Why Satellite Churches?

It seems like everyone tries to be controversial in the blogging world. It is really not my purpose in blogging. I have had fun talking about things I like and occasionally, I may stir the pot a little. This time I think I might tick some people off, but so what. Here goes….over the past few years there has been a “trend” in evangelical churches. The trend, satellite campuses. You know, when a church out grows it’s current facility and through the inspiration of men of influence, they get a brilliant idea to replicate what they are doing on their existing campus and start another satellite campus in another part of town or part of the region and sometimes another state. As Andrew Beajon states in his book “Body Piercing Saved My Life” “it’s almost like a Home Depot model for a church” (page 113). This comes from a non Christ following journalist that writes nationally for Spin Magazine. He wrote what I have been saying for years. I think a certain part of the American church movement is very similar to the box store movement (Wal-Mart, Target, BestBuy, Home Depot etc.). You know when you go to a store often times they will ask for your zip code. After a certain time of accumulating info from their customers they decide to put a new franchise in another part of town, it’s just natural for retail to do this. My question is this, should the church model this? Why should we? Isn’t the purpose of the church to magnify God and love people? Is it that important that God “needs” a guy that is so dynamic and such a great leader that instead of raising up other men to go and start a new work somewhere else they just beam in the guy that everyone wants to see, hear or be entertained by or whatever. I just read recently where a church in Dallas started another campus in Miami. No problem with this right. From my point of view there is a problem. The pastor in Dallas will be the pastor in Miami, via satellite. Isn’t that just weird? What happened to raising up a guy who is called to be a pastor and sending him out? Doesn’t this seem like the New Testament model? The Apostle Paul, equipping say, Timothy. I think this satellite trend is destined for failure. When a trend is based on the savy, charisma, entertainment value and just plain charm of a man or the appeal of a style of doing church, something isn’t right. I think church leaders must reevalute their motives. Do we do this (ministry) because of us being so good and gifted or because it was mandated by God. I promise this one thing, this will not be the last you hear from me on this subject.

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