By Kent Fillinger and Ben Simms
Core Statistics
“¢ Total number of people represented by the 112 megachurches and emerging megachurches: 275,411 (up 20,232 people from 2004)|
“¢ 2% of all Christian churches/churches of Christ are megachurches or emerging megachurches (112 of 5,471 churches)
“¢ 4% of the all megachurches in the United States are from the Christian churches/churches of Christ (51 of 1,210 churches)
(Source: Megachurches Today 2005, Scott Thumma, Dave Travis, and Warren Bird, Hartford Seminary, Hartford Institute for Religion Research, and Leadership Network)
“¢ Average megachurch size: 3,732
“¢ Average emerging megachurch size: 1,395
“¢ Average church size of all 112 on list: 2,459
“¢ 39% of all megachurches were either stagnant or in decline during 2005
3 Fastest Growing Churches in 2005
“¢ Mountainview Community Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colorado): 52.9% growth rate
“¢ White River Christian (Noblesville, Indiana): 31.9% growth rate
“¢ First Christian (Yuma, Arizona): 31.8% growth rate
3 Fastest Growing Churches over the last 2 Years
“¢ Real Life Ministries (Post Falls, Idaho): 72% total growth
“¢ Parkview Christian (Orland Park, Illinois): 61% total growth
“¢ RiverTree Christian (Massillon, Ohio): 51% total growth
3 Fastest Growing Churches (1997″“2005)
“¢ Christ”s Church of the Valley (Peoria, Arizona): 392% total growth
“¢ Northside Christian (New Albany, Indiana): 296% total growth
“¢ Canyon Ridge Christian (Las Vegas, Nevada): 194% total growth
Growth Percentage Breakdown
“¢ 5 churches grew by 26% or more in 2005
“¢ 14 churches grew by 11-25% in 2005
“¢ 15 churches grew by 6-10% in 2005
“¢ 28 churches grew by 1-5% in 2005
“¢ 12 churches experienced no growth in 2005
“¢ 23 churches declined by 1-5% in 2005
“¢ 6 churches declined by 6-10% in 2005
“¢ 3 churches declined by 11% or more in 2005
“¢ 6 churches were new to the 2005 list therefore growth percentage is
not available
2005 Church Growth Rates
Megachurches: 5.7% average
Emerging Megachurches: 3.7% average
Most Baptisms per year per 100 in Attendance (2-year avg.)
“¢ Crossroads Christian (Grand Prairie, Texas): 13.7
“¢ First Christian (Kernersville, North Carolina): 13.1
“¢ Shepherd of the Hills (Porter Ranch, California): 12.8
“¢ Average Megachurch: 7 baptisms per 100 in attendance
Churches Breaking the 2,000 Megachurch Barrier in 2005
“¢ Crossroads Christian Church (Lexington, Kentucky)
“¢ Christ”s Church of Oronogo (Oronogo, Missouri)
New Emerging Megachurches in 2005
“¢ Gateway Community (Austin, Texas)
“¢ Tomoka Christian Church (Ormond Beach, Florida)
“¢ Northside Christian Church (Wadsworth, Ohio)
“¢ Westbrook Christian Church (Bolingbrook, Illinois)
“¢ Southpoint Community Christian (Trenton, Michigan)
“¢ RiverGlen Christian Church (Waukesha, Wisconsin)
Megachurches and Emerging Megachurches by State
“¢ 25 states have a church listed (50% of United States)
“¢ 9 states have only 1 church (Alaska, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Oregon)
“¢ 3 states have 2 churches (North Carolina, Idaho, Wisconsin)
“¢ 3 states have 3 churches (Kansas, Nevada, Washington)
“¢ 1 state has 4 churches (Missouri)
“¢ 2 states have 6 churches (Colorado, Texas)
“¢ 2 states have 7 churches (Florida, Illinois)
“¢ 2 states have 8 churches (Arizona, Kentucky)
“¢ 1 state has 11 churches (Ohio)
“¢ 1 state has 13 churches (California)
“¢ 1 state has 18 churches (Indiana)
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