Frequently Asked Questions: 

To help you understand what we’re doing, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:

1. Why launch a new congregation in Mullica Hill / Swedesboro / Beckett?

Great question.  First, the latest demographic study has shown that approximately over 330,000 people live in Gloucester and Salem counties.  We could put a church on every corner and not affect all these lives!  Here are some astounding statistics:

* George Gallup estimates the American unchurched population is 195 million (making the U.S. the third largest unchurched nation in the world)

* No county in America has a greater percentage of churched people today than a decade ago.

* Half of all churches last year did not add one new member through "conversion growth".

* North America is the ONLY continent where Christianity is NOT growing!

Second, the Mullica Hill / Swedesboro / Beckett area is one of the fastest growing in the state.

Third, we have many attenders who drive from these communities to one of our current campuses.  While these people are just fine driving to Discovery, they are finding that their unchurched neighbors are much less likely to accept an invitation to drive up congested 295 or Rt 322 to Evesham or Washington Township. This new launch places Discovery right in the middle of one of the fastest growing areas in South Jersey, a short Sunday drive from Mullica Hill, Swedesboro, Woodstown or Pennsville.  It's even within driving distance of Delaware or West Chester.

Finally and foremost, planting churches is the call God placed on Discovery when it was just a dream in the diner.  It was never our intention to build just one ministry in one location.  Our dream was to plant at least 40 churches in 20 years – the multi-site strategy is the way we believe God’s called us to do that and even more.

2. Will starting another location hurt Discovery - Voorhees or Discovery - Township?

Another great question.  First, we realize that some of the almost 500 people who currently attend Township and Voorhees will eventually call the Swedesboro / Beckett / Mullica Hill campus their home.  How many will do that?  We can’t know for sure but our studies have shown that out of 900 on our mailing list, 52 people live in towns that are closer to Swedesboro.  Of those 52 people, 16 people are actively involved in some kind of ministry at one of our existing campuses.  Losing 16 people is difficult but not impossible to deal with.  These 16 people will have a year to train replacements and we’ll have plenty of people ready to go when the time comes for them to leave. 

Then again, unlike the typical church plant, we will not actually be “losing” anyone.  Those that call the Voorhees or Washington Twp. campus home and those that will eventually call the Swedesboro campus home will still be part of Discovery Church.  We’ll still see each other at New Community, in seminars and growth classes, at ministry meetings and practices, in small groups and at church-wide events.  We’ll still all be Discovery!

Secondly, in the last month or so, almost 97% of our visitors at the Voorhees and Township campuses came from those towns.  Discovery–Voorhees and Township truly has its feet squarely planted in its community.  Starting another campus can’t change that!

If anything, we expect the publicity and activity generated by starting this new campus will help Discovery–Voorhees and Township grow even more.  Plus, don’t forget the principles of giving and following God’s will.  When you give and make sacrifices, God will bless.  When you follow His will you can’t help but see results.  It’s a win-win situation!!!

3. How does the “multi-site strategy” work?

Discovery will join an estimated 1200 churches nationwide that are working with this concept: one church (meaning one staff, one leadership team, one budget) meeting in multiple locations, with the various sites developing unique personalities yet sharing the same "brand identity" and DNA.

A full description of the "multi-site strategy" can be found on our website (www.discoverychurchnj.com/multisite.htm) but basically, here's how it works. 

There is one staff, one leadership team and one budget for a certain number of sites in one geographical area.  Each of these geographical areas will have 4-6 “campuses” that share resources and support ministries.  In our case the four campuses will be in Voorhees, Washington Township, Beckett/Swedesboro and Moorestown . 

The teaching pastors (currently Randy & Gary - we are looking to hire a third) will rotate between campuses while a Campus Pastor will stay “at home” and be responsible for the overall administration, ministry and spiritual growth of the campus. Each Campus Pastor serves as the "face with the place” and they will host the large group events and weekend services at each church campus, assist with the administration of the discipleship, equipping and small group ministries for that campus, as well as serve as the liaison to the larger community in which the facility is located.  All staff members will ultimately be responsible to the Management Team or Elders of Discovery Church.

