Four Corners Community Church in West Chester, Ohio.  I make sure we look pretty programming, graphics, web, print, etc) in every way and make sure people connect with each other and God in Life Groups.

    It's all the rage...multi-site churches. You have a main campus with satellite campuses spread around the city, state or even the country. Many, many churches are doing it BUT Life Church in Oklahoma seems to continually push the concept. The latest campus of the Oklahoma-based church is Albany, NY. Also Fellowship Church in Grapevine, TX recently launched a new campus in Miami, FL. One could say this trend is the equivalent of franchising a successful church... or is it?

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    1. bishopdave on Thu, May 10, 2007

      This is a good expression of what my concern about multi-sites has been—it’s cloning, not passion driven.  And that is really the key—if it’s not the vision burning in my heart (I’m just a staffer promoted to site pastor) it’s not going to be as productive.


        Where would you rather have a burger, McD’s or a local mom & pop owned place? You know cloned franchises are driven by procedure, not passion. McD isn’t going out of business if they make you unhappy. You know what McD is going to deliver, but does that product really excite you? But mom & pop, their name is on that store, the quality of your experience is a direct reflection on their vision and passion. Mom makes her burgers like the Good Lord led her to make them, not Ray Kroc (founder of McD).


      I just can’t help but see multi-site as losing that personal passion-touch. I don’t think it’s ungodly or of the devil; I know it’s more cost-effective than planting a new church with a leader whose passion and vision can’t be dictated by the mother ship. It will be interesting to see 10 yrs down the road how the satellite sites have fared. Are they reproducing disciples or venues?

    2. Chad McCallum on Thu, May 10, 2007

      No real comment on the article, but I will say that Zingerman’s Deli is the finest deli I have ever eaten at…I was just there a couple weeks ago and was wowed again at the environment and the food!  If you are near Ann Arbor, MI you have to check it out!  As you gorge yourself on the finest Reuben on the planet ask yourself…“what can my church learn from this place?”

    3. RevJeff on Thu, May 10, 2007

      I agree with Bishopdave.


      Random thoughts…


      Are there places wher McD’s fits better than a Mom/Pop, maybe in the isolation of major cities/suburban…  LOCAL MANAGEMENT must be community involved and have their fingers on the MARKET…


      If one of the things a church should be is a COMMUNITY… the only community that really develops at a FAST FOOD stop is the playland… and the turnover is pretty high.

    4. Leonard on Thu, May 10, 2007

      I love multi site in that it is not a clone.  Does it work everywhere?  No that is why it is not going everywhere.   Groeshel recently said, there are a lot of pastors who pastor just to preach, that is probably not good.  There are also a lot of pastors who would rather not preach every week but love to pastor.  Multi site is using some of these guys.  Todd, you are invited to come out here to my town to check out what we are doing.  It is not multi-site nor is it multi-campus.  In 2 years we have gone from 1 church to 8 with nearly 13,000 people attending each weekend.  Let me know and we will set up an meet.  In this case I choose to trust the leadership of individual churches who are seeking God as to the best use of their time, talent and treasure for the maximum impact of the Gospel.

    5. Jeff on Thu, May 10, 2007

      I work in a church that does Multi-Site. I actually work on the multi-site campus. I’ve studied the model in detail, and if I can make a suggestion…


      I believe there are two different types of Multi-Site churches. “In Town” multi-site churches, and national multi-site churches.


      I agree that National Multi-Site churches may feel like a McDonalds. You mentioned Fellowship in Dallas/Miami. The cultural differences between Dallas and Miami are HUGE (I’ve lived in both cities). So yes, it may feel like a clone. Worse yet, the clone may not work because what works in one CITY may not work in ANOTHER.


      However, multi-site within the same city I believe has a stronger opportunity to succed. Call it a clone if you have to, but at least there is proof that the clone works in the city it’s located in.


      Imagine two mom and pop shops in the same city. A north and a south location… That’s not “FRANCHISING”. Franchising would be to sell your vision to another entrepeneur to run with it. In Town Multi-site is expanding your ministry (directly under your oversight) to two or more locations. And for that, I’m a big fan.

    6. Ryan Hartsock on Fri, May 11, 2007

      Just to clarify…I’m not criticizing the concept of multi-siting but rather pushing us to consider how it may be effecting the church at large.  I have seen tremendous things at multi-sited churches (ie Life Church as I mentioned) but my worry is that multi-siting may take a tremendous thing and dilute it. And I’m not sure if there is an answer I can rest on as of yet…

    7. Anna on Tue, July 21, 2009

      Great post


      Thanks


      Bingo

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