Multi-Site Expert :)

Since I am now a multi-site expert of ONE week (that is called sarcasm), I thought I would give you some things we learned after just one week.

• Multi-site works. I know that isn’t earth shattering news BUT I think everyone who launches their first site wonders all the way up to the first service if it will truly work in their context. I’m glad to say it does.
• Video Teaching works. The video teaching was not an issue at all.  We will be tweaking the video and trying to make me around 6 1/2-7 ft tall instead of 10 ft tall, but it does work and works well. I loved hearing people who were a little skeptical of the teaching talk about how quickly they forgot it was video.
• Each campus MUST keep our DNA but must be allowed to be flexible enough to do whatever it takes to each their community. Vision, Teaching, Rocking Music, and Awesome Kids ministry are not open for discussion. However, you must create a vibe to let that campus know they aren’t just a overflow service.
• Campus Host is important. We figured we would just send a different Lead Team staff member to our Holly Springs campus every week to lead. After one week and me being there 10 minutes, we decided this wasn’t a good idea. People will listen to video teaching and buy into vision coming off the video screen, but they have to know their is a leader their who sets the standard, who to turn to with questions, and who guards the vision. After about 2 seconds of discussion we decided that Preston will become the Campus Host in Holly Springs.
• Leadership Development is a MUST - At one campus the staff can cover up a lot of mistakes and make things happen. At 2 campuses those holes become very obvious and can’t be covered up.
• Launch is the easy part.  Anyone can launch a second campus, keeping it going week after week is a whole nutha monster.  I’m reminding myself how we launched Revolution and plan on putting those principles into play at our second campus.
• You must be willing to learn. This applies not only to the staff, but volunteers as well. As a staff we are always seeking to grow and realize we don’t know it all. The volunteers who will make it and step up as leaders are the ones who are willing to grow and learn. If you think you know it all, you won’t make it.
• Be Flexible - We had a lot of ideas we thought would work, but didn’t. We can be hardcore and not budge or we can be flexible and make changes to reach people.

I’m sure I’m missing some stuff, but those are my thoughts after ONE service. I’m pumped about what God is doing and what He has in store for us at BOTH campuses.