Today and tomorrow I'm in Chicago at the multi-site "EXPOSED" conference in Chicago - down by Midway Airport at NEW LIFE CHURCH - pastor, Brian Jobe.
Several hundred people gathered today to hear clinicians speak about the multi-site explosion across the country - planting other campuses to reach more people with the Gospel of Jesus.
We're praying about how God would want us to be involved in that kind of endeavor right here in Kenosha. We have a vision to get that kind of 'heart' into our church DNA and see our city won for Christ. Pray with us about that, would you?
Today, Dave Ferguson - pastor of Community Christian Church in Naperville, Illinois - was one of the main session speakers. Some of the things he said today were:
In 1990 - there were 10 multi-site churches across the U.S.
In 1998 - there were 100.
By 2004 - there 1,500.
Seven of the 10 fastest growing churches in the U.S. are multi-site.
Nine of the 10 largest churches in the U.S. are multi-site.
One out of four megachurches (churches over 2,000) are multi-site. By 2010, 50% of them will be multi-site.
The #1 reason to go multi-site is not that you're out of space, but because you want to reach more people for Christ. It's not about being "BIG" in your present location; it's about 'reproduction.'
Going multi-site takes a shift in your church mentality and values:
#1 - Seek the 'lost' more than the 'found.'
#2 - Start to love the 'edge' more than the 'center.'
#3 - Begin to prefer the 'going' rather than the 'staying.'
Food for thought.
And be blessed.
1 comment:
I love the idea of reproducing...not only in multi-site churches, but in disciples of Jesus. When we, as the found, begin to seek the lost in our community and world then we will be helping to fulfill the Great Commission that we are called to as Christians. We are so blessed to have our salvation and I would love to share this blessing with as many people as possible. There are SO many people who are searching for "something". I know it wasn't so very long ago that I was one of them. If only they knew it is Jesus. Nothing and no one else fills your soul up the way He does.
So...I am all for growing in our community and sharing the love of Christ with my friends, neighbors and Kenosha, in general. Let us make this dream a reality!
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