For example, in our current situation, let's say "Bill" is the Campus Pastor at the Swedesboro campus.  He is at that campus every Sunday and oversees or administrates that location.  While Randy (one of teaching pastors) teaches a three week series in Voorhees, Gary (another teaching pastor) does the same in Swedesboro - then they switch.  During the week, all the locations come together at a central location (the “hub”) for New Community, the ladies ministry, music practice, leadership training or a Worship & Praise Night.   Of course, two keys to this strategy are small groups and a good administrative team at each campus.

4. What about New Community, Ladies Ministry, Student Ministry?

The weekly ministries of each campus will be shared.  For instance, Valerie Clark (Gary’s wife) and her team coordinate a ladies ministry that meets at our office (centrally located to Voorhees, Washington Township, Beckett/Swedesboro and Moorestown.  New Community also meets at our office as do the large group meetings of the youth and men’s ministries.  Of course, small groups will meet all over the place!

5. How are we going to staff the Mullica Hill / Swedesboro / Beckett campus site?

God, in his sovereignty, must have known about this well before we did.  In the last few months He has brought people to Discovery that are leaders in ministry, small groups and Creative Arts.  We have two lay leaders who are amazing teachers and speakers.  We’ve had more leaders, singers and actors join the team in the last few months than in the whole first year!  When the dust settles down, each campus will have a Campus Pastor (we call them “the face with the place”), worship teams, a Small Groups and Children’s Director plus all the technical and support ministry teams required.  As mentioned previously, the teaching pastors will rotate between campuses.

6. Describe the Sunday Services at the new campus.

Sunday mornings will be identical to what we already do at the Voorhees and Township campuses.  Every weekend service Discovery does in any location is designed to be a safe place to bring unchurched friends to hear interesting, relevant talks based on God's word. These timely messages are complimented with music, drama and multi-media and the extensive use of the Arts.  In short, what you see in Voorhees is exactly what will be at Washington Twp, and in Beckett, etc.

7. Where will we meet?

Good question?  Got any ideas?  It could be a school, a community center or a movie theater.  To get an idea of how church in a movie theater works, go to http://www.regalcinemedia.com/churchvideopage.asp and click on the appropriate link.

7. What about the Children's Program at the new site?

Pam Peoples (our new children’s Director) and her team have done an awesome job of moving toward our goal of making Kidzone! (our ministry for children ages birth through fifth grade) the best hour of a child's week. That goal will not change and will, in fact, be duplicated at Swedesboro / Beckett / Mullica Hill.

8. How will small groups function at the new campus?

Small groups will continue to be our primary vehicle for assimilation, community, pastoral care and fellowship.  Our desire is to connect people in small groups where they actually do life and ministry within their geographic area.

9. Where will the resources for the new launch come from?

The generous people of Discovery Church will be prayerfully and sacrificially giving 'above & beyond' during a capital campaign in 2006 called 'The Discovery Adventure.'  Each family should pray about what God wants them to give toward our financial goal of $40,000. 

Once the Swedesboro / Beckett / Mullica Hill campus gets established we believe it will be self-supporting and contribute to the financial needs of our overall ministry as well as the next campus in Beckett/Swedesboro or Moorestown .  You should also know that all the offerings from each campus are pooled together.  This gives the new, smaller congregations the same financial benefits as the more established, larger ones.  There is one budget and one leadership.

10. Are there plans to launch more regional congregations or campuses?

Yes, but not right away.  Our goal of 40 plants in 20 years needs to keep moving forward but in God’s timing.  In order for the next campus to open (Moorestown) we need four essential ingredients: a willing core of Christ-followers, the proven leadership to lead them, a place to meet, and the finances that will get the campus going.

11. Why hold the services on Sunday mornings?

While we still believe that we will eventually have a Saturday night service option, our surveys show that the majority of people – especially the unchurched - still prefer to attend church on Sundays. Since our goal is to reach new people and increase the size of heaven, it just makes sense to reach them at a time that is most convenient for them, not for us.

12. When do we get started?

Our prayer strategy and “The Discovery Adventure” campaign will begin in January 2006.  The final dates have yet to be assigned but the plan is to have a few preview or practice services in the Fall of 2006 and then the first regular, weekly services at Discovery – Swedesboro / Beckett / Mullica Hill will begin thereafter.  This schedule worked well in Voorhees and Township – why stop a good thing?

13. What should I pray about?

You can pray right now for wisdom for each of the key leaders in this endeavor.  Also pray for the right team to be formed and the necessary leadership to rise to the occasion in both our existing campuses as well as the new one. 

