April 19, 2009
Megachurches: An Interview with Three Megachurch Ministers
Kent Fillinger asks three megachurch pastors to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing their congregations and large churches in general.
Series: Featured
Megachurches: Sustaining Ministry in a Shrinking Economy
Kent E. Fillinger offers practical guidance for churches navigating a shrinking economy through better budgeting, generous stewardship, Acts 4 community, and clear communication rooted in hope.
April 19, 2009
Megachurches: By the Numbers
Kent E. Fillinger and Ben Simms report 2008 growth data from megachurches and emerging megachurches, including fastest-growing churches, attendance averages, baptisms, state totals, and overall growth trends.
April 19, 2009
Congregational Membership and the Worshiping Community: A Reflection on Church Polity
C. Robert Wetzel reflects on open membership, baptism by immersion, and the open Communion table, offering a practical distinction between a church’s worshiping community and formal congregational membership.
April 19, 2009
Megachurches: The Value of a Brand (Web-Only Feature)
Kent Fillinger explains why church branding is about more than a logo, urging leaders to understand community perception, communicate consistently, and seek outside perspective.
April 19, 2009
Megachurches: The 2008 List
Christian Standard’s 2008 Megachurches chart lists churches averaging 2,000 or more in weekly attendance, along with emerging megachurches averaging 1,000 to 1,999.
April 15, 2009
Preview/Order What Kind of Church Is This?
LeRoy Lawson explains the Restoration Movement’s call to Christian unity, tracing its roots through Barton W. Stone, Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and the desire to be “Christians only.”
April 12, 2009
A Secret We Must Tell
Arron Chambers reflects on secrets too good to keep, calling believers to overcome fear and doubt as they share the good news of Christ’s resurrection.
April 12, 2009
Evidence of Providence
Eddie Lowen reflects on a providential Kenya mission partnership that connected U.S. churches with children, families, and communities in Nairobi through CMF and the Hope Partnership.
April 12, 2009
Evan Meets Easter
Teenager Evan Lowen reflects on a mission trip to Nairobi, where Hope centers, slum communities, and joyful children changed his understanding of privilege, compassion, and Christ’s hope.
This Is the Church’s Moment
Ethan Magness reflects on David, the ark, and the Obama inauguration to call the church toward humble service and blessing in the public square.
April 9, 2009
MEGACHURCHES: The 2005 List
CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s 2005 megachurch list reports statistics for churches averaging 2,000 or more in weekly attendance and emerging megachurches averaging 1,000 to 1,999.
April 5, 2009
Half-Pure Religion and the Unpopularity of the Poor
Mark E. Moore urges churches to hold doctrine, morality, and compassion together, arguing that pure religion requires visible care for the vulnerable alongside personal holiness.
Which ‘E’ has Priority? Economy or Evangelism?
Mike Schrage urges Christians to weigh economic uncertainty against global spiritual need, asking whether believers will reprioritize resources, gratitude, and generosity for evangelism.
Keep Reading!
Derek Duncan encourages Christians to keep reading deeply, stretch their minds through challenging books, discuss important ideas with others, and keep Scripture at the center of spiritual growth.
April 5, 2009
Balancing Word and Deed
Doug Priest explores how the church can hold evangelism and social action together, arguing that faithful mission includes both word and deed with evangelism as the ultimate aim.
March 29, 2009
And How Shall They Hear?
Marie Rempel’s life of mission service stretched from Canada to India and Kenya, where she taught, encouraged preachers, practiced hospitality, and helped spread the gospel across cultures.
March 29, 2009
What Is the Glue?
David Faust reflects on what truly holds Christian churches together, arguing that unity is found not in institutions or personalities, but in the Savior, the Spirit, Scripture, and service.
March 22, 2009
Hard Times for Healthy Churches
Churches across the country are facing uneven financial pressures during the recession, especially around giving, building campaigns, debt, and the hard stewardship decisions required of leaders.
March 22, 2009
Church Loans, Risky Loans?
Church Development Fund president Doug Crozier says moral and leadership failure, more than economic downturns, poses the greatest risk to church loans and congregational stability.
