Multi Campus Churches

Whatever it takes...

It's just a new way of doing what something that has been done by the old circuit riding preachers.

Same concept, new technology.

 

In my experience, this is done usually in large churches. The stated objective is an outreach ministry.

Although not stated as such, it provides a place where small church people (<250 attending) can go to have a small church fellowship and worship. The campus is still a part of the large church so the small campus people can take advantage of the large church functions when they desire. The combined attendance of our church is about 2200. The pastor of the campus is a part of our church staff.

We had people commit to go to the new campus (rented school) for 2 years when it started. At the end of the 2 years, some stayed and some returned to the main campus. The new campus started with over 200 and now has about 175 in attendance.

Since we like the large church environment and the small campus is in an adjancent city, we never attended the small campus service.

 

A well-intentioned but mostly unbiblical model. It resembles church planting, but isn't. Builds kingdoms but not necessarily the Kingdom.

It "works" really well if the pastor/preacher enjoys a certain cult of personality and if he's the same preacher at both places (either live or on tv), and if "works" is defined by worship attendance. Doesn't work so well when the pastor isn't a strong preacher, when "main" campus staff and leadership aren't involved in the satellite, and when the major leadership (deacons, committees, etc.) are all based at one campus or the other.

I've asked on many occasions why a church with enough finacial and people resources to launch a satellite wouldn't just start a new church. The answers have ranged from "because our preacher is the draw" to "how do we know they'd do it 'our' way?".

 

In addition to the other campus, our church started three church plants at the same time. That was about five years ago and the church plants are still going. Combined, the church plants have 150 to 200 in attendance.

 

Dr. Fuss,

My comment wasn't aimed at you, your post, or your church, and I hope you didn't take it as such.

Also, I should clarify by "unbiblical" I do not intend to implay "anti" biblical. Rather "without biblical precedent".

 

Except they don't use horses to get from one church to another----at least not the ones I'm aware of

There's a mega church in Baton Rouge----Bethany World Prayer Center---Pastor Larry Stockstill---a campus in the north part of the city---another in the southern part---they "flit" him from one to the other via helicopter----now---thats my kind of preachin'!!!

 

If it works.

It doesn't work everywhere.

 

This model should not be confused with church planting (regardless of its popularity).

As long as churches (and their pastors) are more concerned with personal kingdom building which is tipified by hording people, money, and resources and not giving themselves away in every respect in strengthing existing churches, starting new churches, and sending workers into the field... the chruch will continue to grow the old fashioned way...

CHURCH SPLITS!!!

 

We've got a large church close to here (>5000 members) who are starting a program like that. They've rented a school gym on Sundays in a city across the reservoir. They said that they'll have about 1000 members start in the new campus. They'll have they're own worship band, and there wil be "pastoral assistants" there, but the preacher will be broadcast live on closed circuit TV.

I understand that some of his congregants drive a good distance, but I would rather have seen them plant a new church. My problem with the multi-campus program is that it isn't equipping and supporting new pastors.

This church has also recently taken Baptist out of their name, although they are still affilliated with the SBC.