Tony Morgans blog is  http://tonymorganlive.com/2010/09/07/new-multi-site-survey-findings/

The full Leadership Network Report is available at http://www.leadnet.org/LC_Resources.asp?IsSubmit=true&LC=MultiSite#637

Is this something your church should be considering?

Mel

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New Multi-site Survey Findings

Warren Bird and my friends over at the Leadership Network released a new report last week on multi-site churches. There are an estimated 3,000 multi-site churches in the United States. The Leadership Network surveyed over 400 of them. Here are some of the highlights of the report that jumped out to me:

• The number of multi-site churches now outnumber the megachurches. That, of course, means smaller churches are beginning to use the multi-site strategy. (By the way, the number of megachurches continues to grow as well.)
• Multi-sites have a 90% success rate.
• Most multi-site churches launch an on-campus venue first before starting at a new location.
• The new satellite campuses tend to show faster growth than the original campus. In fact, 2 out of 5 surveyed churches have experienced growth of 50% or more the first year of their new campus.
• One-third of new campuses happen as the result of a merger.
• The median size of a multi-site church is 1,300 people including the attendance of all campuses.
• 4 out of 5 churches said multi-site has increased leadership development and volunteer mobilization.
• In-person teaching is more widespread than using video teaching except in large churches. Among churches that use video, it’s usually delivered by DVD.
• Churches who use a multi-site strategy are actually more likely to plant churches as well.
• For the 10% of multi-sites that didn’t work, poor location or weak campus pastor were the two most cited reasons for closing the campus.

If you’re interested in reading the full report, you can download it for free from the Leadership Network.

North Country Chapel, Post Falls, ID.

It is a Calvary Chapel Church with the very simple church style – Music and Verse and Verse Bible teaching. I attended the Friday night service and it was quite full (700). When I say simple style, I mean simple: only two different people every spoke; no media, except for the words to the songs; no bulletin or program; no ushers or offering (people put their offering in at the back). Service consisted of three parts: announcements to start the service, congregational singing and verse-by-verse teaching. They were working through Revelation. Also very limited programs in the week. It is a Bible teaching church and that about says it all.

I was pleased to see the number of men present. I think they mad up over 50% of the audience. All ages, but many in the 30-45 age group. I understand the attendance is a little over 2,000 in four services.

Real Life Church, Post Falls, ID.

This is an independent church, but has strong connection with the Christian Church Fellowship. It was also a simple church style, with a little more features. The message was theme based and very Biblical. Only two different people every spoke in this service as well.

The programs are a modified Saddleback and emphasis is placed on small groups. I attended the early Sunday morning service (they have five services each weekend) with about 1,200 present. I understand they run around 7,000 at this location each week.

They were promoting their newest church plant in North Spokane. Church Planting is clearly part of their DNA.

Life Center, Spokane, WA.

This Four Square church uses the seven-day-a-week (Christian Center) approach. There is something for everyone. It has very full programming throughout the week with something for everyone. The service was contemporary traditional with a great deal of production and media. It was not a simple church style. They were also working through a book of the Bible in their messages for the summer.

They have three services each weekend and I understand they run around 3,000. They also emphasize their church plants on the web site.

Observations:

1. Each had its own DNA. They were very different from each other, yet in the same general community context.

2. They fully lived out and celebrated their DNA. They knew who they were and went for it.

3. Each seemed to be reaching people for Christ.

4. The congregations of each church seemed to embrace their church.

Conclusion:

Be who God wired you to be!

He works for a mine for his day-job and pastors the church as his avocation. The church has doubled since January and they just had to buy more chairs to accommodate the growth.

I think bi-vocational pastoring will be much more common in the coming years and I admire those who do it well like this couple. May their tribe increase! Many communities will not have a church without missional leaders like this couple.

