Multi-Site Childrens Ministry

History of multi-site 1990 10 multi-campus churches 1998 About 100 multi-campus churches Late 2005 More than 1,500 multi-campus churches Mid 2008 Estimated 2,000 multi-campus churches There are now over 5,000 one in every major city and large community in America will have a multi-campus church. Now its the norm not the novel. Each new campus brings new challenges and changes. Its a journey. 1. Decide what model you will implement. 3 Models of Multi-Site. The Disneyworld model: Disneyworld example Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood studios One churchdifferent experience at each campus Church each campus under umbrella of church May have one name Each campus does own thing totally different experience Benefits -freedom for creative people to use gifts -can custom make to fit culture Challenges -reproducing work -not on same page- going different directions -can lead to competition The Licensee Model: Example McDonalds in Hong Kong had rice Alignment with contextual freedom. May have same environment names but lessons, worship songs, etc. may be tweaked or adjusted to reach a different culture or nitch. Some ministry philosophies may not transfer may have slightly different emphasis. Example may do Sunday school classrooms instead of small groups.

Benefits -alignment with some freedom to fit culture -creative people can create Challenges -can lead to going different directions -must work hard to control quality and content The Franchise model: Example Subway stores Radical alignment Everything is aligned as much as possible. Want families to have same experience at each campus Everything is cloned, name of environments, policy and procedures, curriculum, strategy, etc. Benefits -same experience at each campus -can control content of lessons -collaboration and team work Challenges -must find people who can align -must have buy in from campuses -must not feel like being handed down from mother ship -campuses not feeling like have say or input Work with your church leadership to decide which model will work best for your church. What is the overall church vision for this campus? How can the childrens ministry help fulfill this vision? What do you want the focus of the childrens ministry to be at this campus? What would be some wins for the childrens ministry at this campus? Where would you like to see the childrens ministry be a year after the launch? 2. Prepare your budget. Start Up budget. -supplies such as crayons, diaper wipes, rugs, pipe and drape, toys, goldfish crackers, chairs, storage containers, stage set, pipe and drape, etc. -different than first years operating budget Operating budget.

-what will take to operate first year Budget models -big bucket (one budget for all) -little buckets (each campus has own budget -big bucket and little bucket (budget for items that will be used for all campuses and then each campus has own budget) 3. Get your staff team in place. 1 FT for every 100-125 kids -hiring order I would suggest -Director (need someone to lead the charge) -EC person -Elementary person Director can be one of those two if needed -consider hiring from within -promote people from original campus to other campuses already have your DNA 4. Get your volunteer leaders in place. -take seasoned group with you from original campus -look for people who live in that area to approach -many times people will step up to serve when see as a mission -ask to commit to certain time period -usually some will drift back to original campus -begin meeting with them and building relationships, teams, etc. months before the launch. -do run thrus, job descrips, etc. -if youre portable, build a transition team that rotates or will burn out

Keys to Thriving in Multi-Site Childrens Ministry -Unity How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity. Psalm 133:1 Jesus when you love each other people will know you are my disciples Pray that you all will be one -natural tendency for campuses to compete against each other -were wired that way -Flesh steps in and causes disunity, when campuses stop praying for one another, when care more about their agenda than the big vision then thats a problem. Have to work for unity. Go second mile to protect the unity. Ways to bring unity Talk us, not them. Dream together o -staff retreat twice a year July and Jan. Plan together Train together at least once a year Do a combined event at least once a year Get campuses praying for each other Keep everyones focus on the vision Help everyone see the big picture Practice direct communication o talk up, not down or sideways. -Structure

-Collaboration - where there is the opportunity to provide input there is ownership -smarter together not reproduce work Curriculum Forms Volunteer process -staff meeting structure Tues. staff meeting -Simplicity -Do the basics well. -You can do a few things with excellence or a lot of things with mediocrity. -older campuses may be weighed down with lots of programs -new campus may be opportunity to just focus on doing a few things well -dont start up with too many programs will spread yourself thin and end up with mediocrity -Distribution -clear processes -how is curriculum going to be distributed? -what we decided to do, central hub one person going to Walmart Training -online training can reach all campuses

-Evaluation -outside eyes on campus -checklist -feedback and input What to expect -Stretch. Multi campus will stress your church at its seams. -A shift in thinking. Must think big picture -Change. Things will never be the same. -Campus hoppers -Reaching more people. You are part of a church that cares about people, a church that has a heart to reach people! See families restored, marriages put back together, you are blessed and you are chosen and you have been given a special mission from God!