Another of the churches that is participating in the fifth group of the Multi-site Churches Leadership Community is RiverTree Christian Church in Massillon, OH. At our recent meeting, the staff at RiverTree was only joking a little when they said that their multi-site strategy was predicated on the fact that people won't drive to another part of the city to attend church if it means crossing over into rival football territory. Of course real football fans totally get that. RiverTree's original campus provides apostolic oversite for the movement of mid-size faith communities they plan to multiply throughout their region using video venues. Currently, RiverTree serves 2600 people in 5 services with 2 venues at 2 sites. Written on the whiteboard next to their church name - "We want to make it hard to go to hell in Ohio!" You go RiverTree!
Others talk about "boundaries" that define areas of their community - in Charleston at Seacoast it is the bridges that cross from one area of town to another; in Denver at Pathways, Ron Johnson speaks of distinct neighborhoods that have differing needs and therefore differing styles of ministry that can be addressed through use of a multi-site program.
How and why does it work in your world?
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