Review of A Multi-Site Road Trip

Review of A Multi-Site Road Trip

Publications abound on new ways to do church, innovative ministry, and forms of leadership. Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon, and Warren Bird, add to this array of material, and in doing so, provide church leaders with an invaluable resource on the concept of the multi-site church.

This book chronicles of the research that the authors have done on more than 100 multi-site churches, based on observation, interviews, and reflection on the practices of these churches.

“Multi-site is the new normal” (11), claim the authors. While the concept of one church meeting in various locations to many is a new idea, the practical outworking of this is not. Throughout the book, the authors not only describe what multi-site churches are, but show what these churches are doing that makes them successful. Far from being only theoretical, the authors profile multi-sites churches to show how they are working. This is perhaps the most important aspect of the book.

The book is divided into 15 chapters, with an introduction and epilogue:

Introducing the Road Trip

1. The Multi-site Variety Pack
2. The Church Planting Versus the Campus Launch Dilemma
3. Getting Multi-Site Into Your Genes
4. You Want to Launch a Campus Where?
5. Changing Your Community One Campus at a Time
6. Internet Campuses-Virtual or Real Reality?
7. Fun with Technology
8. Structure Morphing
9. Going Global
10. Shared Communicator
11. Merger Campuses-No Longer a Bad Idea
12. Two-or More-At Once
13. Multiplied, Multiple Leaders
14. Are You Sure this Isn’t a Sin?
15. Grandchildren Already?

Epilogue:Predictions of What’s Next

There are also appendices suggesting additional resources and providing various campus pastor job descriptions.

I will note several highlights that I found important. Chapter 6, on internet campuses, is especially informative. While internet campuses have been used by some churches for a number of years, this concept is just starting to get attention. While the authors show the benefits of an internet campus, such as involving people where they live, seeing the internet as a specific region and target population,the ability to reach into international ares, and relative cost, they by means disregard the criticisms of the internet campus. Problems such as addressing issues of discipleship, the use of technology, and the connections that are needed by people. This is a common thread through each case study. The authors not only write about the successes of various multi-site churches, but also about the failures and problems that these churches have encountered along the way.In chapter 8, the authors deal with the issue of organizational structure in utilizing a multi-site. They deal with issues surrounding the campus pastor, finances, and support. These are some of the most practical issues that churches ask when trying to understand the multi-site phenomenon. The remaining chapters contain information that is just as useful, and will be of great use to church leaders.

Another point that comes from this research is that multi-sites are not just for megachurches, although many of the churches profiled are.

This book is a great introduction to the concept of multi-site churches, As stated earlier, this is not a book on just why multi-sites are working, but an honest appraisal of the challenges that are encountered. With the effects of globalization, technology, and cultural change, multi-sites can provide a tremendous opportunity for churches to increase their mission in a way that can be effective and substantive. The authors are to be commended on their research,and hopefully more books based on field research of multi-site churches will come as a result of this book. This book is highly recommended to pastors, church leaders, and those involved in evangelism research as a staring point to understand the practical aspects of multisite ministry.