Why multi-site? Numerous factors result in a churching going "multi-site"; however, I think the number one reason is because the Gospel message of Jesus Christ is designed by God to spread (Colossians 1:6). The church (which includes its people) is the primary instrument for the spread of the Gospel. The church is also commissioned to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:19-20).
I believe every church must have a strategy to accomplish this mandate from Christ. Some churches simply do not want to grow and that is their strategy. Others raise up church planters and local missionaries to start new congregations. Some opt to big bigger buildings. Some use multiple venues and multiple service times. More and more churches are turning to multiple sites, becoming "one church, in multiple locations." And of course, many churches use a combination of these strategies. With 3000 churches closing a year in America we must have a strategy to reach and disciple people. Not having a strategy is not a biblical option.
One of the reasons I like multi-site as a strategy is because it is biblical. The church at Corinth for example consisted of multi-site house churches that were considered part one, city-wide church. Another strong reason for multi-site is that it leverages the healthy, stable leadership and vision of an established church in a localized setting. In multi-site the limiting factor for "Gospel-spreading" & "disciple-making" is no longer geography.
What is meant by multi-site? Multi-site simply means that the church "assembles" in multiple locations, venues, and times but has covenanted together as ONE in the following ways:
- One vision
- One budget
- One mission
- One God-centered, Christ-worshipping theology & beliefs
- One philosophy of ministry for children, students, and discipleship
- One army of missionaries, ambassadors, and servants of Christ
- One unifying message each week delivered weekly in person or by video
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.