unSeminary Podcast

Rich Birch
  • 4.7 (105)
  • CHRISTIANITY
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unSeminary Podcast

Are you looking for practical ministry help to drive your ministry further ... faster? Have a sinking feeling that your ministry training didn't prepare you for the real world? Hey ... you're not alone! Join thousands of others in pursuit of stuff they wish they taught in seminary. Published every Thursday the goal of the unSeminary podcast is to be an encouragement to Pastors and Church Leaders with practical help you can apply to your ministry right away.

  1. 4D AGO

    LCBC: 19 Campuses in the Rust Belt with 25,000 Attendees? Keys to Multisite at Scale

    Welcome back to the unSeminary podcast during our All About Multisite month. Today we’re talking with David Ashcraft, CEO and President of the Global Leadership Network (GLN), and former Senior Pastor of LCBC Church in Pennsylvania. Are you wrestling with growing pains as your church multiplies? How does an expanding multisite church keep its vision clear and equip its staff and leaders? Tune in as David shares his invaluable experience leading a thriving multisite church and now, leading an organization that is equipping leaders worldwide to make a lasting impact. * From rural roots to statewide reach. // David recounts LCBC’s growth from a church of 150 people in Manheim, Pennsylvania, to over 25,000 attendees across 19 campuses in the state. A major turning point was the township’s refusal to allow further expansion of their original campus, leading LCBC to embrace the multisite model in the early 2000s. * Be the gatekeeper of the vision. // Clarity of vision and consistent messaging are critical for keeping a growing church aligned. Vision leaks and leaders must repeat the core mission often and creatively to keep it alive. Weave the vision naturally into communication, culture, and decision-making. David served as the gatekeeper for the vision, helping the church discern between “good” opportunities and those which truly aligned with their mission. One key filtering approach was the 90/10 rule: LCBC aimed to excite 90% of their people and accept that 10% might be unhappy. This mindset protected the church from trying to please everyone and allowed leaders to stay focused on their mission. * Take strategic risks. // Young leaders sometimes want to try new ideas that could be detrimental to try throughout the whole church. David advocates for testing innovative ideas on a small scale—at one campus—before rolling them out church-wide. This mitigates risk while fostering a culture of experimentation. * Structure for scale. // As LCBC grew, so did the need to restructure. The church went through six or seven major organizational shifts over 32 years. These changes were often prompted by rising communication challenges or blurred responsibilities. Simplifying communication lines and reestablishing clear reporting structures helps the church maintain momentum. * Utilize video teaching for alignment. // David holds a strong bias toward using video teaching as the backbone of multisite strategy and believes that if you want to expand beyond 6 locations that video teaching is almost a necessity. Video becomes a core teaching strategy when a church branches out because it helps maintain alignment among multiple congregations and prevents campus drift. * Strong teams, thriving church. // A cornerstone of David’s leadership was hiring people better than himself in specific areas. From kids’ ministry to communications, his goal was to empower others to lead beyond what he could do alone. That culture of excellence and humility helped LCBC build a team-driven organization. Hire people with the potential to become experts and give them room to grow. * GLN’s Summit as a tool. // Today, David leads the Global Leadership Network, home of the Global Leadership Summit. His goal is to be an “advantage to every pastor,” helping churches raise leadership capacity and thrive. GLN offers world-class leadership development from both church and marketplace leaders, equipping churches leaders to grow their influence and mission. LCBC Church hosts the Global Leadership Summit annually as a way to equip and inspire staff and community leaders at their church. To learn more about the Global Leadership Network and register for the upcoming Summit,

