Surely by 2010, we all have knowledge of a multi-site church. One of the better-known multi-campus churches in America is Saddleback in Southern California. Its main Lake Forest Campus is home base for Senior Pastor, Rick Warren, who is also the author of "The Purpose-Driven Life." Over the last five years, Saddleback has launched four additional campuses: San Clemente, Corona, Irvine, and Laguna Woods. By the end of the year, five more will appear in Rancho Capistrano, Huntington Beach, Orange, and Anaheim (2).
I am a member of a smaller church that doesn't appear to have a second campus anywhere on its radar. Nevertheless, I count larger churches as a blessing because as they grow, the gospel grows. If your church is growing and drawing attendees and members from near and far, maybe it's time to consider the launch of another campus. David Chrzan, chief of staff for Rick Warren, shared a few insights on the multi-site leap of faith.
For Saddleback, forming a second campus was an opportunity to take the gospel to a new area of Southern California, but it also had simple and practical purposes, too. "There were large amounts of people traveling a long distance to attend services, and there were also parking and egress problems," says Chrzan. "We wanted people to have the ‘Saddleback Experience' without having to drive such a distance."
Saddleback chose a high school gymnasium for the San Clemente group to meet in, and the result has been five years of spiritual and physical growth for the church. Less than three years later the Corona and Irvine campuses were established, also in schools. A year after that, the Laguna Woods campus was started in a community center. "[The multi-site strategy] became an evangelism strategy instead of a problem solver," says Chrzan.
Saddleback chose the four locations based on the number of Saddleback small groups already meeting in the area. Small groups also feed the staff and volunteer pools needed to make new campuses successful. However, maintaining ministry DNA among so many people and over distance is a challenge, admits Chrzan. "We don't structure for control, we structure for growth, which gives our staff a lot of freedom. But, we choose leaders that understand Saddleback's values and purpose," Chrzan shares. Saddleback has also spent many years perfecting training and organizational systems that keep staff and volunteers on the same page.
The multi-site life isn't without challenges, but the benefits make it very worthwhile. It goes without saying that multiple campuses mean more people are reached and taught. But, perhaps a deeper value is the discipleship fostered. "Each new campus creates opportunities for people to commit, serve and grow. That not only creates buy-in for our ministry, it creates mature followers of Christ," says Chrzan.