I also think some of the younger pastors in larger cities will chose to be bi-vocational as part of their missional philosophy and strategy. By being imbedded in the community and working it allows them to intentionally build relationships with people they would never have opportunity to mix with if they were “full-time” pastors.

Those of us in leadership of denominations, districts and networks, will need to adjust when we offer events to be sure these bi-vocational missionaries are not excluded.

The bi-vocational pastors are heroes to me and I want to do all I can to support and encourage them!

Observation #1.  What size are churches? (Church Organization by Size Adapted from Gary L. McIntosh’s One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Bringing Out the Best in Any Size Church):

In the US and Canada, there are approximately 488,000 churches. Several observations about these churches:

• 80% of these churches average less than 200 in attendance each week. 20% average more than 200. So 4 out of 5 churches run 200 or less.
• 50% of churches average between 55 and 249 in weekly attendance. This is half of all churches.
• 15% of churches average over 250 in attendance each week (or 3 out of 20).
• Most churches are small or medium size.
• 50% of all attendees attend a church of 350 or larger.
• 50 is a major cluster point, and under 200 is dominant.

• Churches tend to show the same attendance distribution, no matter what the denomination or theology. Size does not seem to correlate with denomination or beliefs.

Observation #2.  Do all churches need to be large?

Absolutely not! This is true for many reasons:

1) For example, the church could be located in a small town or area, with limited population. Even if they had everyone, they would not be large.

2) Another reason might be their philosophy of ministry. They would rather plant additional churches in their ministry areas and give away part of their congregation. This is true of many organic church plants.

So not all churches need to be large, but all churches need to be Missional (that is externally focused) and Healthy (reflecting loving growing relationships and having a positive impact on their community).

Observation #3. Does growth or size prove health?

Absolutely NOT, again!

Growth or size of the church is not necessarily an indicator of health or effectiveness.

You can be large and unhealthy and you can be small and unhealthy. You can be large and healthy and you can be small and healthy.

Growth or Size does not prove health.

BUT, neither does lack of growth or size.

Observation #4. What changes occur as a church becomes larger?

Tim Keller has identified nine general trends or changes that result from a church growing larger. I think these are very helpful as we consider breaking growth barriers.

1. Increasing complexity

2. Shifting lay-staff responsibilities

3. Increasing intentionality

4. Increasing quality of production

5. Increasing openness to change

6. Losing members because of changes

7. Shifting role of the ministers

8. Structuring smaller

9. Emphasis on vision and strengths

What causes growth barriers and what do we do about it?

Barrier #1. The first and most significant major barrier is mission confusion.

Many churches think their mission is to:

• Preserve the past
• Maintain a certain style of worship
• Serve those already reached
• Maintain their theological distinctive
• Keep their culture

They have forgotten that the church belongs to God and He sets the mission.

A.  Being Missional Starts with Christ! (Christology)

• John 14:6
• Acts 4:12
• Acts 16:30-31

Being missional is NOT about preserving our

• Tradition
• History
• Or even our distinctives

Being missional is NOT a missions program or missions giving.

It is about Christ!

Christ is what makes us Christian!

It is living Christ’s life out before our world.

B. Christ’s Mission Determines Our Mission (Missiology)

What has Christ sent us to do?

• Luke 19:10
• John 17:18
• John 20:21
• Matthew 28:18-20
• Acts 1:8
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

C. What Is A Missional Church? (Ecclesiology)

Christ’s Mission Determines How We Do Church

The mission of the Church is that of its founder – Jesus Christ! The Church is to do the work of Christ in this world.

The question is not, “How big is your church?” BUT “How big is the impact you are having on your community?” For example, would anybody outside your congregation miss your church if you ceased to exist?

D. How does God want me to serve His mission? (Ministry)

Christ’s Mission is Redemptive

1. The mission involves living Christ’s life before others.

Matthew 5:14-16.

This is more than just “presence” as some would suggest.

2. The mission has a message – the Gospel

Acts 20:24

2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Missional living means Loving God.

