Much to say not enough time
I'm not sure how much of the SuperBowl I'll get to see tonight, as I have Church at 6:30 but I do hope the Eagles win, since many of the people I work with in Delaware are big fans.
I found this interesting News Story with another Illinois connection on "Franchise" churches. Which of course should work, since we're all exactly the same and every congregation needs to here the same message.
From the News Sentinel (via SermonAudio.com)
It worked for burgers, now churches try franchising
CHICAGO - (KRT) - Scott and Michelle Knollenberg of Plainfield, Ill., can spend their Sundays letting national chains cater to their every need - physical, material and, now, spiritual. They can grab an Egg McMuffin at McDonald's, a stylish lamp at Target, towels at Bed Bath & Beyond and a double tall non-fat mocha at Starbucks. But Sunday's highlight is the church service prepared by Naperville, Ill., pastor Dave Ferguson and his national staff, which will be virtually identical in music, sermon, videos and skits at 10 locations throughout the country.
The Knollenbergs are members of Community Christian Church, which has Chicago-area sites in Naperville, Shorewood, Romeoville and Montgomery. Nationally, the network started by Ferguson and his brother Jon also has churches in Denver, Detroit, New York and Bakersfield, Calif.
In the business world, they call this kind of thing franchising. In evangelicalism, it's known as the multisite church, and it is a growing trend with a similar aim: providing consistent quality and service wherever you go.
Dave Ferguson, co-founder and lead pastor of Community Christian, said his church was one of about 10 nationally that were taking a multisite approach in 1998. Six years later, upward of 1,000 churches have embraced the movement. (more)
