http://www.thechurchblog.org/live/2006/07/10/multi-site-church-plants/ Real people talking about The Church Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:19:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 http://www.thechurchblog.org/live/2006/07/10/multi-site-church-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Dave Tue, 11 Jul 2006 17:36:32 +0000 http://www.thechurchblog.org/live/?p=41#comment-42 The beauty of many small churches is that each elder or pastor can be free to be as effective as they can be for the demographic for which they have the best influence. For example, college age students might be best reached by a mature college-age leader. Hispanics might be best reached by an Hispanic leader. Same with post-Catholics, retirees, etc. The "big church" no longer has to struggle with being culturally relevant to all these groups simultaneously -- they can let the smaller churches handle it. This model applies to home churches, multi-site churches, small video venues, etc. If the leadership is there, they are going to thrive, because they are going to be free to "go nutz" with the demographic they are best equipped and positioned to reach. Whatever that happens to be. I pray that MPCC finds its identity as a church planting church in all these ways. More than that, I pray that MPCC becomes known as a church that develops leaders to go and do all this work. That's where it will all happen, and that's what we're striving for. The beauty of many small churches is that each elder or pastor can be free to be as effective as they can be for the demographic for which they have the best influence. For example, college age students might be best reached by a mature college-age leader. Hispanics might be best reached by an Hispanic leader. Same with post-Catholics, retirees, etc. The “big church” no longer has to struggle with being culturally relevant to all these groups simultaneously — they can let the smaller churches handle it. This model applies to home churches, multi-site churches, small video venues, etc. If the leadership is there, they are going to thrive, because they are going to be free to “go nutz” with the demographic they are best equipped and positioned to reach. Whatever that happens to be. I pray that MPCC finds its identity as a church planting church in all these ways. More than that, I pray that MPCC becomes known as a church that develops leaders to go and do all this work. That’s where it will all happen, and that’s what we’re striving for.

]]> http://www.thechurchblog.org/live/2006/07/10/multi-site-church-plants/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Robbie Mon, 10 Jul 2006 23:12:20 +0000 http://www.thechurchblog.org/live/?p=41#comment-41 I think the most dangerous temptation is not to build bigger and better buildings. These is far more harmful to the area than having an egotistical pastor (leaves shells of buildings that are only good to other churches, and promotes the idea of christian consumerism). That would be far worse to have an egotistical leadership and congregation, than just the one guy. Just some thoughts on the new churches: are they going to honestly look at the culture of Las Cruces as a whole and intentionally engage the subcultures that exist? I guess the question is, who will be the target group? With a culture as diverse as Las Cruces no church can be all things to all people, even if that is the hope. There are so many groups that most slip through the cracks of the church. I can see four that are largely overlooked: college age (conservitively 8,000 traditional college students), hispanics, damaged catholics and post-catholics, and retirees (being ranked in top 5 best places to retire means more and more evangelism to do). On overpopulation: Church palnting is a great way to curb growth. Always have teams in training, and send those teams out anually or bianually. Even if those teams fail, you've managed to get people actively involved in sharing good news with Las Cruces. Another option would be a good old fashioned church split, except you could do it on your own terms. Make it a joyful event, done as a missional step in engaging Las Cruces more effectively(the details of this would be hard to do. money, building, and leadership stuff). Just some ideas. I could be crazy. I think the most dangerous temptation is not to build bigger and better buildings. These is far more harmful to the area than having an egotistical pastor (leaves shells of buildings that are only good to other churches, and promotes the idea of christian consumerism). That would be far worse to have an egotistical leadership and congregation, than just the one guy. Just some thoughts on the new churches: are they going to honestly look at the culture of Las Cruces as a whole and intentionally engage the subcultures that exist? I guess the question is, who will be the target group? With a culture as diverse as Las Cruces no church can be all things to all people, even if that is the hope. There are so many groups that most slip through the cracks of the church. I can see four that are largely overlooked: college age (conservitively 8,000 traditional college students), hispanics, damaged catholics and post-catholics, and retirees (being ranked in top 5 best places to retire means more and more evangelism to do).
On overpopulation: Church palnting is a great way to curb growth. Always have teams in training, and send those teams out anually or bianually. Even if those teams fail, you’ve managed to get people actively involved in sharing good news with Las Cruces. Another option would be a good old fashioned church split, except you could do it on your own terms. Make it a joyful event, done as a missional step in engaging Las Cruces more effectively(the details of this would be hard to do. money, building, and leadership stuff). Just some ideas. I could be crazy.

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