John 3:30

1 Corinthians 2:2

Galatians 2:20

Philippians 1:21

Philippians 3:8-10

Missional living means Loving others.

John 13:35

1 Corinthians 13:1

Matthew 5:46-48

1 John 4:19-21

Missional living means Sharing Him with others.

Acts 1:8

1 Thessalonians 2:8

Solution: Be Biblically Missional

Barrier #2. The second major barrier is the pastor and the church not understanding that the role of the pastor must change as a church grows.

The Solution to the second major barrier is to Grow as a leader and help your people understand why your role is changing.

• From leader of people to
• leader of staff to
• leader of a team to
• leader of leaders

3. The third major barrier is that not everyone wants the church to grow.

This can be for many reasons:

• They are comfortable with the size of church you now have.
• Socially and psychologically, they are uncomfortable in crowds.
• They have only known smaller churches, so a large church is foreign to them.
• They are worried about being lost in a larger church. They like being noticed.
• Or it could again be mission confusion. They think the church is for them and their needs.

The Solution to the third major barrier is twofold:

• With good “change leadership”, most people can break through these cultural and social barriers and go with you as you grow.
• But you must recognize that you will lose some if you grow.

As hard as this is, for the sake of Christ and His mission, you must be willing to stay on course, even if it means you will lose some people.

4. The fourth major barrier is that many people assume a larger church is just a small church larger.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

A larger church must change organizationally and culturally. Why? Because of the complexity and logistics more people bring.

Thus, a church of 400 needs 4 to5 times the structure of a church of 200 — not 2 times more.

Solution: Study churches that are one or two sizes larger than you are. Learn the organizational changes you will need to make.

So, What causes a church to grow?

CHRIST!!!!!!

… and His followers who engage in His mission.

Be Missional!

In Part 3 of the book (Who we are as Individuals) the author states that “The only safe generalization about Americans today is that ‘how they look’ is no longer an indication of ‘how they act’.”

The has used ‘psychographic analysis’ to segment Americans into five statistically distinctive categories.

Here are the five segments of Americans from Luntz:

1. Thirty percent of Americans are “Relationship People”. This is the largest segment of the American population, it’s also the youngest. To them, relationships can mean friends, family, or spouse. Their whole idea of the good life is to be with someone all the time. They get their satisfaction out of interacting with other people. They don’t care as much about jobs or careers. They are generally satisfied with their life today, but very nervous about tomorrow. They don’t save; they spend, and they enjoy spending on other people as much, if not more than, on themselves.

2. Twenty-five percent of Americans are “Spiritual People”. This is the oldest and most female-oriented of the five segments. What unites them, in addition to the importance of religion and prayer, are the principles of simplicity and efficiency. They don’t need or want to spend money to be happy. They have older cars and TV sets; they don’t have TiVo or satellite radio. They’re not just late adopters, they’re non-adopters because stuff doesn’t matter to them. If Relationship People are the loudest group, Spiritual People are the quietest. They tend to do things in their spare time that don’t require other people, such as reading and listening to music. They appreciate the outdoors (they are environmentalists) and they have a respect for natural beauty.

3. Eighteen percent of Americans are “Health People”. They’re younger than average, more male than female, and they’re the segment most likely to participate than to observe. You won’t just meet this segment at the gym or on the basketball or tennis court – you’ll find them shopping at Whole Foods and having a snack at Jamba Juice. They’re similar to the Spiritual segment in their desire to be outdoors, but they’re parallel to the Relationship segment in their desire to be with others. They are the most physically active of all the groups and put a lesser emphasis on career and financial success.

