FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is a multi-site church?
A multi-site church is one church meeting in multiple locations. A multi-site church shares a common vision, budget, and leadership.
Why are we becoming a multi-site church?
Our vision at Southeast Christian Church is to connect people to Jesus and one another. A few years ago our leaders looked into the future and asked the question, "how can we continue to reach new people and connect more people throughout the Louisville area to Jesus and one another in the years ahead?"
To answer that question, we spent some time identifying the barriers our church faces in reaching new people for Christ. In our research, we found 2 common responses people give for not attending church at Southeast. The first is,“it’s too big.” The second is, "it's too far." Perhaps because of the size of the parking lot, the lines in the nursery, or the sheer number of people in the congregation, the size of our church has become a barrier to reaching new people for Christ. And our church members, living in nearly every county surrounding the city of Louisville, often find it hard to invite neighbors, friends, and co-workers to make a more than 20 minute drive to church on the weekend.
The solution; become a multi-site church. About 2,000 churches in America have discovered in recent years a way to overcome similar barriers to growth, and that is by expanding church to multiple locations. The multi-site approach combines what is best about a large church with what is best about a smaller church. With a multi-site approach, we will now offer smaller and closer, regional-based campuses throughout the surrounding communities.
After seeking God’s will through prayer and research, we are convinced that meeting in multiple locations will provide the greatest opportunity to continue connecting new people to Jesus and one another.
Where will the first new regional church campus be located?
The first regional campus is located just off I-65, at exit 4 in Southern Indiana at the corner of U.S. 31 and New Albany-Charlestown Pike. Southern Indiana has more than 36,000 people living within a 5-mile radius of this location that claim to have no faith involvement. And for the more than 1,200 Southeast members living in Southern Indiana, this provides greater opportunities for them to invest and serve in their own community and invite their friends, neighbors and co-workers who have no church involvement to visit Southeast for the first time.
What will the new regional church campus look like?
This campus will hold weekend worship services and provide children’s ministry, student ministry, and small groups ministry. The weekend services will have live worship and live testimonies. The sermon will be on high definition video, recorded from the Saturday evening service at the Louisville campus at 920 Blankenbaker Pkwy. The newly constructed building will have 85,000 finished square feet with a worship auditorium seating nearly 1,400.
Southeast Christian Church will continue to be one church, but will now meet in multiple locations. We will continue to be one staff, governed by one elder board, giving to one budget, and sharing one vision.
Who will lead the new regional church campus?
Each campus will continue to be governed by the current elder board and led by a Campus Pastor whose main focus will be to minister to that particular community and lead the staff of that campus. The Campus Pastor for our Indiana location is Rusty Russell. Rusty has served on staff at Southeast in a variety of roles over the last 10 years, including administration, teaching and sermon preparation.
How will the regional church campus be staffed?
The Indiana Campus has several staff that are part of the Southeast Christian Church team, but whose focus is on ministering to the people and community of Southern Indiana.
Are there plans to launch more regional campuses in the future?
Yes! As God leads and opens doors of opportunity, we pray that in the years to come an additional three to four campuses in other regions surrounding Metro Louisville will allow us to connect new people to Jesus and one another.
What about other churches in the area?
We believe there will be opportunities to work with other churches in the area to make a positive difference in the life of the Southern Indiana community. We have no interest in attracting Christians who are already involved in Bible-believing churches. We hope that together we can reach the community for Jesus and that all Christ-honoring churches will continue to grow and reach new people for Christ.
When will the first new regional church campus open?
If plans continue to go smoothly, Lord willing, the Indiana campus should open in early 2009!
How can I get involved?
Pray - In our mission to reach people in a new community, youcan pray for God’s leading, for other churches in the area and forpeople who don’t have a church home.
Invite - Think about friends and family who live in SouthernIndiana and use this opportunity to invite them to the new campus aswell as the current Southeast campus as we aim to connect new peopleto Jesus and one another.
Volunteer - The new campus will need dozens of volunteers inorder to adequately provide a worship service and children’s and youthprogramming and to continue to offer small groups and serviceopportunities. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church and let us know.