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Unique Learnings About Reproducing

Written by Dave Ferguson

I am still on a high from Exponential 2009!  I know many of you joined us in Orlando because I talked to so many of you.  It was great being with over 3000 church planting leaders, learning about the art of movements from church leaders all over the globe and seeing over 500 people come forward in the closing session to commit their lives to church planting.  I’m blown away trying to envision the result of lives that will be changed when all of those leaders who made commitments use their time and resources to plant new churches.  The Kingdom won a great victory!  If you missed it, you can catch some of the podcasts and mark your calendars now to attend the Exponential Conference on April 19-21, 2010. 

I’m also on a high from getting to connect with all the Lead Pastors of NewThing churches at our NewThing Gathering here in Chicago this month.  One of the highlights was a session led by three of our NewThing Lead Pastors:  Dave Dummit (2|42 Community), Brian Moll (Forefront Church) and Greg Lee (Suncrest Church).  Each of their churches  has recently reproduced a new site so we asked them to share what they’ve learned about reproducing.  There were many of the familiar lessons about needing a campus pastor, raising the funds early enough and importance of the launch team.  But there were also some unique lessons they shared that I had not heard before.  So I thought I would pass along some unique lessons for reproducing in hopes that they will help you as you plan for reproduction at your church.

Unique Lesson#1:  Vision-Casting Starts at Home

We all know how important vision is to the success of any new venture.  Vision allows people to see the future before it is ever realized.  We know we must do a good job of communicating the vision for the new site or church to our staff, key volunteers and significant donors, but sometimes we forget to communicate the vision to some people even more important – our families.  When we decide to start a new site or church there will be great gains but also necessary sacrifices that must be made for a long period of time.  It is important that our spouses and children understand what the future will look like. The vision for how this will change hundreds of people’s lives and how it will require extra hours and commitment needs to first be sold and bought into at home.  If you don’t get the buy-in of those closest to you it will be hard to realize the vision.

Unique Lesson #2:  Tension is Normal

As you move toward reproducing a new site or church there are a few predicable tensions that you will feel.  When you feel the following tensions don’t be surprised; it is normal.

• Excellence vs. Reproducing

Everyone wants to reproduce excellence; and you should.  However, the reality is that when you are developing new artists and new leaders and giving them opportunity for the first time it will take some time for them to achieve the expected level of excellence.  The excellence will come, but it will take some time if you really believe in developing people and reproducing.

• Vision vs. “Win”

When starting a new site you will be tempted to communicate a vision for what is possible in terms of the number of new attenders.  The corresponding tension is to make sure that your church and leadership team feels like it is a “win” after the launch.  One solution is to manage expectations by not talking in terms of big numbers on opening day; instead, vision cast for changed lives.  This cannot be used as an alibi for under-performing, but realizing this tension helps you vision cast and assure a “win” for your team.

• Unity vs. Uniformity

Each new site or campus will eventually challenge the status quo and say that “things are different here.”  If you have an entrepreneurial leader as the campus pastor this is inevitable.  So, if you can foresee that ahead of time, figure out what is essential, agree on those things and then give your new campus freedom to create their own identity, you’ll alleviate some of the tension later.

Unique Lesson #3:  New Sites Provide New Learnings

There are lots of benefits to reproducing:  more people will find their way back to God; more people will step into leadership, and more people will mature in their faith!  But one benefit you might not expect is that a new site will provide new learnings for the existing site.  Your new site will be figuring out lots of things for the first time and in the process will come up with some new ways to do things that will be even better then the existing site.  Learn from those things and both locations will win!

Unique Lesson #4:  There will be Doubts, Don't Waver

When starting a new site or church there will be highs and lows.  There will be some events that you plan where you have more people than you expect and other times you will have no one show up.  Yes, literally no one.  During those times when things are not working the way you think they should you will be tempted to give in to doubt or give up completely.  Don’t waver. Don’t give up.  Highs and lows; wins and losses are part of the journey.  If you have a good plan, a good team and good coaching you should remain confident in your plan for launching this new location.