    40 min

  2. 5D AGO

    The Money Question: How to Fund, Sustain, and Grow a Thriving Multisite Church

    Let’s face it: talking finances can be uncomfortable, but it’s a critical conversation, especially in multisite ministry. Today, I’m tackling one of the toughest—and most essential—questions in multisite: How do we fund, sustain, and scale financially healthy campuses? Throughout our All About Multisite series, I’m providing practical answers every Wednesday and hosting insightful interviews with leaders from thriving multisite churches on Thursdays. Now, let’s dive into the details of multisite financial strategies to help you avoid costly pitfalls. Episode Highlights: * Choosing the Right Financial Model: * About 71% of multisite churches use a centralized budgeting system. Personally, I advocate for this “one pot” approach to avoid unhealthy competition between campuses. * An alternative is the “central tax” model used by churches like Community Christian, allocating funds with clear percentages (70-20-10) to campus operations, central operations, and expansion. * Determining Financial Sustainability: * Only 7% of campuses break even at launch. However, by year two, 53% achieve financial sustainability, and by year three, this number climbs to 79%. * Aim to become financially sustainable by year three. If you can’t foresee a clear path to sustainability after two years, you likely need to adjust strategy quickly. * Increasing Generosity Without Campus Competition: * Teach stewardship church-wide regularly. Integrate new givers from day one, making generosity part of the volunteer onboarding process. * Promote transparency with your finances, regularly communicating budgets, needs, and successes openly. * Conduct unified generosity initiatives, reinforcing the message that every campus contributes to—and benefits from—shared success. * Hidden Launch Costs to Anticipate: * Many campuses underestimate startup costs, typically averaging around $200,000, significantly higher than the average church plant ($25,000). * Be aware of hidden costs such as increased insurance premiums, custodial fees, additional equipment for rental venues, and expenses related to being a generous tenant (meals, facility improvements, etc.). * Staffing Costs and Strategies: * Staff your new campus based on projected attendance, typically one full-time equivalent staff per 75-100 attendees. * Consider central staff requirements. Plan for roughly one central support staff for every three campus-based staff. * Key initial roles often include a campus pastor, worship and kids ministry coordinators, tech support, and a connections director responsible for guest assimilation. * Balancing Economies of Scale with High Standards: * While multisite launches tend to cost more upfront, aiming for economies of scale is crucial. Launch effectively but economically to increase your potential for future growth. * Portable setups are typically more cost-effective initially, with organizations like Portable Church Industries providing significant long-term savings through efficient equipment solutions. Practical Tips to Implement Immediately:

    20 min

  3. APR 17

    Christ Fellowship Miami: Homegrown Leaders, Global Impact in a Thriving Multisite Model

    Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this All About Multisite month podcast episode we’re talking with Omar Giritli, Lead Pastor, and Carlos Cardenas, Executive Pastor at Christ Fellowship. With campuses spread across Miami, the Caribbean and South America, Christ Fellowship has truly become a model of how to lead a diverse, multi-generational church with a powerful mission. What does it take to lead a multisite church with a global reach? Tune in as Omar and Carlos share how they’ve developed a robust leadership pipeline, fostered a culture of empowerment, and navigated the unique challenges of international church planting. * A leadership development culture. // Leadership development at Christ Fellowship is not an option—it’s a requirement. Each staff member has annual goals, and one goal is always centered on developing other leaders. Staff are encouraged to delegate responsibility, not just tasks, helping others grow into influential roles. Their internal development program, “Level Up,” formalizes this process, encouraging team members to train potential successors—redefining success as equipping others to step into greater leadership. * Raising up leaders from within. // Recruiting from outside rarely works in Miami. The cultural uniqueness of the city—especially its heavily Hispanic influence—means long-term success requires deep contextual understanding. One of the secrets to Christ Fellowship’s healthy culture is staff longevity. Many leaders—including all members of the directional leadership team—have been with the church for over a decade. This consistency creates visible pathways for growth and strengthens team culture. Staff can look up and see real examples of advancement built on trust, integrity, and commitment to the local church. * Global campuses, local DNA. // When Omar stepped into the lead pastor role, he reevaluated the church’s missions giving strategy. Rather than sending money to organizations with little oversight or visibility into outcomes, Christ Fellowship decided to launch and support its own global campuses. This strategic shift allows for greater accountability, stewardship, and relational investment. Each campus receives support in leadership development, sermon content, graphics, and operational tools, resulting in a globally unified movement that shares one vision, one strategy, and a recognizable culture. * Building global campuses. // When establishing international campuses, some of the relationships have been mergers with dying churches. Other times Christ Fellowship begins with small groups led by an identified local pastor. These pastors are mentored and assessed for alignment with Christ Fellowship’s vision and theology. Once critical mass is achieved, a public launch is held with leadership support from Miami. * Ongoing training and support. // Launching an international campus can fail if the global campus pastor does not share the mission and strategy. Christ Fellowship maintains strong relationships with global campus pastors, providing regular Zoom training, creative workshops, and even hosting an annual global leadership conference. This depth of investment ensures that international locations mirror the Miami experience in quality and culture—despite contextual differences. * Missional generosity fuels growth. // Local outreach is just as important as global expansion. Through Caring for Miami, Christ Fellowship operates mobile markets, dental clinics, and clothing buses to serve under-resourced communities. The result? People give more generously—not because of flashy campaigns, but because they see their gifts changing lives in tangible ways. You can learn more about Christ Fellowship at a href="https://www.

