Megachurch Growth Statistics from 2009
Kent Fillinger’s 2009 report highlights attendance averages, growth rates, and new megachurches and emerging megachurches among Christian churches. The article offers a snapshot of congregational growth trends by church, state, and length of history.
- The 54 megachurches averaged 4,314 in worship attendance.
- Several churches reported rapid one-year, five-year, decade-long, and list-long growth.
- New megachurches and emerging megachurches were identified by breaking the 2,000 and 1,000 attendance barriers in 2009.
By Kent Fillinger
What Is “Average”?
The 54 megachurches’ average worship attendance: 4,314
The 60 emerging megachurches’ average worship attendance: 1,400
All 114 churches’ average attendance: 2,781
Fastest-Growing Churches
One-Year Growth Rate:
Real Life Christian, Clermont, FL, 65%
Generations Christian, Trinity, FL, 51%
Eastside Christian, Fullerton, CA, 39%
Five-Year Total Growth Rate:
Parkview Christian, Orland Park, IL, 127%
Central Christian, Henderson, NV, 118%
Real Life Ministries, Post Falls, ID, 93%
Fastest-Growing Churches of the Decade:
Savannah (GA) Christian, 286%
Christ’s Church of the Valley, Peoria, AZ, 234%
Southeast Christian, Parker, CO, 227%
Fastest-Growing Since the First List in 1997:
Christ’s Church of the Valley, Peoria, AZ, 524%
Central Christian Church, Henderson, NV, 382%
Northside Christian, New Albany, IN, 369%
Growth Percentage Overview in 2009
6 churches grew more than 26%
15 churches grew 11 to 25%
17 churches grew 6 to 10%
33 churches grew 1 to 5%
5 churches that were stagnating between 0.4 to -0.4%
20 churches declined 1 to 5%
5 churches declined 6 to 10%
5 churches declined more than 11%
New Megachurches
Those breaking the 2,000 barrier in 2009:
Rolling Hills Christian Church, El Dorado Hills, CA, 2,132
Westlink Christian Church, Wichita, KS, 2,200
Crossroads Christian Church, Lexington, KY, 2,245
Real Life Christian Church, Clermont, FL, 2,367
Traders Point Christian Church, Whitestown, IN, 2,381
New Emerging Megachurches
Those breaking the 1,000 barrier in 2009:
Northside Christian Church, Spring, TX, 1,016
River Hills Christian Church, Cincinnati, OH, 1,038
Second Church of Christ, Danville, IL, 1,055: (returning)
Suncrest Christian Church, Saint John, IN, 1,087
NorthEast Christian Church, Lexington, KY, 1,100
242 Community Church, Howell, MI, 1,180
Beaverton Christian Church, Beaverton, OR, 1,352 (returning)
Churches Less than 10 Years Old
Established in 2000: The Crossing, A Christian Church, Las Vegas, NV, 1,909
Est. 2000: Christ’s Church of the Valley, Royersford, PA, 1,332
Est. 2005: 242 Community Church, Howell, MI, 1,180
Est. 2000: NorthEast Christian, Lexington, KY, 1,100
State by State
Number of churches reported per state:
17—Indiana
10—California, Ohio
9—Illinois, Kentucky
8—Florida
6—Arizona
5—Colorado
4—Kansas, Missouri, Nevada
3—Idaho, North Carolina, Texas
2—Michigan, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Oklahoma
1—Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
Kent Fillinger is president of 3:STRANDS Consulting (www.3strandsconsulting.com).
Author: Kent Fillinger
Kent Fillinger is President of 3:Strands Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Regional Vice President with Christian Financial Resources.