Specifically, we need people (Church Plant Missionaries!!!) to give at least one weekend a month to serve as greeters, Café workers, Bookstore staff, sound and light techs, set-up crews, children’s and nursery workers or prayer room hosts.  Some people – especially those who plan to attend the Swedesboro campus – should sign on for every week – that would be an answer to prayer too.  Small group leaders, vocalists, musicians and actors are also needed.  And we need to raise $40,000.  That should give you a good start in making a prayer list for us!

I hope and trust that you will pray for me and for the leadership of our church as we move forward in the journey God has called us to take. This is truly a bold move into our future and one that we are all excited about here at Discovery.

God’s best!

Randy

Lead Pastor, Discovery Church

Following is an article that further explains the multi-site strategy.  The article is written by Dave Ferguson, the lead pastor at Community Christian Church in Naperville, Romeoville, and Montgomery, Illinois .

Lyle Schaller describes, in his book "Discontinuity and Hope: Radical Change and the Path to the Future," what a long-time resident might say while showing a guest around town.

 

Yesterday. "That's the First National Bank at the corner of Main and Washington, and directly across from it is First Church, where we have been members since we moved here thirty years ago. The college is up on the hill, our hospital is about a half mile to the west, and our doctor has his office in that building over there."

Today. "That's the First National Bank, but I haven't been there for years.  We do all our banking at a branch supermarket where we buy groceries. We're members of First Church, but we go to their east-side campus, which is near our house. We have one congregation but three meeting places-a small one on the north side, the big one out where we live, and the old building downtown here.

 

The old college on the hill is now a university. This is their main campus, but they also offer classes at three other locations. We're members of an HMO that has doctors in five locations, but my primary-care physician is in a branch about a mile from where we live. I've never been in the main hospital except to visit a couple of friends."

This illustrates the direction our world is going-our institutions are growing larger and smaller simultaneously, blending the strength that size offers with the comfort and convenience of smaller, closer venues. This is one example of what Jim Collins in "Built to Last" called "the genius of the AND," the paradoxical view that allows you to pursue both A and B simultaneously.

While developing our multi-site church, we discovered eight other advantages that all demonstrate the genius of principle we call "the AND. "

Brand new AND trusted brand

It was a great day when Krispy Kreme doughnuts opened a store in our area. I'd heard how good they were, but I never tasted one until one of their stores opened nearby. The occasion was doubly exciting because it was brand new store opening, and it was offering a brand I knew about and wanted to try.

We've found a similar dynamic with the multi-site church. It has the upside of what used to be denominational loyalty, which was prominent in yesteryear but now is found in congregational loyalty. The particular congregation is the trusted brand, and the opening of a new site makes it brand new.

When we started our second site, we sent out 50,000 pieces of mail to announce the opening. We had 465 attendees. When we launched our second site, our south campus, the response was even better. We did similar announcements and mailings, and we had 565 attend the first celebration service. At least part of this improved response was due to the combination of our being a trusted brand while offering something brand new.

Staff with generalists AND specialists

New churches usually begin with one church planter, a generalist who has to oversee everything. If there is a team, it might include those over broad areas: a worship leader or perhaps a children's pastor.

The multi-site church, however, allows you to start a new location with the existing staff in place. Instead of hiring more generalists, you add specialists such as technical arts, administrator, or director of creative arts for children.

The big win is that now all locations have the benefit of the generalists, and the added specialists! When we added our second site, we brought on specialists like a teaching pastor, adult small groups pastor, administrator, and a director of creative arts for children. When we started a third site (at the active adult lifestyle community), we added a specialist in the area of senior's ministry, and the whole church (every location) benefited from the added expertise.

Last year at Carillon, for instance, we celebrated the baptisms of more than a dozen people, all of them more than 70 years old.

Less cost AND greater impact

Financially, a new campus is tremendously cost effective. When we started our north campus (our first) we spent lots of money on staff, equipment, and marketing.

At our first celebration service, as mentioned, we had 465 attendees. Three months later our attendance had leveled off at about 180, 80 percent of them previously unchurched.

When we started our south campus (our second site), we spent less money, added specialists to our existing staff team, and a similar marketing blitz.  We had 565 at the first service, but more importantly, after three months we were averaging 360 at our south campus, again 80 percent unchurched.

