Well, here we are in month two of 2025 and if you’re like me, you may already feel as if you are flooded with new information that you wish you known sooner. There are new reports on generosity and megachurch data being gathered. There are new state of the church initiatives being introduced. The never ending news cycle hasn’t let up and the power of Ai seems to be accelerating.
So today, I’m clearing the deck and offering a very simple set of questions that you should answer if you are considering the launch of a new campus, which is by the way still happening at a pretty rapid rate. Multisite is not dead.
These questions are not ones that I developed, nor were they Ai developed. They came straight from the mouth of Josh Surratt, Lead Pastor at Seacoast Church. Josh is one of the mentors for my Leadwell Senior Pastor Cohort and these questions were ones that he shared at our meeting last fall in Charleston.
Why do I recommend them for your consideration? They’ve proven effective as Seacoast has launched 13 campuses plus online AND have two more under development. I like to recommend things that work!
Leadership Question
Would you follow them?
It’s no secret that the primary key to campus effectiveness is a great campus pastor. There are lots of assessments and opinions about the secret sauce for the right leader. But even if a leader checks all the boxes, you might to do the gut check that this question offers.
Location Question
Why would I go there?
There are lots of tools that are helpful in making a decision about your next location. There are current attender location “heat maps” and financial proformas and more. Don’t get me wrong, this analysis is key. At the end of the day though, even if all the “numbers” make sense, if there is not a compelling “why you would go the”, you should put on your Simon Sinek hat and ask the next why question, “why not?” before you take the leap.
Experience Question
What is unique about the experience of this campus?
The most effective multisite models achieve an effective equilibrium of what is the same and what can/should be different at the campus level. Vision, mission and values are the guardrails for what is the same and autonomy should only come into play when it addresses a specific community need.
Hope these are helpful as you consider your next launch. And they might also helpful to assess any of your campuses that may not be firing on all cylinders.
************* We need your thoughts ************
We are considering the launch of an all online multisite cohort for teams. The format would be much the same as our in person cohorts in terms of mentors and subject matter experts “in the room” to help to guide as you explore solutions for the challenges and opportunities you are experiencing. But, we would build the cohort around teams of 3-5 and meet more frequently for briefer periods of time.
If you are a multisite church, or are anticipating becoming one, let us know by answering a couple of questions here.
The wisdom of seasoned mentors and expert insights from diverse disciplines equip participants to tackle today’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. In this collaborative community, leaders break through growth barriers and develop actionable strategies for accelerated results.
Spring cohorts are filling up fast! Explore the cohort overviews here.
Available Cohorts:
Leadwell Senior Pastors: Next Gen - launches March 25
Leadwell Executive Pastors - launches April 8
Leadwell Senior Pastors: Finishing Well - launches April 29
Note: Cohorts are application-based. If you're interested, reach out at greg@ligongroup.com or schedule a call by selecting a time that works for you here.
I’m also thrilled to partner with Dave to bring the Pastor Smart Succession process to leaders navigating the succession zone. We’ll walk with you every step of the way, helping you design a tailored transition for your future.
If you’re beginning to explore what’s next, let’s connect! I’d love to learn more about your journey and discuss how we can support you. Email me at greg@ligongroup.com or schedule a call by selecting a time that works for you here.
Our 2025 calendar is filling fast—let’s start the conversation!