Leveraging the Multi-Site Church Approach as a Long-Term Church Planting Strategy at the Village Church in Dallas-Fort Worth

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to create a strategic vision document to serve The Village Church as it considers the transition of its Denton campus, and potentially other campuses, to become separate autonomous local churches.

Chapter 1 delineates two clear goals driving the project. It also explains the ministry context of The Village Church and the rationale compelling the vision to use the multi-site ministry platform as a long-term church planting strategy. The chapter ends with the limitations and delimitations of the project, key definitions, and the methodological approach.

Chapter 2 provides the biblical and theological foundation for the project. Specifically, it develops a biblical theology of multiplication from Genesis to Revelation. The chapter ends with an examination of multiplication through the growth parables, the birth of the church, and the spread of the gospel through church planting in the book of Acts.

Chapter 3 explores the three key indicators pointing to the readiness of a campus to transition into an autonomous church: the man who is called and convicted to lead in a new and unique way, the evidences of a local leadership base ready and equipped for new challenges, and a membership ready to affirm the direction and own the mission.

Chapter 4 outlines the process of how The Village Church moved from initial conversations about the possibility of campus transitions to this being a directional conviction of the leadership for the church. The chapter identifies and explains three phases of this development: conversations, vision refinement, and vision casting.

Chapter 5 looks at the practical considerations of the campus transition vision for The Village Church. It also frames the structural and staffing implications of the vision for both current and future campuses of The Village. The chapter ends with an awareness of a new season of ministry in the life of the church.