Doing the math, that's 39 percent retention at our first location, and 64 percent retention at our second location. Our second campus cost less money to start, reached more people, and resulted in a greater retention. This is a result our already having staff in place-music minister, small group minister, and children's minister-who oversaw both locations. Our ministry was a lot better organized than when we did our first plant.

New church vibe AND existing church punch

Lyle Schaller told us, "The most important thing you offer to this new work is your church culture." At first I wasn't sure what he was talking about.  He meant expectations and excellence. We were able to launch the second site with the same level of excellence that it took us eight years to achieve at our north campus.

When we started the north campus, we did not even have a complete worship team. The children's ministry consisted of volunteers from other churches and students from a nearby Bible college. We had 35 people involved in small groups.

When we started the second site, we had a full band, multi-media, drama, and hospitality teams, and a full children's ministry staff. We had 10 leaders waiting to start small groups-capacity for more than 100 ungrouped people.

One surprise was that excellence flows both ways. Innovations at the new campus inspired improvements at our existing campus. For example, the hospitality at south was much better than at north, so we made improvements at both.

Move there AND stay here

Growing churches and real estate have this in common: "location, location, location." Many existing churches, particularly older churches, are located in communities with little growth. These churches look across town where new development is happening and they see the potential. Perhaps many of their members are moving there.

Faced with this, they have two major options: sell the property they have and move to the area where the growth is, or keep the site they have as well as start another site where the growth is occurring.

That's what St. Paul's Church did in Aurora, Illinois, a community of over 100,000 people. The church was located in a rapidly changing neighborhood, with a growing Hispanic population. The west side of town was where all the rapid growth was.

After looking at their options, instead abandoning their existing site to move to the booming west side, they "moved there and stayed here." They kept a campus in the downtown neighborhood with an intentional outreach to the growing Hispanic community, and they also launched a west campus in one of the faster growing areas.

More need AND more support

As we think about a new site, we lay out a matrix of blank index cards, representing the positions we need to fill in order for us to launch. The increased opportunities create a vacuum that challenges more people to step in to serve in voluntary leadership roles in all areas, such as children's, hospitality, and small groups.

On our very first Sunday at our new location, after the service was over, people started stacking the chairs, unprompted by any announcement. They could see the need and wanted to help. One man who helped was Bob, who had never really plugged in at the first location. Soon he agreed to be a part of the set-up and tear-down team. He clearly saw he was needed.

This, of course, is true of any new church start-up. What makes multi-site unique is that the existing church already has coaches in place who are there to support, encourage, and organize volunteers such as Bob. Having a leader to care for them and train them makes volunteers more willing to help.

More outreach AND more maturity

While people will drive long distances to join the weekly celebration service at a large church, if they live more than 20 minutes away (minutes NOT miles), their ability to serve and to invite friends is diminished.

Tim and Lynne were nominally involved, falling short of our goal of being "3-C Christ Followers," which we define as being faithful to celebrate (worship), connect (small group) and contribute (time and resources). When we started a new site within walking distance of their house, however, everything seemed to change. Now Tim and Lynne made our celebration services a regular part of their week. They not only connected with a small group, but they both are now leading groups. And they began to contribute financially and evangelistically in ways they never had before.

 

Homogenous AND Heterogeneous

I love the multi-campus church because it holds the potential to eliminate the struggle over the homogenous principle. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois is a multi-campus church. This old downtown church used the multi-campus approach as away to remain in the heart of a changing urban center while at the same time move toward the growing fringe. The multi-site church allows people to come and worship with a group of people a lot like them, but still be a part of a church the has a diverse ethnic and socio-economic population.

 

The multi-site church allows people to worship in a context that is culturally relevant and still be a part of a church that gives us a glimpse of Heaven.  The multi-campus church allows the seeker to clear the ecclesiastical hurdle of jumping from unchurched to churched and then later clear the sociological hurdle, whether it is ethnic or economical next. This allows us to reach more people within a homogenous setting but still over time allow them to be a part of heterogeneous church that represents the dream of God.

 

In short, the multi-site church reaches out to make both more Christians and more mature Christians."

Dave Ferguson is lead pastor at Community Christian Church in Naperville, Romeoville, and Montgomery, Illinois .

 

 

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