MG+A / Biltmore Partner for Another Campus

MG+A bgan its partnership with Biltmore Baptist in Asheville, NC at the infant stages of its multi-campus strategy. As a first phase, MG+A completed a major renovation to Biltmore’s existing main campus sanctuary, redesigning the stage and adding 600 stadium seats resulting in increased capacity to 2,500+.

Moving forward, Biltmore knew its growth would cap in the near future and began to execute one of the best multi-site campus strategies we have seen. In 2015, MG+A was again called on to design and renovate an existing facility into a 5th campus in Hendersonville, NC. The project consisted of converting an existing 35,000 sf operations facility of a local NASCAR team to a new church campus that could accommodate 1,000+ in a single hour on a Sunday.

We recently spent some time with Biltmore’s Bruce Frank, discussing their strategy that has allowed them to grow from a one campus church of 3,000 to a 5 campus church averaging over 7,000 attendees on any given weekend.

MG+A: What initially drove you to the multi-site strategy?

Bruce: To fulfill the mission, reach more, increase impact, maximize stewardship of resources. Also, to develop relationships in that community to reach more people for Christ. The closer a congregation meets to where the people live they are trying to reach, the more effective its evangelism and community outreach can be. Multi-site puts the “local” back in the local church – bringing us closer to where people live; connecting and inviting them to services, seeing and responding to the needs in the local community.

We believe the church works best when it’s local – we seek to be the hands and feet of Christ to our communities, and want to do life with the body of Christ around us. Stay where you are; serve where you live; be the church in that community. The desire as a multi-site church is for all of our campuses to directly impact and draw those who are unengaged or unchurched in their community.

MG+A: What are the main ingredients that your team looks for in a viable new satellite launch?

Bruce: God’s direction and vision for the church. Opportunity, outreach needs in that area, and availability along with location, demographics, and cost. Ensuring it’s done in a way that is Biblical and God-honoring. Also, for people already attending a BBC campus, but are driving more than 20 minutes.

MG+A: Describe benefits as you see them in multi-site over mega campus.

Bruce: A multi-site church is one church meeting in multiple locations to reach the local community; that shares a common vision, budget and leadership. We see these as benefits as it relates to multi-site:

Assists in reaching those unwilling to travel a great distance to church, taking the church to the people, rather than them having to drive long distances to a church – reaching the communities around us
Brings together the best aspects of larger churches and smaller churches
Increases the total number of available seats during optimal worship times at less cost
Overcomes geographic barriers when a church facility is landlocked or tightly zoned
Enables untapped talent to emerge each time a new venue or site is opened
Mobilizes volunteers through an added variety of ministry opportunities
Improves a church’s stewardship of funds and resources
Enables a church to extend itself into smaller niches
Models and trains people for church planting elsewhere
Provides a pipeline for the development of emerging leaders and future staff

We exist to glorify God by developing disciples who reach up, reach in, and reach out.