Taking the Pressure Out of Finding Your Next Multisite Location

The multisite church model is undergoing some pretty dramatic changes at the moment. As Ministry Solutions Group’s Principal and Founder, Nathan Artt, has pointed out more than once, the future of the multisite church is going to focus more on things like digital attendance and church networks rather than a top-down big church model. 

If your church is growing, you’ve hit capacity in the pews (and the parking lot), and you’re trying to figure out where you can open a new campus, chances are one decision looms bigger than all the others: where should you go?

In this article, we’ll draw on Nathan and the MSG team’s deep industry knowledge to offer a step-by-step guide that takes the pressure out of finding your next multisite church location.

But First… 

A quick reminder. Every step in this process should be surrounded by “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

As a church leader, you’ve heard this ad nauseam. We know. But it’s easy to lose focus when you’re looking at so many zeroes on a bank loan or considering the logistical complexities of a move like this. Keep communication with God at the center of the process, and you give yourself and your team the best chance of making the right decision for your growing church.

Alright, ready to get started? Let’s dive in.

1. Start With Your Data

The church is a human experience. In 1 Corinthians 12:27, Paul explicitly states, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” We wanted to start with that just to establish something: You can bring up data without compromising the human nature of the church.

Here’s the thing. We live in a world where data is constantly at our fingertips. It’s easy to get lost in that data, and yes, you can over-prioritize it. But if you know what to look for, you can use data analysis as a complement to very human-centric decisions.

So, as you consider where to expand your church’s footprint, we suggest you start with the information you already have. A few key data points to consider include:

• Commute data: How far are people driving to attend your church?
• Residence data: Where are people driving from? Are there districts where more people are coming from compared to other areas?
• Giving units: It’s not all about the tithes and offerings — but knowing that a healthy number of giving units are near a multisite location can help justify certain costs associated with church real estate.

Data should never be the key driver behind church decisions (that should always be God first and your people second). However, any decision you make as a church should align with your data and the real-life needs and realities that it reflects.

2. Define Your Strategy

Church real estate strategy is a really big deal — and yet, we too often see church building and multisite committees take action first and think about strategy second. They make a decision and then embark on information-gathering stages. The reality should be reversed.

As Nathan puts it, “Don’t let opportunities define your strategy.” It’s worth investing in creating a strategy based on your information. Then, and only then, let that strategy guide your opportunities. 

What does a multisite church strategy look like? Each church is different, but a few major factors include:

• Determine your reason for expanding. What makes this the best way to solve a specific need? Clarifying this can help guide your search.
• Decide on your model. There are multiple multisite church models. Do you want to build, buy, or lease a building? Should you consider merging with a healthy, smaller church in need of a succession plan?
• Clarify criteria for your new space. What square footage do you need for seating capacity, family ministry spaces, parking spaces, and so on?

This is where our team at Ministry Solutions Group can help. The Property Selection part of our Clear Path Forward process helps you identify things like ministry needs analysis, property search criteria, and location analysis.

3. Explore Beyond Traditional Boundaries

This is where things get nuanced. In the past, most churches adopted a top-down multisite model where a big church came in and either competed with local churches or scooped up their lightly attended buildings in a general takeover that felt more like a business acquisition than the growing body of Christ.

In 2025, this approach is less likely to work than ever before (not that it was ever that effective). Instead, what we’ve seen is a shift in multisite strategies for growing churches — and not just the largest multisite churches. Medium and large churches experiencing rapid growth are partnering with smaller churches as they expand. These networks provide growing churches with pre-existing, healthy campuses in key areas where they want to expand while allowing smaller churches with less direction or a lack of long-term leadership to continue operating.

Another option is to go multi-city with your approach. You might find, for instance, that a couple of hundred people are tuning in to your live stream each week from a specific geographic area that is a city or even a state over. When that happens, selecting a physical site near this group can allow them to gather in person each Sunday as a far-flung part of your ministry.

The takeaway here? Talk to peers and professionals in your network who have experience in the current multisite world, and consider all of your options.

4. Be Holistic in Your Approach

Finally, be comprehensive in the analysis of each location you consider. This is where the nitty-gritty stuff comes into play. For instance, think about driving distance for local attendees. (Again, refer to that data!) 

Consider design standards, as well. You might find a great auditorium, but will the surrounding building be your family or kids ministries? Is there parking that can scale as the campus grows?

Is there something about the site that helps you stand out from becoming “just another church” in the area? Is there potential to activate the building and turn it into a powerful community outreach tool?

This is another area where you want to work with an outside voice that is willing to draw your attention toward any glaring oversights or misunderstandings as you consider your options. 

Choosing Your Multisite Location With Confidence

Expanding to a multisite church is an exciting step in your church’s growth. Use the steps above to prayerfully make the best decision possible. You’ll appreciate the ability to expand your church’s footprint with confidence.

If you need support in making the multisite location decision, our team is standing by to help, too. Our Clear Path Forward process is designed to provide on-site analysis and recommendations that can guide your decision. If you feel that’s the missing piece to your strategy (or you just realized that you don’t even have a strategy and really need one), reach out and let’s talk.