Empowering Growth: The Journey of Multi-Site Expansion
Summary
In our conversation today, we delved into the journey of New Life Community Church's multi-site expansion, sharing insights and lessons learned along the way. Our journey began without a master plan, but through prayer and fasting, we envisioned reaching 1% of Chicago, which led us to embrace a multi-site model. Initially, we stumbled into this model, starting with a church planting mentality and gradually evolving into a multi-site approach. This transition was marked by pivotal moments, such as the decision to centralize services and the realization of the need for a robust support system to manage multiple locations effectively.
As we expanded from one to ten locations, we encountered various challenges and opportunities. We learned the importance of having a central service to support locations, which includes HR, media, and finances, among others. This centralization allowed us to maintain unity while empowering local leaders to adapt to their unique communities. Our model embraced live teaching, reflecting the diverse ethnicities and cultures of Chicago's neighborhoods, which was crucial for effective ministry.
Throughout this journey, we emphasized the significance of a multiplication culture, celebrating new locations and encouraging a missional mindset among our congregation. We also recognized the need for strong relationships and a clear vision to unify our leaders. As we grew, we had to navigate the tension between centralized and localized operations, ensuring that we maintained our core values while allowing flexibility in areas like worship style and community outreach.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Vision and Prayer: Our journey began with a vision birthed from prayer and fasting, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine guidance for direction and empowerment. This foundation allowed us to dream big and pursue reaching 1% of Chicago, which set the stage for our multi-site expansion. [03:08]
2. Centralization vs. Localization: Balancing centralized support with localized autonomy is crucial. While central services provide essential support, allowing local leaders to adapt to their communities ensures effective ministry. This balance helps maintain unity while embracing diversity. [39:39]
3. Embracing Diversity: Our model reflects the diverse cultures of Chicago, with local leaders representing their communities. This approach allows us to minister effectively across different neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of contextualized ministry. [29:37]
4. Cultivating a Multiplication Culture: Celebrating new locations and encouraging a missional mindset fosters a culture of multiplication. By releasing and empowering leaders, we create opportunities for growth and expansion, ensuring that our church remains dynamic and mission-focused. [35:05]
5. Navigating Growth Challenges: Growth brings both beauty and challenges. As we expand, we must be prepared for increased complexity and the need for clear communication and strong relationships. Embracing change and maintaining a focus on our mission helps us navigate these challenges effectively. [59:30]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Introduction and Coffee Talk
[00:54] - The Multi-Site Journey Begins
[01:29] - Early Challenges and Realizations
[02:37] - Pivotal Moments in Expansion
[03:08] - Vision Through Prayer and Fasting
[04:45] - Discovering Other Multi-Site Churches
[05:30] - Developing Centralized Services
[08:59] - Lessons from Business Models
[11:40] - Financial Models and Support
[15:47] - Expanding to New Locations
[18:57] - Embracing Diversity in Ministry
[22:36] - Learning from Other Churches
[25:03] - Coaching and Leadership Development
[31:49] - The Parish Model Approach
[39:39] - Centralized vs. Localized Tensions
[50:22] - Defining Non-Negotiables
[59:30] - Navigating Growth and Change
[01:08:13] - Final Exhortation and Encouragement
[01:12:45] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 13:1-3 - This passage highlights the importance of prayer and fasting in seeking divine guidance, similar to the church's journey in the sermon.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 - This passage emphasizes the unity and diversity within the body of Christ, reflecting the sermon’s focus on embracing diversity and maintaining unity.
3. Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission, which aligns with the sermon’s emphasis on a multiplication culture and missional mindset.
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Observation Questions:
1. What role did prayer and fasting play in the vision for New Life Community Church's multi-site expansion? [03:08]
2. How did New Life Community Church balance centralized support with localized autonomy in their multi-site model? [39:39]
3. What were some of the challenges New Life faced as they expanded from one to ten locations? [59:30]
4. How did New Life Community Church embrace the diverse cultures of Chicago in their ministry approach? [29:37]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the practice of prayer and fasting influence a church's vision and direction, as seen in Acts 13:1-3 and the sermon? [03:08]
2. In what ways can a church maintain unity while embracing the diversity of its congregation, as discussed in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and the sermon? [29:37]
3. How does the concept of a multiplication culture align with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20, and what challenges might arise in implementing this culture? [35:05]
4. What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of balancing centralized and localized operations in a multi-site church model? [39:39]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when prayer and fasting led to a significant decision in your life. How can you incorporate these practices more regularly to seek divine guidance? [03:08]
2. Consider the diversity within your own community. How can you and your church better embrace and reflect this diversity in your ministry efforts? [29:37]
3. What steps can you take to foster a multiplication culture in your church or small group, encouraging others to adopt a missional mindset? [35:05]
4. How can you personally contribute to maintaining unity within your church while respecting and celebrating its diversity? [29:37]
5. Identify a specific area in your church where centralized support could enhance localized ministry efforts. How can you advocate for this balance? [39:39]
6. Think about a challenge your church is currently facing in its growth. What practical steps can you take to help navigate this challenge effectively? [59:30]
7. How can you apply the lessons learned from New Life Community Church's journey to your own church or ministry context, particularly in terms of vision and growth? [03:08]
Devotional
Day 1: Vision Through Prayer and Fasting
In the journey of expanding New Life Community Church, the power of vision and prayer was foundational. The church's vision to reach 1% of Chicago was birthed from a period of prayer and fasting, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine guidance for direction and empowerment. This spiritual discipline allowed the church to dream big and pursue a multi-site expansion model. It highlights the necessity of aligning one's goals with God's will, ensuring that the path forward is not just a human endeavor but a divinely inspired mission. [03:08]
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV)
Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to bring before God in prayer and fasting to seek His vision and guidance?