    37 min

  4. APR 16

    Multisite Myths Busted: How to Overcome the Biggest Multisite Growing Pains

    The multisite journey isn’t always smooth—even thriving churches experience growing pains. Today, I’m busting some of the biggest myths and offering practical insights to overcome common struggles within multisite churches. Every week during All About Multisite month, I’m diving deep into practical solutions on Wednesdays and hosting behind-the-scenes conversations with multisite leaders on Thursdays. Today’s episode specifically tackles the tricky realities that don’t always get airtime at conferences: the tensions, structures, and struggles that come with scaling beyond a single location. Episode Highlights: * Myth: Campus vs. Central is Always a Battle * It’s a common belief that campus pastors and central leadership will constantly clash. While tensions can exist, proactive management can make this partnership thrive. * Clearly define responsibilities: campus teams focus on people, execution, and alignment; central teams provide curriculum and resources. * Invest in regular communication (monthly meetings, shared Slack channels) and cultivate trust through strategic relationship-building across teams. * Myth: Launching Small is Just Fine * Reality check: Launch big or don’t launch at all. The most critical factor for multisite success is the size and health of your volunteer core at launch. * Small launches typically struggle to gain momentum. Start with a robust, enthusiastic volunteer team to create lasting impact and excellence from day one. * Myth: Launch and Leave * Avoid the “launch and leave” syndrome. Successful campuses need ongoing support, training, troubleshooting, and resource investment. * Keep central teams engaged until campuses become model locations capable of planting additional campuses. * Diagnosing and Addressing a Struggling Campus: * Financial Sustainability: 54% of campus closures stem from financial issues. Aim for financial independence by year three, and sound alarms if you don’t see a clear path by year two. * Attendance and Growth: Track first-time guest percentages (aim for at least 2% weekly). Investigate quickly if a campus is flat or declining while others thrive. * Reaching New People: Ensure campuses focus on unchurched individuals rather than transfers from other churches. Consistently monitor spiritual background surveys. * Leadership Fit: Campus pastor alignment is crucial—27% of closures relate to campus pastor issues. Consider leadership adjustments if necessary. * Location and Facility: Facility issues can significantly hinder growth. Relocating campuses can sometimes lead to substantial attendance boosts. * Practical Steps for Turning Around an Underperforming Campus: * Relaunch: Reintroduce your campus to the community with renewed marketing and outreach efforts. * Resource Surge: Temporarily boost central resources and visibility at the struggling campus to demonstrate support and stimulate growth. * Contextualized Ministry: Allow campuses some flexibility to experiment with targeted outreach and ministry adaptations suitable for their context. * When It’s Time to Close or Reset: * Move swiftly once you’ve identified that closure is necessary. Close gracefully, caring for your congregation by facilitating transitions. * Consider rebranding,

