These “fast facts” are gleaned from survey data collected by Kent Fillinger about churches ranging in average attendance from 10 to 34,444 during 2019. This information is also available in chart form as a download. The download also includes a complete listing of the 439 churches that participated in our survey, and spotlights the 10 fastest-growing churches in each category and those churches with the highest baptism ratios (most baptisms per 100 in average attendance). Go here to ACCESS THE DOWNLOAD.
Also, be sure to read Fillinger’s article, “The Difference a Decade Makes.”
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AVERAGE ATTENDANCE
Megachurches: 5,765
Emerging megachurches: 1,348
Large churches: 737
Medium churches: 354
Small churches: 164
Very small churches: 57
Combined average weekly attendance (439 churches): 483,296
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GROWTH RATES
Megachurches: 2.4% (down from 6.6% in 2018)
Emerging megachurches: 4.2% (up from 4.1%)
Large churches: 2.6% (up from 1.9%)
Medium churches: 1.3% (down from 3.7%)
Small churches: 2.1% (up from 0.03%)
Very small churches: -0.4% (down from 1.7%)
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FASTEST-GROWING CHURCHES
Megachurches: Pathway Church, Wichita, KS (13.5%)
Emerging megachurches: The Refinery Christian Church, Goodyear, AZ (110.7%)
Large churches: Ekklesia Christian Church, Conway, SC (73.2%)
Medium churches: Woodstock Christian Church, Woodstock, GA (44.7%)
Small churches: Experience Christian Church, Exton, PA (127%)
Very small churches: Whitewater Christian Church, Richmond, IN (35.7%)
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PERCENTAGE OF CHURCHES THAT GREW IN 2019
Megachurches: 75%
Emerging megachurches: 60%
Large churches: 54%
Medium churches: 50%
Small churches: 45%
Very small churches: 44%
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BAPTISMS
Megachurches baptized 20,897 people (an average of 418 baptisms per church).
Emerging megachurches baptized 5,423 people (an average of 85 per church).
Large churches baptized 3,062 people (38 per church).
Medium churches baptized 1,890 people (21 per church).
Small churches baptized 678 people (8 per church).
Very small churches baptized 189 people (3 per church).
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MOST BAPTISMS
Megachurches: Christ’s Church of the Valley, Phoenix, AZ: 4,371 (record number of baptisms for a church in the history of our survey)
Emerging megachurches: Salty Church, Ormond Beach, FL: 222
Large churches: Ekklesia Christian Church, Conway, SC: 143
Medium churches: Jessamine Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY: 114
Small churches: Christ’s Church—Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN: 27
Very small churches: Peeled Oak Christian Church, Owingsville, KY: 15
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BAPTISM RATIOS
Number of baptisms per 100 people in average attendance:
Megachurches: 6.6
Emerging megachurches: 6.1
Large churches: 5.1
Medium churches: 5.8
Small churches: 4.9
Very small churches: 4.1
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HIGHEST BAPTISM RATIOS
Megachurches: Compass Christian Church, Chandler, AZ: 13.2
Emerging megachurches: Salty Church, Ormond Beach, FL: 12.8
Large churches: Ekklesia Christian Church, Conway, SC: 16.5
Medium churches: Jessamine Christian Church, Nicholasville, KY: 27.2
Small churches: Orange Park Christian Church, Orange Park, FL: 13.6
Very small churches: Peeled Oak Christian Church, Owingsville, KY: 30
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STATES WITH MOST CHURCHES (all sizes)
Indiana — 65
Ohio — 57
Illinois — 31
42% of churches that reported are in 4 states, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky.
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STATES WITH MOST MEGACHURCHES
Indiana — 11
California — 5
Illinois — 5
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OLDEST CHURCHES IN SURVEY
Cool Spring Christian Church, Keysville, VA — Founded 1800
Countryside Church of Christ, Seaman, OH — 1814
Mountain Christian Church, Joppa, MD — 1824
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YOUNGEST CHURCHES
Experience Christian Church, Exton, PA — Founded 2019
Foundation Christian Church, Newnan, GA — 2018
Ubly Christian Church, Ubly, MI — 2018
Riverside: A Christian Community, Big Rapids, MI — 2018
One Church Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA — 2018
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GIVING
Average weekly per-person giving (based on general fund only):
Megachurches: $31.45 (down from $31.94 in 2018)
Emerging megachurches: $33.34 (down from $33.82)
Large churches: $33.29 (up from $32.64)
Medium churches: $32.59 (up from $32.06)
Small churches: $34.88 (down from $36.11)
Very small churches: $31.32 (down from $35.30)
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OUTREACH GIVING
Percentage of total budget spent on ministry “outside the walls”:
Megachurches: 12.9%
Emerging megachurches: 14.3%
Large churches: 14.7%
Medium churches: 15.5%
Small churches: 14.3%
Very small churches: 14.7%
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BUDGETED FOR STAFFS
Percentage of total budget invested on ministry staff:
Megachurches: 49.5%
Emerging megachurches: 50.1%
Large churches: 49%
Medium churches: 47.4%
Small churches: 46.2%
Very small churches: 53.5%
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