Episode Details

Thanks for joining us at the unSeminary podcast. In this All About Multisite month podcast episode we’re talking with Omar Giritli, Lead Pastor, and Carlos Cardenas, Executive Pastor at Christ Fellowship. With campuses spread across Miami, the Caribbean and South America, Christ Fellowship has truly become a model of how to lead a diverse, multi-generational church with a powerful mission.

What does it take to lead a multisite church with a global reach? Tune in as Omar and Carlos share how they’ve developed a robust leadership pipeline, fostered a culture of empowerment, and navigated the unique challenges of international church planting.

• A leadership development culture. // Leadership development at Christ Fellowship is not an option—it’s a requirement. Each staff member has annual goals, and one goal is always centered on developing other leaders. Staff are encouraged to delegate responsibility, not just tasks, helping others grow into influential roles. Their internal development program, “Level Up,” formalizes this process, encouraging team members to train potential successors—redefining success as equipping others to step into greater leadership.
• Raising up leaders from within. // Recruiting from outside rarely works in Miami. The cultural uniqueness of the city—especially its heavily Hispanic influence—means long-term success requires deep contextual understanding. One of the secrets to Christ Fellowship’s healthy culture is staff longevity. Many leaders—including all members of the directional leadership team—have been with the church for over a decade. This consistency creates visible pathways for growth and strengthens team culture. Staff can look up and see real examples of advancement built on trust, integrity, and commitment to the local church.
• Global campuses, local DNA. // When Omar stepped into the lead pastor role, he reevaluated the church’s missions giving strategy. Rather than sending money to organizations with little oversight or visibility into outcomes, Christ Fellowship decided to launch and support its own global campuses. This strategic shift allows for greater accountability, stewardship, and relational investment. Each campus receives support in leadership development, sermon content, graphics, and operational tools, resulting in a globally unified movement that shares one vision, one strategy, and a recognizable culture.
• Building global campuses. // When establishing international campuses, some of the relationships have been mergers with dying churches. Other times Christ Fellowship begins with small groups led by an identified local pastor. These pastors are mentored and assessed for alignment with Christ Fellowship’s vision and theology. Once critical mass is achieved, a public launch is held with leadership support from Miami.
• Ongoing training and support. // Launching an international campus can fail if the global campus pastor does not share the mission and strategy. Christ Fellowship maintains strong relationships with global campus pastors, providing regular Zoom training, creative workshops, and even hosting an annual global leadership conference. This depth of investment ensures that international locations mirror the Miami experience in quality and culture—despite contextual differences.
• Missional generosity fuels growth. // Local outreach is just as important as global expansion. Through Caring for Miami, Christ Fellowship operates mobile markets, dental clinics, and clothing buses to serve under-resourced communities. The result? People give more generously—not because of flashy campaigns, but because they see their gifts changing lives in tangible ways.