We launch our new campus on Sunday and are virtually broke - as in, we have used up all the available resources. But that's okay, because we're just about all set to go.
The question of what it costs to start a new campus is one I often see discussed and it's interesting to see what people have to say on the subject. As far as we are concerned, we are launching in Mastic with a budget that is a fraction of what the "experts" recommend.
These are challenging economic times, but some of the most effective churches in America were started during times when this country and everyone living here was being stretched - Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois and Saddleback in California.
My concern is that pastors hold back because of the recession or because they don't have much money and miss the terrific opportunities we have to expand our borders all over this nation.
So let me come right out and say this - don't listen to the nonsense about it costing $150k to $200k minimum. We are starting a new campus this weekend and our start-up budget has been $22,000. That is something like 15% of the lowest number I have seen quoted. Why $22,000? - because that's what came in.
Okay, we are not adding staff to pull this off, we have shopped wisely and we have seen some amazing occurrences of divine intervention. We don't have the newest and greatest of everything, but we have a set-up that blew the movie theater owner away when we did a run through on Sunday.
You don't need a bundle of money, you need a big vision and a bigger God.
The development of the church cannot come down to how much we have in the bank and what it looks like we can afford.
You don't need to have a fortune.
You can do it for much less than you imagine.
So don't be put off - spread out!
