Church Location:
West Coast.
Please list the multi-services that you currently have:
Saturday, 6 PMSunday, 8:30 AM
Sunday, 10 AM
Sunday, 11:30 AM
*During the Easter Weekend, we offered eight services.
When did you start holding these multiple services?
Approximately 4 years ago, when moving into our current campus.
Was the reason for adding multiple services logistics (size
constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
Our primary reason involved expanding our reach and giving
options for people to attend. Multiple services also provided us the
opportunity to eventually address size constraints, even though that was not
the initial reason for starting them.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you
have experienced:
PRO: Multiple services provide multiple options in a
multiple-option world.PRO: Multiple services provide a place for multiple volunteers to serve.
CON: Multiple services create the need to train multiple volunteers to serve.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a pastor contemplating multiple services?
The Leadership Team of the church must “buy-in” to multiple services and generate a positive momentum in communication, service, and community connection.
Church Location:
Central
Please list the multi-services that you currently have:
Sunday, 10:45 AM (English) and 1:00 PM (Spanish). We have on our pastoral staff a Spanish
speaking PCG pastor to meet the needs of a large section of our community that
speaks only Spanish.
We held 3 Easter services to accommodate crowds for that
special day and are considering two Sunday morning English services or a
possible contemporary Saturday evening service.
When did you start holding these multiple services?
5 Years ago
Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size
constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
Both
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you
have experienced:
Pro- More options are available to the community.
It is cost effective vs. building a larger structure.
It is evidence of a thriving healthy church.
Con-
It is more taxing on the hired and volunteer staff (IT IS
NOT FOR THE WEAK HEARTED!)It requires a higher level of proficiency and quality of help in the ministries.
It definitely expands your borders.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a pastor contemplating
multiple services?
Even if you are not at the point where you need two services
right now, a vision, plans, and preparation should already be underway for that
to happen. I learned it takes time to acclimate your staff to the idea of
multiple services, as well as swallowing the idea of more work. This is
something you cannot force down their throat; they must own it themselves.Also, it is very cost effective to run multiple services vs. building a new building. In my opinion, you get the most “bang for your buck” when you use your facility more.
You must sell it to your leadership first. In my case I
shared and spent time imparting it into my elder and deacon teams. This is done
through constantly casting vision and ongoing training.
Church Location:
East
Please list the multi-services that you currently have?
Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11 AM
When did you start holding these multiple service?
2004 (9 years ago)
Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size
constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
Due to the building size, we needed to accommodate for our
church growth. The shoe does not tell the foot how big to grow. The building
had to work for us. When we moved to our new campus, we kept the 2 services,
because it became a good option for people and made room for more growth.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you
have experienced:
PRO: Allows your church to attract more people and give them
more options based on their weekend schedules, commitments, etc.
CON: Be careful not to grow 2 congregations in the same
place. There can be a disconnection. For example: “I didn’t know they went here.”
This is where small groups came in for us; our concept became, “Small group
fellowship, large group worship.”
What is one piece of advice you would share with a pastor contemplating
multiple services?
Prepare your leadership team a minimum of 6 months out for the
transition. Build the team, making sure they are on board and understand the
commitment level. We planned for 6 months and then did a strategic launch date.
We asked our core group to attend both services for 2 months to help birth the
new service, bring some continuity, and set the atmosphere.Church Location:
Central
Please list the multi-services that you currently have:
Saturday: 5 PM Sundays: 9 and 11 AM
When did you start holding these multiple services?
7 years ago. Our 3rd service (Saturday evenings) just launched
this year on Easter. Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
In the beginning it was to give us more room, because we were out of space in our auditorium. However, in adding a 2nd and 3rd service, it not only gave us space, but it also added to the dynamic of the different personalities we began to reach. Even with the services designed alike, each service began to take on a whole different feel and personality of their own, reaching completely different people.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you have experienced.
PRO: You can stay in the facility you are in and continue to grow.
CON: More work on your current church staff.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a Pastor contemplating multiple services:
Make sure that you are training new teams and volunteers. One group of staff and pastors cannot do all of the services at your church. We were able to carry a lot of the load with 2 services, but our Saturday night volunteer crew has had to be a new group. This is something that our pastoral staff is still working on, developing that team to a complete foundational level for that new service—meaning it can run all by itself. This is important so that everyone on your staff can continue to grow, train, and release. Also, the service time choice is very important. We tried a couple of years ago to run a 3rd service on Sunday morning at 1 PM. I would never suggest this. If you want to do 3 services on Sunday, do it all before lunch. We (our staff) were all “zombies” between 2 and 3 PM and people just did not want to go to church in our area on Sunday afternoon. We tried for about a year and never could get it over 100 people. That was our average. It's funny, with our recent new Saturday night launch, we started with 300. Time is important!
