Jim: Multi-site churches are definitely a movement that will become as mainstream in the next five years as the use of video screens did in sanctuaries in the 90's. Larry: It's hardly a passing fad. I believe it's the future for mega-churches. Along with eliminating the need for ever bigger buildings, it allows a regional church to take the church to the people rather than asking them to drive in from farther and farther distances. They have all the advantages of a neighborhood church with the backing and programs of a regional church.

Geoff: I think it is the revolution that can turn the tide of evangelism in America. Multi-site is the opportunity to move beyond competition between churches and create an environment of collaboration among churches. The momentum that is being achieved by multi-site churches will impact churches in every city in America.

Greg: Why did your church become multi-site?

Dave: It was a "God-thing" -- a real estate developer became a Christian and had a vision to build a community center that would house a new site for our church.

Jim: To reach more people by providing more seats at optimal inviting hours and to impact our region in a more strategic way.

Geoff: We were denied the opportunity by our town to build a bigger building. We turned to multi-site because we couldn't really see another option.

Larry: We wanted to create an overflow room that would be a reward rather than a punishment. We hoped that a few (5%) of our current attendees would prefer it over the sanctuary environment. By the second week we realized we had a tiger by the tail and our church would never be the same.

Greg: What kinds of churches become multi-site?

Dave: There is no one type. They are large and small churches, established and brand new, denominational and non-denominational, urban, suburban and rural. The common denominator is a missional mindset and a reproducing apostolic ethos. Larry: All types of growing churches. The only necessary ingredient is a ministry that is growing and vibrant enough to reach out beyond a single service or a localized neighborhood.

Greg: What are the greatest challenges to becoming multi-site?

Dave: Finding the financial resources to keep up with the opportunities we have locally, nationally and internationally.

Jim: Transitioning a 25 year mono-site church into a multi-site church in multiple locations. Extending your church while maintaining your DNA. Resisting the corporate bureaucracy that comes with expansion.

Geoff: Communicating among all the campuses and developing new leaders for our next campus launch.

Greg: What are the greatest opportunities?

Dave: The numerous strategic partnerships with for-profit and non-profit organizations to start new locations.

Geoff: As struggling churches in great communities decide to partner with existing churches that are alive and growing the upside potential is limitless.

Greg: What are the greatest strengths of your models?

Larry: Reaching various demographic sub-groups who would not attend a one-size-fits-all worship service. From "North Coast Live" to "Video Café's" coffeehouse casual to the big subwoofers of the "Edge" and onto the hymns of "Traditions" and the bluegrass of our "Country Gospel" -- all these venues provide an opportunity to contextualize the gospel in an increasingly fragmented society. Geoff: It is reproducible. We keep everything as simple and replicable as possible which means we can ramp up a new campus very quickly with a minimum of cost.

Greg: As you work with other churches, what do you find that prevents multi-site from working?

Dave: For churches wanting to go from one site to two sites the failure point is a "reproducing ethos"; they have very little experience in developing leaders, artists groups or teams.

Larry: Not having someone who is the "owner" of the campus or venue.

Geoff: An overemphasis on the technology and an under-emphasis on the leadership.

Greg: What have you had to give up in order to move forward with this approach?

Dave: Being everywhere that ministry was being done. And then the staff had to give up the illusion of control. Larry: I've had to give up the ego rush of speaking to larger crowds in a huge building.

Geoff: We have given up the idea of having a really cool, huge auditorium. With campuses 400 miles apart, we have given up ever meeting under one roof with our whole church family. We have given up having complete control over what a Seacoast Campus looks like.

Greg: What has been your biggest surprise?

Dave: All our new sites are self-supporting from the first day they are launched.

Larry: The overall success. Fully 2/3 of our adults choose to attend a venue or campus.

Geoff: All of our campuses use video teaching. We have been surprised that the video element is really a non-factor in the growth of a campus.

Jim: We are reaching seekers at our satellite locations.

To hear these leaders' experiences firsthand, plan on attending one of the multi-site church learning events planned for Fall 2005. To find out more go to www.multi-site.org or www.willowcreek.com.

(Note: www.multi-site.org is currently in development. The full conference schedule and list of speakers, as well as other helpful information on multi-site ministry will be posted by Friday, June 3.)