    21 min

  5. APR 10

    One Church: Preaching, Prayer & Presence—A Fresh Take on The Multisite Model

    Welcome back to another special All About Multisite episode of the unSeminary podcast. We’re joined today by Bo Chancey (Senior Pastor) and Jeremy Peterson (Executive Pastor) from One Church, a growing multisite church based in New Hampshire. With four physical “outposts” and a thriving online presence, One Church is reaching communities across rural and suburban New England with a mission rooted in prayer, simplicity, and incarnational ministry. Is your church considering multisite but unsure how to maintain culture and avoid personality-driven models? Wondering how to develop more leaders or foster unity across locations and teams? Tune in as Bo and Jeremy offer practical insights into developing communicators, creating alignment, and launching new outposts with prayer and purpose. * Pray for One. // At the heart of One Church’s model is a simple prayer: “God, please give me one person to share your love with.” This guiding prayer fuels the church’s evangelistic culture and aligns every ministry around loving neighbors and multiplying disciples. It’s not about growing attendance—it’s about stewarding people to become everyday missionaries where they live, work, and play. * From video to incarnational teaching. // One Church made a deliberate shift away from video teaching at their outposts. Instead of relying on one communicator, Bo preaches a recorded message for their online service while local communicators deliver live messages at each outpost. This move has allowed for authentic, in-person ministry and increased leadership development. A weekly sermon planning table with 12 communicators fosters collaboration, feedback, and consistency across outposts. * A multisite model without a mothership. // One Church rejects the “satellite campus” model of multisite as a way of avoiding the cult of personality issues that can develop within growing churches. Outposts are sized and shaped according to the communities they serve and no one location serves as the dominant hub. One Church feels increasingly called to planting outposts in rural communities of New Hampshire which have fewer churches reaching out to them. * Alignment through clarity and collaboration. // Jeremy shares how alignment is driven by close collaboration between central and outpost teams. A detailed church-wide “playbook” defines ministry expectations, culture values (like creativity, love, and fun), and the balance of support versus autonomy. Worship, kids ministry, and preaching content are centralized, but each outpost can tailor community engagement based on local needs. * Prayer as the foundation. // Bo and Jeremy both emphasize the power of prayer in creating culture and solving tensions between teams. Bo prays daily for every staff member, and One Church encourages its staff to pray for one another regularly. This practice has transformed team relationships and sparked a culture of mutual trust and grace. Waiting on the Lord in prayer has also allowed One Church to move farther faster and with fewer setbacks as they expand their reach. * Raising up leaders through residency. // The church’s residency program has become a critical part of its expansion strategy. Residents receive hands-on experience in preaching, worship, production, and more. Oftentimes residents go on to staff roles or other ministry leadership positions. Bo and Jeremy believe developing leaders before launching outposts is essential for sustainable growth. To learn more about One Church, visit them at church.one and check out their Residency Program to deve...

    39 min

  6. APR 9

    Many Locations, One Church: How to Keep Your DNA While Adapting to Local Campuses