Church Location:
Central
Please list the multi-services that you currently have:
Sunday: 9:00 AM, 10:15 AM and 11:45 AM
When did you start holding these multiple services?
April of 2012
Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size
constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
Two Reasons: 1] The Perspective of Growth and keeping my congregational mentality on Multiplication, Growth, and Evangelism is the most important reason. We have always been proactive with adding services and challenging our people to fill it. We have never had to remove a service to date. Once we launch it; we stick with it no matter what.
2] There are some logistical issues with our facility as
well. Parking and our kid spaces are smaller.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you
have experienced:
Pro: It sends a positive message to your people: don’t get
comfortable; we are growing. It also allows for more potential leaders to step into roles and serve.
Con: It is harder to administrate the logistics of multiple
services. Quality Control becomes more of an issue.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a pastor contemplating multiple services?
Be sure you have the right Leadership structure before you launch multiple services. If your Staff Team cannot reproduce themselves now, don’t launch multiple services, but if you have a Team that can reproduce, multiple services is the best way for them to train up others to serve.
Church Location:
East
Please list the multi-services you currently have:
Sunday: 8:30 AM & 11 AM.When did you start holding these multiple services?
October 2012
Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
We were in a season of growth, and were constrained by our seating limitations. We were running over 80 percent full in the 11 AM service. We also felt it may appeal to those who like to get up earlier, as well as present an option for anyone who may have afternoon engagements or family events, to still attend a service on Sunday without missing altogether for the sake of a 1 PM reunion.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you have experienced.
PRO: An earlier service created the opportunity for our children’s ministry workers who normally work during the 11 AM service to participate in worship and the ministry of the Word. Although the 8:30 crowd is significantly smaller than the main service, it has opened up many more seats to be filled. It has taken our average for the morning from around 300-325 in the winter, to this March’s average of around 380 for both services. On another note, the earlier service has become a sort of “trial run” or sound check for the main service. We seem to get most or all of the kinks worked out by the 11 AM service.
CON: The atmosphere is a huge challenge! Most everyone there is far less energetic than in the 11 AM service. The older saints that attend are reserved, while everyone else (sometimes including the ministry team) seems very tired. While we try to mirror the worship set and sermon in this service, there is a marked difference in the atmosphere. The excitement, buzz, and effect we normally experience at 11 AM haven’t translated yet. This makes it very hard to minister, whether through the Word or music, as the usual “flow” of service we experience does not seem present. Also, many of the people sit in the back of the sanctuary, leaving literally 12+ rows of empty chairs between the stage and congregation. Pastor has begun to remedy this by specifically requesting they sit closer.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a pastor
contemplating multiple services:
Don’t walk by your sense as you endeavor! If you go by what
you see (lack of involvement or energy) or don’t see (people in every chair),
or what you sense (sometimes NOTHING), then you will be very quickly
disheartened! Choose to understand that if only 30 people attend, you have
effectively just opened up 30 new seats in your other service for newcomers or
home folks! Every seat we have opened up has been filled by someone! And no
doubt, someone who was able to find room in the main service has come to know
Christ! Therefore, the work, the early hours, and the commitment are not in
vain! Church Location:
Central
Please list the multi-services that you currently have:
Sunday: 9 AM and 11 AM
When did you start holding these multiple services?
November of 2012
Was the reason for adding multiple services: logistics (size
constraints), to expand your reach, or both?
There were many reasons why we went to multiple services. One
of the biggest reasons is that we were running out of space in our sanctuary.
We were 80 percent full. Another reason is that we wanted to provide other
opportunities for people to worship because of work schedules. It also provides
people with an opportunity to serve in one service and attend the other.
Please list a PRO and a CON of multiple services that you have
experienced:
Pros Provides more space for our guests.
Provides more opportunities to serve.
Provides more parking spaces.
There is more excitement because of the growth.
Provides more worship opportunities.
Creates and raises up other Leaders.
Cons
At least one service will be less attended. Momentum will decease.
The full feeling is not there.
Pastoral staff can become worn out by the second service.
One service seems to be a stepchild.
More staff and volunteers are needed.
Pastor can become burned out.
Services have a time limit.
What is one piece of advice you would share with a Pastor contemplating multiple services:
Don’t do it until it is necessary.
Timing is the key.
Training the staff to handle the pressure of multiple services.
Requires more staff and volunteers.
Children and nursery workers are essential to both services.
Raising up other leaders is the most effective tool in the success of the multiple services.
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