These statistics from 2018 are gleaned from megachurch and emerging megachurch data collected by Kent Fillinger. Be sure to read Fillinger’s article, “2018 Special Church Report, Part 1: Megachurches and Emerging Megachurches,” and look at the accompanying tables, “The 2018 Charts: Megachurches and Emerging Megachurches”.
Compiled by Kent Fillinger
_ _ _
AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
Megachurches: 5,363
Emerging Megachurches: 1,332
Combined average weekly attendance (125 churches): 388,243
_ _ _
GROWTH RATES
Megachurches: 6.6% (up from 5.7% in 2017); overall, 74% of the megachurches grew (up from 71% in 2017)
Emerging Megachurches: 4.1% (unchanged from 2017); overall, 71% of emerging megachurches grew (up from 57% in 2017)
_ _ _
FASTEST-GROWING MEGACHURCHES
The Crossing, Quincy, IL: 43%
Pantano Christian Church, Tucson, AZ: 26%
Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, MD: 22.5%
_ _ _
FASTEST-GROWING EMERGING MEGACHURCHES
Hope City Church, Joplin, MO: 40.4%
Crossroads Christian Church, Joliet, IL: 39.5%
Newberg Christian Church, Newberg, OR: 31.5%
_ _ _
BAPTISMS
Megachurches baptized 21,292 people (an average of 402 baptisms per megachurch)
Emerging megachurches baptized 5,522 people (an average of 79 per church)
_ _ _
BAPTISM RATIOS
Number of baptisms per 100 people in average attendance:
Megachurches: 6.7
Emerging megachurches: 5.8
_ _ _
HIGHEST BAPTISM RATIOSรขยยMEGACHURCHES
Compass Christian Church, Chandler, AZ: 13.5
Pantano Christian Church, Tucson, AZ: 12.4
Christรขย™s Church of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ: 11.6
(Note: Same three churches and same order as the previous yearรขยยthe first time this has happened)
_ _ _
HIGHEST BAPTISM RATIOรขยยEMERGING MEGACHURCHES
Eastside Christian Church, Jeffersonville, IN: 15.7
Third City Christian Church, Grand Island, NE: 13.6
Calvary Christian Church, Bellevue, NE: 11.3
_ _ _
STATES WITH THE MOST MEGACHURCHES
Indianaรขยย8
Californiaรขยย7
Arizona & Illinoisรขยย5 each
_ _ _
STATES WITH THE MOST EMERGING MEGACHURCHES
Illinoisรขยย10
Ohioรขยย8
Indiana & Missouriรขยย6 each
_ _ _
OLDEST AND YOUNGEST CHURCHES REPORTINGรขยยYEAR STARTED
Oldest Megachurch: Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, MDรขยย1824
Youngest Megachurch: New City Church, Phoenix, AZรขยย2011
Oldest Emerging Megachurch: Greenford (OH) Christian Churchรขยย1832
Youngest Emerging Megachurch: Hope City Church, Joplin, MOรขยย2014
_ _ _
GIVING
Average weekly per-person giving (based on general fund only):
Megachurches: $31.94 (down from $32.28 in 2017)
Emerging Megachurches: $33.82 (up from $30.84 in 2017)
_ _ _
OUTREACH GIVING
Percentage of total budget spent on ministry รขยยoutside the wallsรขยย:
Megachurches: 12.5%
Emerging Megachurches: 13.6%
_ _ _
BUDGETED FOR STAFFS
Percentage of total budget invested on ministry staff:
Megachurches: 49%
Emerging Megachurches: 49.6%
Author: Christian Standard
Contact us at **@********************ia.com
