MEGACHURCHES: By the Numbers

By Kent Fillinger

“The family of God” and “God”s household” are two biblical metaphors used to describe the church. But what do you call it when a family moves into the church and makes it their home? Adaptive reuse. Living inside former churches is happening across the country. Defunct churches are being transitioned into residential housing and condominiums.

But this isn”t the only sad reality. According to Leadership Journal, “even among adults with a biblical worldview, only about one quarter embraced the importance of church attendance in a person”s spiritual life.” That means we should celebrate the 117 megachurches and emerging megachurches* recognized in this report. The number of churches listed has almost doubled in the last 10 years from the original 59 churches in 1997. Ten new churches broke the 1,000 mark, and three churches broke the 2,000 barrier last year. Nationally, 22 percent of all Protestant church attendees will be in a church averaging more than 1,000 in attendance this weekend according to Leadership Network.

The 117 Christian churches/churches of Christ represent a total average weekend attendance of 293,191 people, or 2,506 people per church. These churches grew on average 4.4 percent in 2006. The 52 megachurches grew an average of 6.3 percent compared to an average growth rate of only 2.7 percent for the 65 emerging megachurches.

Thom Rainer defines “vibrant” churches as those with a growth rate of 5 percent or more for three consecutive years. Accordingly, 18 churches out of 95 on the list the last three years qualify as vibrant churches. Six of the 95 grew by 10 percent or more for three straight years.

Multisite Mystery

Megachurches have recently shifted from being destination churches to becoming churches with multiple destinations through multisite ministry. Nationally, one out of four megachurches (23 percent) is holding services at multiple locations, and approximately 2,000 multisite churches exist (Innovation 2007: Connecting Innovators to Multiply, Leadership Network, 2007, p. 13).

In 2005, 15 Christian churches/churches of Christ reported expanding beyond a single-campus ministry model to include additional ministry sites in their region. An additional 16 churches planned to become multisite during 2006.

The annual growth rate of those 15 multisite churches was almost three times higher than the single-campus churches, and the churches with definite multisite plans grew twice as fast as single-campus churches.

Only four of the 16 churches reporting specific multisite plans actually launched multisite locations in 2006. Additionally, three of the same 16 churches still indicated plans to launch a multisite in 2007.

Interestingly, the four churches that followed through and launched one or more additional sites experienced an average growth rate of 16.3 percent compared to a negative 1.4 percent decline for the 12 churches that have yet to accomplish the multisite goal.

Five of the 13 fastest growing churches since 1997 churches currently use a multisite ministry model.

It is too soon to accurately assess the sustainability and success of the multisite movement, but there are numerous examples to watch in the future.

If You Build It, Will They Come?

Since the release of Field of Dreams in 1989, many people have repeated the mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” and this thought has spurred many church-building projects across the country.

In 2006, facility expansion projects were to be completed at 36 Christian church/church of Christ megachurches, adding more than 1.4 million square feet. So the question is, “If you build it, will they come?” The answer is a resounding, “Maybe!”

Follow-up research shows 16 of the 36 churches scheduled to complete a facility expansion project declined in attendance last year. To offset this number though, the overall average growth rate for the 36 churches of 5.5 percent was still slightly above the overall average growth rate. Southpoint Community Christian Church (Trenton, Michigan) led the way with a 42.2 percent increase in worship attendance.

Therefore, simply adding facility space is not a guarantee for growth if the functional leadership structures and ministry programming are not prepared to facilitate growth.

Churches Voted Most Likely to Become a Megachurch

Indicators, trends, and characteristics are repeatedly studied to learn what contributes to a healthy, growing church, but one of the leading signs for growth potential is the location of the church.

Since 2003, the Christian churches/churches of Christ have experienced a 48 percent increase in the number of churches with an attendance of more than 1,000 (79 to 117). During this same four-year period, the number of churches listed from the New Sunbelt States (Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington) has increased 227 percent from 15 to 34 churches.

Arizona, which in 2006 ended Nevada”s 19-year reign as the nation”s fastest-growing state, saw the number of Christian churches/churches of Christ with more than 1,000 in attendance more than double from four to nine churches over the last four years.

This reflects a trend reported by Scott Thumma in Rev magazine. “More than 75 percent of megachurches are located in the Sunbelt states.”

Congregations located in newer suburbs are also more likely to experience growth than congregations in any other type of location. Congregations are least likely to grow in rural areas and small towns. Surprisingly, according to C. Kirk Hadaway of Hartford Seminary, the second best area for growth is in the downtown or central city of metropolitan areas.

“By 2010,” according to Drew Dyck writing in Outreach magazine, “more than half of the earth”s population will live in cities.” He quoted Eric Jacobsen, an urbanism expert and coauthor of Sidewalks in the Kingdom, who says urbanization will literally reshape the way ministry is done. “Churches are going to have to change,” he explains. “The megachurch model, where families travel long distances, often in more than one car, to reach a central campus, will be obsolete. If people can”t walk or bus to your church, they simply won”t come.”

Megachurches: Act II

Megachurches are a first-generation phenomenon. Much has been and will be written about the impact of megachurches. Positioning and repositioning ministry looms as one of the greatest challenges for the future effectiveness of megachurches. The curtain call for Act I appears to be approaching. Act II will determine the sustainability of megachurches.

In his book, Know-How: The 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform From Those Who Don”t, Ram Charan writes from a business leader”s point of view, but the application to churches and church leaders is unmistakable.

Over the course of a 40-year career, most 21st-century leaders will have to reposition businesses (churches) four or more times. That means making basic decisions about what to add to the business (church) and what to take out. It also means spotting new opportunities for profitable (spiritual) growth, resegmenting markets and deciding which technologies to adapt. Knowing how to position and reposition a business (church) is among the most demanding requirements of the 21st century leader.

To adequately and appropriately position and reposition the ministry of a church to sustain health and growth, it is essential for leaders to effectively monitor and evaluate ministry planning and reposition the focus of the church accordingly.

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*Emerging Megachurches are those whose weekend worship attendance averages at least 1,000.

Megachurches are those whose weekend worship attendance averages at least 2,000.

 

 

Kent Fillinger is president of 3:STRANDS consulting in Indianapolis, Indiana.