Mega-Churches, Multi-Site Churches, and the Smaller Church: Through the Eyes of the Smaller Church
In Part 1 of this mini-series on multi-site churches and the smaller churches in the community, I outlined two ways that larger churches and smaller churches might Multiply Kingdom Ministry Together.
In that post, I suggested ways that the larger church, in addition to the multi-site model, might partner with and advance kingdom ministry in their community alongside of the smaller church.
Today, I’m wanting to offer the multi-site church leadership a perspective from the eyes of the smaller church leader.
Through the Eyes of the Smaller Church
Here’s what often occurs.
The larger church announces to their congregation and to the public that they are planting a multi-site campus in a new location in the community. The smaller church leaders hear about it when someone in their church says:
“Hey, I stumbled on the website of the big church in town and just learned that they’re establishing a multi-site campus location 5 blocks from us. What did you say when they approached you about this, pastor?”
The dumbfounded smaller church pastor is clueless. And, being human, he is discouraged. He stammers something like, “Uh, er, well…this is the first I heard of it…”
Before the mega-church moves into the vicinity of the smaller church with a campus site, could there be conversations about the proposed campus site with the smaller churches in the proposed move-in area?
I’m not naïve. So, I can hear the leadership of the multi-site church responding to that suggestion with, “Well, there might be dozens of Evangelical churches within 10 miles of our proposed site. You don’t expect us to contact all of those, do you?”
Let’s ponder that response. If there are dozens of Evangelical churches in the proposed area, then is a multi-site campus in that area the best place for advancing kingdom impact?
Or, if there are indeed just a few, or one or two, smaller Evangelical churches in the proposed multi-site launch area, then why not sit down with the smaller church pastors and share the vision?
Perhaps out of that conversation, partnerships could form—partnerships like those suggested in yesterday’s post. Partnerships that allow the mega-church to advance the kingdom through empowering smaller churches in their community.
Perhaps the decision would still be made, for a variety of reasons, to plant the multi-site campus. At the very least, out of respect for fellow Evangelical pastors and sister churches, the smaller church leadership would have been consulted and made aware of the pending multi-site plant.
Pondering the Wal-Marting of the Church Community
Here’s what the mega-church leadership may not see, understand, or feel. To the smaller church pastor who is faithfully advancing the kingdom, the multi-site plant can seem like The Wal-Marting of the Church Community. 
Let’s think about what happens when a Wal-Mart moves into a smaller community. Yes, there are benefits. People get lower prices on some goods and commodities (and perhaps lesser workmanship and craftsmanship).
Yes, jobs are created (often less paying ones or low paying ones).
But there is a tradeoff.
When the big box store moves into town, the owners of the Mom and Pop stores go out of business. They not only lose their jobs—they lose their family business and all the sweat equity they put into it.
And, the community loses. The community loses the family feel which is swept up in the corporate world of the big box feel of Wal-Mart.
Now, I understand capitalism and I get the argument about “survival of the fittest.” However, would large corporations survive if not for tax abatements, eminent domain decisions that force people out of their homes so the Wal-Mart could be built, and other sweet deals?
I know, I digress into the business world…
But I think you get my point. The parallel is obvious. Does advancing the kingdom have to mean putting the smaller church out of kingdom business?
I can hear the Darwinian push-back, “But, if the smaller church is not ‘thriving,’ then step aside and let the ‘successful’ church get ‘er done!”
Well, whose definition of “thriving”? Whose definition of “successful”?
Is there a place for the smaller church in God’s kingdom?
As yesterday’s post noted, perhaps the larger church could more effectively advance Christ’s kingdom by resourcing, supporting, and empowering the smaller church in the community, instead of supplanting the smaller church.
Join the Conversation
Though it may not seem like it in today’s post, I repeat what I said yesterday: I am not against the theological concept of a multi-site church. I know this current multi-site model will continue.
I’m simply wondering out loud:
• What are additional ways that the mega-church with a multi-site model can advance kingdom ministry in cooperation with the smaller churches in the community?
• How can the mega-church with a multi-site model see life through the eyes of the smaller church? How can they empathize with the smaller church?
• Are there some unintended consequences of the multi-site model such as The Wal-Marting of the Church Community? And if so, how can these be minimized or mitigated?
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