4. Twelve percent of Americans are “Control People”. These people can be very unpleasant to be around. For them, it’s not about money; it’s about more time and less hassle. They have everything planned out. Their intensity is similar to the Health segment, but while the Healthy are engaged in physical activity, Control People are engaged in mental or intellectual activity. Control People want to be doing something other than what they’re doing; they think today is awful, but tomorrow is going to be great. This is the flip side, demographically, of the Spiritual segment in that these people are almost exclusively under 50 and more male than female. They’re the mirror image in another way: Stuff matters. Their stereo is high-end, and their TV screen is huge. In fact, everything is bigger; they want the newest and the best of everything. They’re willing to spend money, and they work longer hours than the other segments to be able to afford it.

5. Eleven percent of Americans are “Financial Security People”. The fastest-growing segment, these people are always unhappy and dissatisfied, and in the current economic mess, they’re downright miserable. They judge themselves by how other people judge them. Their reputations mean more to them than they do for any other segment. They’re the opposite of self-satisfied; they’re almost self-loathing. They have a ton of material goods, but they buy things to make a status statement rather than to enjoy them. They tend to be older and wealthier than average, although you’ll find plenty of people in their 30s in this segment. They own; they don’t rent or lease because they want whatever it is to belong to them – and they’re dissatisfied when they can’t have everything they want when they want it.

An additional four percent of Americans don’t fall neatly into any of these five categories.

Now let’s think about our churches and communities.

• How do the people in our church fit into these categories?
• What about our communities? How do our church activities address their orientation?
• How do our messages help each category become more Christ like?
• Do we provide ways for them to process their faith with similar people?

One thing that becomes clear is that each category looks at life, faith, and the world through different lenses or frames. Do we help them see Christ without distortion?

1. What’s working?

2. What’s not working?

3. How does what you do and who you are line up with your divine mission?

4. What’s missing?

5. What adjustments is the Holy Spirit calling you to make now?

6. What is needed to make the needed shifts?

7. Who can help make this happen?

8. How does our God evaluate our effectiveness in today’s mission field?

9. What would please Jesus more?

10. Who is God calling us to be now?

11. How does this differ from who we have been?

12. What kind of leader do I need to be to make this happen in the next 6 months? 1 year?

13. How would we define success for our church?

14. How successful are we being in light of this definition?

15. What is needed now?

As you help others or evaluate your own ministry, these are good questions to consider.

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Dear Enews Friends,

One of my favorite passages in the New Testament says  that “all of heaven rejoices when even one person decides to trust Christ for  salvation”.  (Luke 15:10)  Imagine the party that is taking shape this weekend when hundreds of Creekers wade into the water at South Barrington and go public with their new found faith!  We have already pre-registered nearly 500 people, and the list is growing by the hour.  Yesterday we gathered the entire staff and listened to Dr. B tell us what it was like to actually attend Jesus’ baptism.  I simply could not resist introducing him to the staff that way.  If I didn’t kid him about his age he would get old!   Anyway, he taught from the Scriptures about the significance of baptism, and then we all walked out to “baptism beach” and prayed for those who will experience this powerful sacrament this weekend.  The staff will remember that gathering for a long time.
When I had a few minutes by water’s edge, I thought of how many family members and friends that I have had the opportunity to immerse in our lake.  I thought of my brother Dan and his wife Mary.   I thought of women and men who serve in key leadership positions at Willow now, but were baby Christians a decade or two ago.  I thought of my sailing buddies and my next door neighbors.  I thought of Harley riders and Benz drivers, old and young and every color and ethnicity imaginable.  This sacrament never gets old to me.  I hope that you feel the same way.  Why not spread a blanket on the hill overlooking the lake and celebrate along with the angels in heaven!  We will kick things off at 1:30 p.m. sharp Sunday afternoon.  (Note:  Our regional campuses will hold their baptisms in August.)

By: Lynette Hawkins

Copyright 2009 by Virgo Publishing.

