Accidental Multi-site

The following is adapted from Greg's message at Willow Creek last week and will be included in the book "The Multi-site Church Revolution" to be published by Zondervan in May.

Seacoast never intended to become a multi-site church. In 2001 we were averaging 3,500 people in three weekend services, and we were in the process of building a 4,000-seat auditorium. At that point we ran into a brick wall of resistance from neighbors whose slogan became, “Not in my backyard.” The debate became front-page news under the headline “Seacoast Plans Building Twice the Size of Wal-Mart.” (Being compared to WalMart in our community is a major insult)

The issue finally came to a head at a meeting before Town Council. Our Senior Pastor Greg Surratt (my older brother) delivered a beautiful speech that night. He appealed to God, to country, to apple pie and all that is good in America. He referred to our city's nickname, the Holy City, where no building can be taller than the tallest church steeple. He reminisced about a time when cities were built around churches rather than churches being shut out by cities. He finished with a heartfelt plea to stand up and do the right thing. The Council was so moved that they soundly voted us down!

“I went home, drew the blinds and put on some country music,” Greg later told us. "I didn’t know what to do. ‘Not in my back yard’ had transformed the way we do church. We couldn't grow more in our current location, and those who opposed us were the target of our ministry–exactly the kind of people God had called us to reach.”

Greg had heard about churches who were experimenting with videocast to do church in more than one location. He grabbed a friend, Byron Davis, and they did a whirlwind weekend of visits. They flew to San Diego to experience a Saturday-night service at North Coast Church. They flew overnight to catch the Sunday-morning service at Heartland Community Church in Rockford, Illinois, which shows videos from Willow Creek rather than having their own teaching pastor. As soon as service was over they drove to Wheaton, Illinois to see Willow Creek’s first regional ministry center. "At the end of the trip Byron and I both agreed that it just might work," Greg says. "After all, what did we have to lose?”

Fast forward three years later and we had grown from 3,500 to 7,000 in weekend services without adding a single building. On Easter 2005 we had almost 11,000 people attend twenty-three services in nine locations.

One day Greg ran into the leader of our opposition on Town Council. “The man stuck his hand out and said, ‘Greg, we are so proud of you and your church. Don't you think God somehow used us in a small way to propel you into the future?’ Several thoughts came to mind, like, ‘Yes, God also spoke to donkeys in Bible times’ or ‘Yes, feeding Christians to the lions in Nero’s time also helped spread the Christian faith,’ or ‘Yes, but your picture isn’t going in our foyer.’ Instead, Greg reports, "I didn’t say any of those things. I shook his hand and mumbled something about God’s love for everyone. As I walked away though I realized that now our critics think what we’re doing is cool.”

Comments

[Jenna]

I have heard this story many times, but reading your post really brought to life verse 8:28 in Romans. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Even when times are tough, doors are closed and hearts are aching, God is always working for the good of His people. Very encouraging. Thank you.

[David Russell]

I could hear this story a million times and it's always inspirational.

And, Shawn, I totally agree--I wonder what else is going on now that we will look back on in "awe and wonder." :)

[sarge]

Very interesting. Linking to it.

[Shawn Wood]

It is so weird at times to be in the middle of something this special (not just Seacoast, but the modern church revolution known as multi-site) I think that one day when we are gone people will say..."remember when we used to just try and do church in one location - What were we thinking!" It is a God thing and I praise Him for it!

[Greg Surratt]

Great job...brings back painful memories that propelled us into the future...grudgingly...strange way to save the world...sounds like a God thing