3. Safeguard your kidmin brand.
Executive coach Judith E. Glaser identified the ministry head as the Guardian of the DNA. I love this idea and identify it as one of the most important aspects of my job leading family ministry.
As our church launches more locations, my team and I guard the DNA of our ministry. We regularly visit all campuses, giving a quality check and ensuring commitment to the overall vision. We invest in our team and communicate our vision again and again.
Of course, this means you need to know your DNA. What DNA are you guarding, and why is it important? What can be flexible, and what really can’t? Can you communicate your vision in 30 seconds? Can your teammates do the same?
4. Communicate well.
This might be the big, ugly hurdle for multiple locations. Keeping everyone on the same page can be tough! With multisite ministry, a communication system is essential. Our teams at each location share a weekly report, touching base about how things went. Then teams can ensure we properly support each location, helping them address any needs or concerns, and celebrating their wins.
5. Ensure adequate support.
Unfortunately, I often hear that new or branch locations don’t feel like they have the support they need from pre-existing campuses. Much like a church plant, the teams in place are trying to juggle multiple hats and face new and unique challenges. If you’re launching an additional site, overestimate the support and infrastructure that site will need to be successful.
6. Launch well.
While launching a multisite ministry, use these ideas for children’s ministry:
- Preparation—Set a timeline and budget goal for your location launches. When we first aim to launch, we raise a core team that meets to prepare. Typically, these people live or work in the community of the upcoming launch and have excitement and energy to get it off the ground. We have a couple of “prep” services for a few weeks leading up to the official launch date. This allows us to be in the space and practice setting up and using our equipment.
- Ministry Matrix—To fill our leadership and volunteer needs, we prepare a diagram of volunteer slots for each ministry. We print it on a huge board and take it with us to all launch-team meetings. Then the launch team can see what needs exist and where we need more help.
- Volunteer Vacuum—Each time we launch a new site, we try to maximize our recruiting strategies for all locations. One benefit of multisite ministry is that we’re consistently creating new service opportunities. We create a “vacuum” for new volunteers. Each time we launch, we encourage folks to prayerfully consider joining a team to help plant a new location or recommit at their current location.
Our pastor, Mark Batterson, often says that many ways of doing church exist, including some that none of us have thought of yet. What a privilege to try something new! If you’re exploring multisite ministry, embrace innovation as you take the gospel into new communities!