Day 2: Balancing Centralization and Localization
The expansion of New Life Community Church involved balancing centralized support with localized autonomy. Central services like HR, media, and finances provided essential support, while local leaders were empowered to adapt to their unique communities. This balance maintained unity and embraced diversity, allowing the church to minister effectively across Chicago's neighborhoods. It underscores the importance of having a strong support system while allowing flexibility for local adaptation. [39:39]
"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you support the broader community while also embracing the unique needs of your local context?
Day 3: Embracing Diversity in Ministry
New Life Community Church's model reflects the diverse cultures of Chicago, with local leaders representing their communities. This approach allows for effective ministry across different neighborhoods, emphasizing the importance of contextualized ministry. By embracing diversity, the church can connect with people from various backgrounds, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding. It highlights the need for inclusivity and representation in ministry efforts. [29:37]
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively embrace and celebrate diversity in your community and ministry efforts today?
Day 4: Cultivating a Multiplication Culture
The church's journey emphasized cultivating a multiplication culture by celebrating new locations and encouraging a missional mindset. By releasing and empowering leaders, opportunities for growth and expansion were created, ensuring the church remained dynamic and mission-focused. This culture of multiplication fosters an environment where growth is not just expected but celebrated, encouraging everyone to participate in the mission. [35:05]
"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone you can mentor or empower today to help them grow in their faith and leadership?
Day 5: Navigating Growth Challenges
As New Life Community Church expanded, it faced both beauty and challenges. Growth brought increased complexity, requiring clear communication and strong relationships. Embracing change and maintaining a focus on the mission helped navigate these challenges effectively. It highlights the importance of being prepared for the complexities of growth while staying true to core values and mission. [59:30]
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing, and how can you view it as an opportunity for growth and perseverance?
Quotes
Let me first of all say that like everything you typically stumble into this so there was no master strategic plan that we had it all laid out buttoned up and figured out we sort of stumbled into uh a vision of how do we reach more people in the city of Chicago. [00:03:08]
A pivotal moment for us was 40 days of fasting and prayer in 1995 um where the church did the season of fasting and prayer we came out of that season of fasting and prayer saying what would it look like to reach one% of the city of Chicago which was 30,000 people. [00:03:34]
We learned the importance of having a central service to support locations, which includes HR, media, and finances, among others. This centralization allowed us to maintain unity while empowering local leaders to adapt to their unique communities. [00:09:13]
We started naming our location our new life locations by The Neighborhood that they were in not by the south north east and west it took a guy from the business world to duh hello uh but but he showed us and I think he also some of the people that uh were in the business model. [00:11:06]
Think about it often times multi-site churches now they will start and they have people driving maybe 45 minutes too far so they reach the same demographic 45 minutes away or 20 minutes away but it's the same people group the same um usually the same ethnicity. [00:19:25]
We embraced what what I would call a perocho uh or a parish Model A Parish model is uh most of the multi-site uh were a bit more of the mega model where you you you know build a box have people come from a lot of different places but it represents typically White Suburban middle class. [00:30:05]
We have talked a lot about hey we need to celebrate new locations uh when we launched a new location often times we would do a live video camera of the grand opening so that people can celebrate we would say uh this is us this is our church if you know some of you need to be launched out. [00:35:05]
We started to move more towards a team effort in doing the outlines yeah you know once you hit that four right four locations um I'm sure that brought a whole new set of challenges um you have a central service staff now they're kind of figuring out what they're supposed to be doing. [00:16:09]
I think you can learn from each other but I think that every setting is unique so we learn a lot from the churches that we were connecting with and um rubbing shoulders with we went down a live teaching model in part I think two two reasons one in part because I I came from the mission field. [00:28:22]
We multiply disciples we multiply Gatherings we multiply churches not for the sake of multiplication but for the purpose of making disciples so as you multiply you need to ask yourself this question what are we multiplying if at your central location you're not making disciples. [01:08:13]
I think that it's going to be important that your core and expanding team of people have a clear DNA of what you're trying to do uh the more quickly you expand the more you have to hire people per perhaps from the outside the more you can raise them from the inside I think it's the better. [01:07:12]
I think you need to uh coach a team through growth and remember there's a beauty and a burden to every season don't idolize the past or and don't idolize the future learn to live in the beauty of this season and know that change is inevitable inevitable if you're growing. [01:03:48]
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