Multi-Site, Multi-Cultural, Multi-Generational

Hey Shaun, I've been a reader of your blog for a while, but never commented before. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences on here. It's always interesting and thought provoking.

I found your thoughts in this article really interesting. I really resonate with what you have to say about multi-culturalism and multi-generationalism in the church. These, to me, are both logically obvious and biblically apparent aspects of the church that ought to be embraced and pursued with intentionality.

I have to say though, I have yet to be convinced about the value of the multi-site church model. If I understand this model at all, it seems to be based on the idea that a church community that is more localized, geographically and culturally, will be better able to minister to its people. This makes sense to me. My question is, why multi-site, rather than church planting? The multi-site churches I've been exposed to, including Mark Batterson's here in DC, are essentially copies of the same church, same kind of meeting location, music style, even videos of the same sermon projected at each location. This doesn't seem to be a model that allows for adapting ministry methods to fit the local community. It seems to be even more de-personalized than having a single, large congregation that gathers at the same place for weekly worship.

Some of these feelings are a result of my experience in the church, I must say. I was part of a church plant in college that had a vision for building a multi-site ministry structure, but in 5 years of being part of the leadership of that church, I never once heard any explanation of why this was a good idea. Our pastor, whom I love and respect dearly, had a struggle, common to many of us in ministry, with ambition and desire for power and influence. He would admit this to anyone who asked. I always figured his multi-site vision was part of this tendency of his to want more and more people listening to his sermons on Sunday and congratulating him on building a large "successful" ministry. Knowing that this is a struggle for many pastors, seeing this trend in the American church is a concerning experience for me.

Is this the kind of multi-site ministry you envision building in Atlanta? If so, why is this model preferable to simply planting local churches that have their own pastoral leadership, stylistic self-determination, localized preaching ministry, etc.? If not, how is your vision different? I really want to understand this trend correctly, so if I'm missing something in my analysis of it, please help me see it more clearly.

God bless you and your family, brother.