    Multisite ministry sounds great—one church, many locations—but practically speaking, balancing centralized consistency with local campus adaptations is a real challenge. In today’s episode of the All About Multisite series, I want to help you manage this important balance effectively. Throughout this series, I’m sharing practical wisdom every Wednesday and insightful interviews with successful multisite churches every Thursday. Today, we’re diving deep into a core multisite tension: How do you maintain your DNA while empowering local campuses to thrive? Episode Highlights: * The DNA Challenge: * About 60% of churches with 1,000+ attendees are multisite, yet only 15% expand beyond three campuses. A key reason? Struggling to balance central alignment with local autonomy. * Most multisite churches (75%) maintain a single central parent board, highlighting the importance of clear governance and unity. * Centralized Constants vs. Localized Adaptations: * Successful multisite churches identify clear “centralized constants”—elements like teaching, worship style, branding, children’s curriculum, and key events. These are non-negotiable across all campuses. * At the same time, churches must empower campuses with “localized adaptations,” allowing flexibility in things like local imagery, specific worship song choices, and tailored campus-specific messaging. * Life.Church, one of the largest multisite churches in North America, exemplifies this by replicating their services down to the minute, yet giving local leaders strategic freedom within this framework. * Avoiding the Independent Campus Syndrome: * Beware the “independent campus pastor”—leaders whose vision subtly diverges from your central DNA can fragment unity over time. * Campus pastors should be strong second-chair leaders who embody and champion your church’s DNA. They’re leaders passionate about implementing, not reinventing, your proven model. * Practical Systems to Maintain Alignment: * Clearly Define Decision Rights: * Campuses focus on execution, people care, and alignment. Central teams manage curriculum, quality standards, and defining campus constants. * Build Central Support Teams Early: * Anticipate the need for central roles (teaching, creative, administration) before expansion pressures arise. * Regular Cross-Campus Meetings: * Hold weekly or bi-weekly face-to-face alignment meetings with key campus leaders. This maintains relational unity and operational coherence. * Shared Planning and Calendars: * Collaboratively develop shared ministry calendars, synchronized events, and sermon series. Involve campuses in the planning process. * Develop Playbooks and Guides: * Document core processes in playbooks (assimilation, volunteer training, safety protocols) to standardize and simplify operations across campuses. * Create a Leadership Development Pipeline: * Use cross-campus training to foster unified leadership DNA and build a cohesive culture among all campuses. * Prioritize Intentional Communication: * Maintain clear, consistent, two-way communication with campuses. Avoid surprises with a “no last-minute changes” rule, ensuring teams have ample lead time for adjustments.

    22 min

  7. APR 3

    The Summit Church: Clarity, Culture & Core—Keys to Leading 13 Campuses

    Thanks for joining us for this special episode of the unSeminary podcast as we kick off All About Multisite month. In this conversation, we’re joined by Rick Langston and Daniel Simmons from The Summit Church in North Carolina. Rick serves as the Executive Pastor of Strategic Initiatives, and Daniel is the Executive Pastor of Campuses and Central Discipleship. Are you thinking about expanding your church through multi-site? Wondering how to do it effectively while maintaining mission and vision alignment? Tune in to learn powerful insights on how to grow a multi-site church that stays united, impactful, and rooted in mission. * One church with many locations. // The Summit Church began in 1961 and experienced a pivotal shift in the 2000s under the leadership of J.D. Greear. Embracing a church planting mindset, they transitioned into a multi-site model that now includes a dozen campuses throughout the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) area. Initially driven by necessity—after selling their building and meeting in a high school—they soon recognized multisite as a strategic advantage for reaching their city. * Identity and mission clarity. // It’s important for campuses to identify primarily as The Summit Church, not just their local location. While each campus has freedom to contextualize ministry to its community, all locations remain unified under shared mission, values, and vision. This alignment allows flexibility in how they bless their neighborhoods while preserving alignment in purpose. * Who is the decision maker? // In a multisite environment, there is often a tension between campus teams and central teams around decision-making. To reduce confusion and clarify responsibilities, The Summit has developed two frameworks: CORE, for central teams, and PACE, for campus teams. These dual frameworks operate as two different sides of the same coin, functioning together to achieve the vision. * CORE and PACE. // CORE is an acronym which represents: Collaborate across ministries, Own the vision and set common strategy, Resource campus teams through coaching and training and Evaluate ministry effectiveness and strategic goals. Similarly, PACE stands for: Pastor and shepherd the congregation, Advance the church’s mission and vision locally, Collaborate with central teams and peers and Execute ministries with excellence and creativity. * Build relationships and culture. // Strong relationships between teams are essential. As their staff has grown, The Summit intentionally prioritizes relational health. They host monthly all-staff meetings with worship and learning, and biannual retreats for rest and bonding. These regular touchpoints help reinforce culture and foster trust, which is vital for collaborative success across campuses. * Create a leadership development pipeline. // The Summit’s leadership pipeline has been instrumental in its growth. The church benefits from proximity to a seminary and has a robust internal development track through The Summit Institute, an apprenticeship and residency program for individuals pursuing full-time ministry. Participants raise support to work at the church and they receive hands-on training, spiritual development, and real leadership opportunities, which can lead to permanent staff roles. The church benefits from getting to know potential hires and identifying those who align with the church’s vision. * Both multisite and church planting. // While The Summit Church is deeply committed to church planting nationally and globally, its multisite strategy remains regional—limited to the RDU area. Outside of RDU, The Summit supports church plants rather than additional campuses.

