About five years ago we embarked on a strategy to add new campuses instead of expanding again on Harrodsburg Road. In 2009 we opened our Danville campus. In January, 2013 we’ll open the Richmond Road campus. Since many are new to Southland it might be helpful to restate some of the key reasons we are developing a multisite strategy.

• Evangelism:  Research shows that more people come to Christ in several locations than in one location. This is the whole theory behind Church planting, which is why Broadway Christian planted Southland Christian in 1956 and Southland planted Southern Acres in 1972. Some say, “We don’t need more churches. We’re only draining the rolls of other churches. Our hope is that we’re draining the rolls of hell.   More locations provide more opportunity for evangelism.
• Location:  Multiple campuses give us a way to reach people in other areas or regions who can’t or won’t regularly drive to an existing location.Rather then asking them to come to us; we are going to them.
• Leadership development: With every new venture comes new opportunities for people to serve and grow. Multisite increases the number of volunteer and leader opportunities.
• Community Service: The more communities we can be part of, the more opportunities we have to serve within those communities.  
• Potential: Growth always brings change and healthy things grow, albeit people or organizations. Change is challenging for some, but there is no progress without it. The alternative is to stay the same and staying the same is the best way to start dying. Multisite gives us an opportunity to change with purpose and reach our full potential.

God is glorified and His Kingdom advances...and the rolls of hell get smaller! I’m excited about that.  I hope you are too!  

Gary Black
Campus Pastor, Southland-Richmond Road