Weeekend Reflections
I felt like it was a great weekend. I preached a very back to basics message on the word go. Every once in a while it's important to remind ourselves of our mission! And the larger and older you get the more frequently you need to cast vision. Add in our annual turn-over rate that is between 40-50% and casting vision is critical. So I wanted to remind us of why we're launching our fourth location in Georgetown next weekend. It's because 2000 years ago Jesus said, "Go." And nothing has changed.
One of my other reflections is this: preaching both Saturday night services is knocking me out. When I preach once on Saturday night I feel like it's a warm up. But preaching twice leaves me a little tired going into Sunday. I decided to go live for our second Saturday service for a few reasons: 1) to try to grow that service, 2) So we could experiment with live Q & A, and 3) because live is a better fit with the coffeehouse environment.
So I feel like we're in a catch 22. I'm not sure it's sustainable long-term. But I feel like two live services is the best fit for Ebenezers. Nothing like leading when you're not sure where to go! I've come to the conclusion that multi-site is complicated!
Having said that let me say this: I love the craziness! I wouldn't want it any other way. But we definitely need to figure out how to do multi-site over the long-term in a way that is sustainable because we'll only have more services in more locations.
One of my other reflections is this: preaching both Saturday night services is knocking me out. When I preach once on Saturday night I feel like it's a warm up. But preaching twice leaves me a little tired going into Sunday. I decided to go live for our second Saturday service for a few reasons: 1) to try to grow that service, 2) So we could experiment with live Q & A, and 3) because live is a better fit with the coffeehouse environment.
So I feel like we're in a catch 22. I'm not sure it's sustainable long-term. But I feel like two live services is the best fit for Ebenezers. Nothing like leading when you're not sure where to go! I've come to the conclusion that multi-site is complicated!
Having said that let me say this: I love the craziness! I wouldn't want it any other way. But we definitely need to figure out how to do multi-site over the long-term in a way that is sustainable because we'll only have more services in more locations.
11 Comments:
The perfect solution comes from the movie "The Prestige." One of the magicians would duplicate himself just long enough to let him be seen, but then let the clone drop into the water tank and die. If you can figure out how to duplicate yourself and then have a trap door underneath to drop your clone into a container of water you will be totally set! You can preach the first service, the clone can preach the second!
Hi Mark,
The church that my parents go to in Orlando also does the multiple locations, one church architecture. They're Northland Community Church (http://www.northlandchurch.net) and the pastor, Joel Hunter, has also written a book about his experience with what he calls "A Church Distributed" (the book is on Amazon). Instead of recording their messages, they simulcast them across the different locations. I'm not sure how feasible it would be for NCC, but it might be something to look into.
I am on staff at a mega church here in Houston with ONE location.
But, I am a member of another mega church here in Houston that has FIVE locations!
We were members at the first church (where I work) for 20 years - but, wanted more "relationship and community" - and it was hard because we absolutely LOVE the pastor here! We found that our desire for "relationship and community" outweighed just attending a service as a family. So, we elected to visit the church we are now members of...and found relationship and community in our bible study class! We feel almost "reborn"! We don't normally attend the "video" service - but, we would not miss our bible study class each week!
Another note about multiple locations - the church we are members of (with 5 locations) - are really great at coordinating youth activities between the different locations - as well as mission projects (both local and overseas) that brings everyone together!
How do you feel about that turnover rate? Is it due to people moving in and out of DC or is it due to another factor?
Tina,
We've had to adapt to the reality of our demography and geography. We're 73% single twenty-somethings so it is a very transient group. Throw in interns and college students and people are walking through the revolving door known as NCC all the time.
I also think the turnover has really helped us plant a church in DC as well. So it works both ways--people always coming and going.
Mark
Hey Mark,
I couldn't agree more, multi-site church is difficult.
I work @ Highlands Fellowship and we have three campuses. Our pastor comes in and records the message the day before the services. This way he only preaches the two Sunday mornings and then the one we record.
We record in HD and SD. We use a program called ProVideoSync (http://renewedvision.com/pvs.php) to sync the HD and SD for playback.
Anyways, if you have any questions please let me know. I would love to offer any help that I can.
Hey Tim,
Thanks for the 411. Love hearing how others are doing it. We capture out Saturday night in High-Def and turn it around on Sundays. Our media and production teams do an amazing job with it. I guess part of it is having the courage to use video messages to their full potential. I live with that live vs. video tension :)
Mark
I hope that as churches have become multi-site they are also becoming multi-personality.
And I understand this is a process and journey of becoming.
A humble thought...
So this is weird, the aforementioned to Northland Community Church actually owns the domain name evotional.net. I guess they're learning from NCC too!
Mark, Thanks for the answer regarding turnover.
Do you have stats on how many "first time visitors" during the year and how many of them are staying? We are trying to get a handle on if we aren't capturing enough of them or if we are about right.
Thanks, Tina
Tina,
Not sure :)
Mark
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