What do guests really notice when they visit for the very first time? This question may be on the minds of many pastors and church leaders as they see empty pews after Easter Sunday. Here is Hawkins’ starter list of common reasons visitors may not come back. Addressing items on this list may help to create a welcoming church that gets repeat visits. The 15 items listed were generated from many conversations with first-time visitors across faith traditions:

1.           No welcome from the parking lot to the pews.

2.           Finding the right door to sanctuary appeared difficult.

3.           People in the pews held on to their “good seats.”

4.           Too many “churchy insider words” like doxology and introit throughout the worship experience.

5.           No safe, clean nursery for the babies and toddlers.

6.           No sincere greeting extended by pastors or members.

7.           No warmth or hospitality extended.

8.           Missing joy and a spiritual atmosphere.

9.           No sense of family in the church community.

10.        Very limited reaching out to outsiders or strangers.

11.        Very few ministries or activities for youth or children.

12.        Public recognition of guests that left them feeling uncomfortable.

13.        Appears to be no vision or purpose for the congregation.

14.        On Sunday morning, members and ushers seem focused on “member only” conversations.

15.        No one invited them back.

Posted on: 04/15/2009

Lynette Hawkins is a communications specialist with Awesome Insight of Beyond Marketing Group, Inc. based in Greensboro, N.C. She offers a free monthly e-newsletter for church leaders that reaches more than 1,000 Christian leaders, resource tools, seminars and consulting on welcoming and reaching out. Sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.churchsolutionsmag.com/

“We worry too much about reaching people,” explained a recent “missional” convert. He explained that he had read my book and a few others and he wanted to be more about the mission of God and less about nickels, noses, and numbers. “We have to show the love of Jesus, not just tell people about him.” He was a convert to missional but was not as focused on seeing converts to Christ. And he is not alone.
Converts to a Cause

I continue to see movements gaining traction among Christians that do not seem to have many converts. In other words, they have recruits to their cause, but few converts to Christ. And I am concerned. I am concerned that in the name of “fixing the Church” we are not proclaiming the Church’s gospel.

You’ve seen it, too, among others—the emerging church wants to rethink structures; the missional folks want more social justice; the charismatic folks want more of the Spirit; Baptists want to convert the Presbyterians; the house church people want more authentic community; and the Reformed folks just want, well, I am not sure since they never seem happy.

I must confess I have an affinity with some of these groups. But, a change movement that does not produce converts is as useless as a systematic theology text at Joel Osteen’s church. Even if and when the cause is important, that is not enough for the church and its mission. Central to our task is to display the glory of God through His redemptive work through the redemption of those far from Christ.

Let’s Talk
An argument of sorts has arisen among some friends of mine that helps illustrate the point. Mark Driscoll, in his oh-so-subtle way, said that many in the emerging church “don’t have any converts.” Dan Kimball has expressed his missional misgivings about missional churches without conversions.

Several defenders have responded to the critics. But, the conversation can and should be much broader than “emerging” or “missional” conversations: I have heard it in charismatic, Calvinist, Baptist, and other settings. And, there are always defenders.

But, I believe defending is not the answer. It is never a good thing to be defending our lack of converts to Christ while we are busy converting people to our cause. To me, it is the difference between complaining and creating a new (and better) way.

For example, I have been identified with the missional conversation. I believe the church can and must identify with the missio dei and refocus its agenda around the purpose of God. Yet, I don’t want missional to mean attacks on mega and fast growing churches who are reaching people “wrongly,” while missional churches are reaching few “rightly.” (Now, take that last sentence and replace the word “missional” with the word “reformed”—still works. Now do it with “Baptist”—yep that’s 3 for 3. Need I go on?)

Now, I am not willing to say that a lack of converts is a sign of unfaithfulness. But, I am willing to say that too many change movements are not seeing lost people’s lives changed. And I think that is the wrong kind of change.

