Digital Circuit Riding: A look at multi-site ministry

John Wesley traveled by horseback and preached in the middle of the communities he served. As Methodism spread to America, clergy assigned to multiple churches were known as circuit riders for using the same method of travel. Van Dyke Church—a Methodist congregation in Lutz, FL (north Tampa)—sees themselves as digital circuit riders using video venues to bring their message into new communities. “It’s circuit riding without the horse,” says Andy Sistrunk, North Campus Pastor. “We’re using fiber-optic technology and web streaming instead.”