For the first time since Outreach magazine has compiled its annual report of the largest churches in America, all 100 churches were listed with 7,000 weekend attendants or higher.
With seven churches reporting attendance averages of exactly 7,000, "The Outreach 100" this year included 103 churches.
Topping the fifth annual list again this year was Lakewood Church in Houston with 43,500 attendants, followed by Second Baptist Church in the same city with 23,659 and then North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., with 22,557.
Overall, the combined attendance of all 103 churches was 1,128,451 which is an increase of 111,527 people from 2007.
While some of the most well-known churches still rank highest in the report, some showed a drop in attendance over the last year. Lakewood, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, saw a dip from 47,000 attendants in 2007. Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., experienced a drop from 23,500 people to 22,500, placing the megachurch at No. 4 this year.
Also, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., led by Pastor Rick Warren, went down from 22,000 weekend attendants to 19,414. Saddleback is ranked as No. 8 this year after ranking No. 4 in 2007.
The Outreach 100 is not a comprehensive and exhaustive list, the magazine pointed out. Rankings are based on self-reported surveys and not an independent investigation. Tens of thousands of churches were invited to participate in the survey in April and May. Of those that responded, the numbers were confirmed in the following months.
"Simply enough, it was just 'who qualified' for the lists," Ed Stetzer, who conducted the study, noted.
But this year, attendance numbers were up overall and churches were required to grow by at least 10 percent, compared to 7 percent in 2007, to qualify in Outreach's fastest-growing list.
"Those factors and just the increasing number of megachurches in America reveal that many churches are learning from each other, growing faster, and growing larger," said Stetzer, missiologist and director of LifeWay Research.
Among the top 100 fastest-growing churches in the country, Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Ala., was ranked No. 1 with a growth of 72 percent – or 3,418 attendants – over the last year. The Bible Belt megachurch was also the youngest church to qualify in the largest churches list, standing at No. 71 with 8,168 attendants.
Elevation Church in Charlotte, N.C., ranked second in the fastest-growing report with a numeric growth of 2,094 and a percentage increase of 122. Triumph Church in Detroit, Mich., followed with a growth of 2,000 attendants, which was a 200 percent jump.
And with ever-expanding flocks, many have utilized the multi-site model – one church, multiple campuses – with some having as many as 11 campuses.
Rather than labeling it as a trend, Stetzer sees multi-site as "the new normal."
"I think more churches and pastors are familiar with it and have seen how helpful going to multiple sites has been for churches who wanted to manage their growth," he said.
The 103 largest churches had a combined total of 242 sites or campuses.
Among other findings reported by Outreach, megachurches were most likely to be nondenominational, Baptist, Southern Baptist, Assemblies of God, or Christian Church, respectively. Continue >>
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I can tell you one thing. The fastest growing church in America teaches the unadulterated Word of God. Pastor Chris often starts off with statements such as, "This may offend some of you, but.... " He doesn't pull any punches. He lovingly shares the truth about what the Word says. We also have a church full of people who love on each other and minister to the needs of each other, the community, and the world. We give much, we serve much, and we were the fastest growing church because we are equipping the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ. As Mother Teresa put it, we are the hands and feet of Christ.
We had 3,992 salvations as of a couple of weeks ago. We don't grow because of church hopping, but because peoples' lives are actually being changed. Praise the Lord!
It is a great honor to have such an awesome pastor as Pastor Chris as our leader. I think the key to our tremendous growth is his vision for us to all grow closer to God this year than we were last year. His desire is for every member to step up a notch in their faith. He also equips us to find out what our passion is and go after it with all we have. The church helps us discover our gifts and then helps us create our own opportunities to serve the community and the world. That is why we make such a difference in the community and the world.
Pastor Chris, WE LOVE YOU!!!!
A.S. Matthew, are you implying that larger churches are not teaching or adhering to the tenets of the Word of God and are just big business just because they are considered "mega"? We cannot control where people decide to worship. For example, if a church begins with a small membership of 75, and over the years grows (because of the biblical teachings and worship experiences, etc.) to a membership of 3,000. Does that church now become a church that is big business and not a true church of God?
I agree there are some large churches that are not concerned about the people but the people's money, however, can we rightly judge that all mega churches are that way? No. I caught your tone when you mentioned pastors and private jets. One reason people choose churches is based on their comfort level or location, and we choose pastors based on their personality and how the Word is received by their preaching.
Those people who are looking for the truth of God's word might find it in the same church and thereby join that congregation. Then that small membership grows with those looking for the Truth and feel they have found it in that smaller church (especially when they begin evangelize and witness). Then it becomes a large or mega church. Then what?
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RElax or rejoice.The new generation is very very near.The LEFT hand and the RIGHT hand need each other.They have opposite functions but they are complementary.The flesh and the spirit /opposite function but complementary.Do not compare . We need the big and the small churches.The rich and the poor must coexist.
Like the recession and boom in the American economy,
there is a trend working in Church growth in the U.S.
There will be a spiritual awakening in U.S.A, but the
mega Churches and prosperity gospel will take a downward
trend. Most of the Churches and the T.V. preachers
were growing rapidly on an entertainment format, but
believers are now looking after more deeper spirtual
meanings in life. Those mega Churches also began to
turn like mega corporations and the recent negative
publicity and economic hardships have hurted the
mega Churches. God will open the hearts of the
believers to see that millions of people around the
world need to hear the gospel, and more evangelization
will be undertaken by the American Churches. Those
mega Church Pastors, flying in private jets around
world will have to take different life style. The
prosperity gospel has lost its appeal now.
INDIA is the new battleground for Christianity. The recent genocide against Christians by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad should have a strong response from Christians everywhere. I pray that our Churches grow rapidly beyond the border of the United States.
I know, being a former Reformed Minister, that the baptist congregations and especially the AOG Churches will have strong teaching on the basics of Christianity and they will probably disciple their flock better than the Non-denominational Churches. Today's non-denominational churches have watered down a lot of what historic Protestant and Catholics hold as doctrine. The non-denominationals are so "Seeker" friendly that they have lost their true grit in teaching the unpopular Truths of the Gospel.
I think many Christians are tired of the Joel Osteen type motivational fluff Gospel that he offers each weekend. I dare Osteen to teach about Hell and sin, instead of how to make a better marriage and be more prosperous.
yes, God desires that all be saved. But,...God is also desiring quality. How many of these 'big' churches teach The unadulterated Word of God?