So, my Reformed friends, let’s not only read 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John (that is, John Calvin, John MacArthur, and John Piper), let’s go plant some more churches. My emerging church friends, let’s take a pause from the theological rethink and head into the neighborhood and to tell someone about Jesus. My missional friends, let’s speak of justice, but always tell others how God can be both “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” My house church friends, let’s have community, but let’s be sure it is focused on redemption. My Baptist friends, let’s focus more on convincing pagans than Presbyterians. And, my charismatic friends, let’s focus less on getting existing believers to speak in tongues and more on using our tongue to tell others about Jesus.

Now, I know the preceding paragraph will tick some of you off—and, I am trying to be a bit edgy while making a point. But, let me suggest you be less offended at my words and more focused on Jesus’ words: Go therefore and make disciples of nations.

If you are passionate about what you believe you will naturally want others to “get it” as you have. For example, you would not be a very good charismatic if you did not want me to be baptized in the Spirit. However, I think it is unhelpful that so many Reformed, emerging, missional, denominational, Baptist, house church, charismatic, and every other kind of Christian spends more energy persuading other believers than they do reaching non-believers.

So, let’s continue conversations about being “missional” or whatever, but let’s not do so if it distracts us from the mission. Instead let’s talk about these issues but not let them distract us from our main focus—showing and sharing the love of Jesus to a desperately lost world that needs a message of hope.

Showing a Better Way
If you want to convince me (and the body of Christ) to your cause, you must show me it is a better way. You must tell and show something different. You must not just protest what is, but you must show me what should be.

Ivan Illich was once asked if the way to societal change was best through revolution or through reform. He explained it was neither—at least if you wanted long term change. Instead, he said we need to tell an “alternative story” that is so compelling it draws others to the story.

So, tell your alternative story. Show me a way that is passionate about the cause and filled with new converts to Christ. If all you have are criticisms, concerns, or new ideas, but no new converts, that hardly seems a better path or an “alternative story.”

So, don’t defend your lack of converts, repent of it, weep over it, and resolve to change it.

Ed Stetzer is the President of LifeWay Research and co-author (with Philip Nation) of Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living. Ed is also an experienced pastor and frequent speaker. His other books include: Comeback Churches , Breaking the Missional Code , and Planting Missional Churches, and the forthcoming Lost and Found: The Younger Unchurched and Churches that Reach Them.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer once said, “We can believe that we know where the world should go. But unless we’re in touch with our customers, our model of the world can diverge from reality. There’s no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either.”

According to Ballmer, we must be both ‘innovative’ and ‘in-touch’ or else our conclusions will become irrelevant.

Innovation is a big topic in the church today. Every year there are lists of the ‘most innovative’ churches. Some pastors and churches are known for their extreme innovation. And I’m very excited that today’s church has some of the best and brightest minds when it comes to innovative thinking.

But here’s what so often happens in the church world: We see a cool and shiny idea that some church in a town much bigger than ours half way across the country is doing. We’re so enthralled with the idea, the coolness factor, or the concept that we can’t wait to give it a whirl in our own church…

So… we turn the wheels and make it happen. We copy the idea. Sure, we might scale it down a little for our church, but we do it because it’s cool, or because it’s the new innovative trend. The problem is… in the process, we’ve become out of touch. We’ve tried something cool or innovative, not realizing that that’s not what our church was wanting or needing. We took somebody else’s absolutely brilliant idea and transformed it into a classic example of a hip, yet uneffective church program.

Many times, innovative ideas DO translate. And many innovative trends are working all across the country in all kinds and styles of churches and helping churches everywhere to have an increased Kingdom effectiveness. But in order for anything to be effective in our own church, we must, as Ballmer puts it, ‘stay in touch with our customers’. That means we need to know what the needs are of the people we’re serving.

What are the needs in your church? How can you better serve your community? What are the problems that you have right now that you don’t have an answer for? Those are the areas, as you listen and watch and stay ‘in-touch’, that will foster the greatest innovative ministry ideas in your local setting.

If you just cut and paste, you’ll find that your reality will be skewed. After all, ‘there is no substitute for innovation, of course, but innovation is no substitute for being in touch, either,”