If you’re a church leader considering launching or expanding a multisite ministry, you’re probably juggling a mix of excitement and uneasy questions. The idea of reaching more people by planting campuses in new communities is inspiring. But it comes with a big responsibility, right? Growing as a multisite church isn’t just about opening new doors; it’s about doing it in a way that’s healthy for your core church and sustainable for the long haul.
The multisite movement has grown from a novel concept into a widespread strategy, with more than 5,000 multisite churches in the U.S. today. That’s incredible! But here’s the thing: growth isn’t always easy. Without a clear plan and alignment, multisite campuses can run into major challenges, like financial strain, culture misalignment, and overworked teams.
Don’t worry though—that’s where strategic planning saves the day. To make the process less stressful and way more effective, Horizons Stewardship collaborated with our ministry partners, The Unstuck Group and GenerosityOS, to create a super helpful (and free!) resource for you, called Strategic Ministry Planning for Multisite Churches. It’s packed with proven strategies to help you expand thoughtfully, avoid common mistakes, and build thriving campuses.
We’re breaking down some of its most important points right here. Read on to get inspired and explore how to set your church up for successful multisite growth.
Why Strategic Planning Matters
First, let's talk about why you need a plan. Think about this for a minute: Would you build a house without drawing up blueprints? Of course not! The same goes for growing as a multisite church. Effective multisite ministry doesn’t happen on autopilot. It requires thoughtful preparation and ensuring everyone on your team is aligned around your “why.”
Expansion for the sake of expansion can lead to big issues. If your current church leadership, culture, or finances are strained, launching a campus isn’t going to fix those problems. Instead, they’ll likely multiply. But when you’ve got a mission-focused church that’s healthy at its core? That’s when you’re set up to replicate that health and spread it farther.
This is why going multisite isn’t about doing “more”—it’s about doing “better.” You’ve got to ensure your church is not only ready to grow but is also prepared for the challenges that come with it.
Avoiding the Common Pitfalls
Here’s something that’s super reassuring to know right now: You’re not alone in figuring this out! Churches of all sizes have walked this road before, and there’s so much we can learn from their successes... and their missteps.
Here are three common challenges churches face when expanding to multisite (and how you can avoid them):
1. Jumping in Too Quickly
We won’t sugarcoat it; there’s a lot of excitement when a church decides to go multisite. But sometimes, leaders act on that excitement without stopping to critically assess whether they’re ready. Expanding too quickly often leads to thinning resources, scrambling for staff, and struggling campuses. That sounds stressful, doesn’t it?
Slow down! This resource emphasizes the importance of building a sturdy foundation first. Start with something like a readiness assessment. That’s a simple way for you and your team to figure out where you’re thriving and where you might need to hit the brakes.
2. Overlooking the Finances
Money might not be your favorite topic, but it’s an unavoidable part of launching new campuses. Far too often, we’ve seen churches jump into expansion, assuming it’ll pay for itself. It probably won’t—not for a few years, anyway. On the other hand, too many churches, especially those in the mainline, fail to create an expectation that the new campus will be self-sufficient within a few years. Either way, creating a clear financial plan and campus generosity development strategy is essential both to the success of the campus and the discipleship that worship there.
This guide will break down practical strategies for funding new campuses. That includes setting realistic budgets, planning for financial dips at your primary campus, and staying prepared for slower-than-expected growth. It’s all about being proactive, not reactive.
3. Losing Your Culture in Translation
Here’s a harsh reality to accept: Your church’s culture doesn’t automatically come along for the ride when you open a new campus. If you’re not intentional about carrying over your values, mission, and DNA, it’s all too easy for new campuses to feel out of step with your main location.
The secret weapon? A Campus Ministry Playbook. This is your roadmap for maintaining alignment across campuses. It includes things like your mission, core values, leadership structure, and practical systems. It ensures that, regardless of the number of campuses you launch, people entering your church recognize the heartbeat of your ministry.
Putting the Right Team in Place
A big part of leading well as a multisite church is surrounding yourself with the right leaders. Teamwork does make the dream work!
When planting a new campus, at the very least, you’ll need these key roles covered:
- A Campus Pastor who’s all about building teams and relationships (Hint: you’ll want someone with a builder mindset here).
- A Children’s Director to make sure families and kids are engaged.
- A Worship Leader to create vibrant, inspiring services.
Beyond those roles, you’ll need a mix of high-capacity leaders who represent your church’s DNA and can replicate that at your new locations. Sending your “A-players” is always worth it.
Strength in Numbers (a.k.a. Metrics)
You’ve probably heard it before, but we’ll say it again because it’s THAT important: What gets measured gets managed. Data will be your best friend as you grow, helping you track what’s working and what might need to be retooled.
Some of the most important stats to monitor include:
- Attendance and engagement levels at each campus.
- How your financial health is shaping up.
- Volunteer strength and leadership capacity.
- Alignment with your church’s broader mission.
The resource goes into detail about why these numbers matter and how you can use them to adjust strategies.
The Power of Partnership
Here’s one more reason you can feel confident stepping into this process. The resource we’re talking about isn’t just well-written; it’s a collaboration between significant players on the church strategy scene, The Unstuck Group, our sister organization GenerosityOS, and Horizons Stewardship.
These organizations bring decades of combined experience to the table. In addition to its multisite savvy, Unstuck Group is known for helping hundreds of churches worldwide with clarity and direction in their ministry goals. At the same time, Horizons Stewardship and our non-denominational focused sister organization, GenerosityOS, specialize in crafting sustainable financial plans for long-term impact, such as growing disciples while funding your ministry needs. We have the experience to help churches like yours thrive as you go multisite.
The result is a guide packed with practical advice, case studies, and step-by-step strategies that will ease your mind and equip your church for healthy growth.
It’s Your Turn to Grow Confidently
Whether you’re gearing up to open your very first campus or you’re managing a network of locations, there’s one thing that remains true across the board: good strategic planning is non-negotiable. When your team is aligned, equipped, and prepared, you’re not just growing in numbers; you’re growing in your ability to serve God’s mission.
The best part? You don’t have to tackle this alone. This free guide, Strategic Ministry Planning for Multisite Churches, was made for leaders like you. It’s practical, proven, and rooted in real-world insights from two trusted organizations.
Are you ready to take the next step? Download your copy today. Your church’s future is worth it, and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for your ministry.