    47 min

  8. APR 2

    Is Your Church Ready for Multisite? Avoiding Costly Mistakes Before You Launch

    Multisite churches have dramatically increased—from just a few hundred in the early 2000s to over 5,000 today. I’ve had the honor of being at the core this movement for nearly 2.5 decades, having led 13 multisite launches and coached many more. My goal in this solo episode is to share insights from my own experience to help you determine if your church is ready for multisite and how to sidestep common pitfalls that could cost your church significantly in the long run. All month on unSeminary’s All About Multisite series, join us on Wednesdays for practical solo episodes, diving deep into the essentials of successful multisite strategies. Plus, don’t miss helpful Thursday interviews featuring prevailing multisite churches that maximize this model to reach more people effectively. Episode Highlights: * Why Multisite? Multisite as a powerful method for reaching more people, engaging more volunteers, and significantly increasing conversion rates. Multisite is not a solution for declining or stagnant churches, you “reproduce what you are.” * Key Preconditions for Launch: * Healthy Momentum: Your church should already be growing faster than your local community. Only 6% of churches meet this criterion, which makes your church a standout candidate if you do. * Clear Vision & Mission: Everyone involved must clearly understand the “why” behind launching new campuses. Multisite should focus on mission-driven outreach, not simply convenience or ego-driven expansion. * Strong Volunteer Core: Aim to mobilize about 10% of your current congregation as a dedicated volunteer team for the new campus. We discuss the three-to-one ratio; for every volunteer, expect roughly three regular attendees at the new site. * Financial Margin: Greater upfront investment correlates directly with stronger initial attendance and long-term campus success. We talk about how the “launch large” philosophy leads to sustained impact. * Reproducible Model: Ensure your ministry systems—such as weekend services, children’s ministry, assimilation processes, volunteer appreciation, and financial stewardship—are standardized, scalable, and reproducible. * Mergers vs. New Plants: Approximately half of multisite campuses today come from mergers. You should consider mergers/rebirths due to their inherent benefits, including established community presence, history, and trust. Nearly 90% of merged churches report positive outcomes. * Common Mistakes to Avoid: * Fuzzy Vision and Lack of Unity: Launch only with complete leadership and theological alignment. Clear, mission-focused vision is crucial. * Underfunding: Investing adequately in the launch budget ensures stronger attendance. * Poor Location Choice: Ideal multisite locations are within a 15-30 minute drive of your original campus. We discuss “Marchetti’s Constant,” highlighting people’s willingness to travel around 30 minutes. * Weak Launch Team: Your initial volunteer core should include 50-150 dedicated adults. The health of this group significantly impacts long-term campus success. * Wrong Campus Pastor Selection: Successful campuses predominantly choose internal hires who embody the church’s culture and DNA. Prioritize internal leadership pipelines for campus pastors. * Inconsistency Across Campuses: Maintain programming consistency ...

    20 min
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About

Are you looking for practical ministry help to drive your ministry further ... faster? Have a sinking feeling that your ministry training didn't prepare you for the real world? Hey ... you're not alone! Join thousands of others in pursuit of stuff they wish they taught in seminary. Published every Thursday the goal of the unSeminary podcast is to be an encouragement to Pastors and Church Leaders with practical help you can apply to your ministry right away.

Information

  • Creator
    Rich Birch
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2025
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © unSeminary & Rich Birch
  • Show Website
    unSeminary Podcast

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