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.
Articles for tag: Church growth
February 15, 2009
Why Is the NACC Important? I Go for My Family
Brent Storms reflects on childhood memories of the North American Christian Convention and why the annual gathering continues to encourage ministry families across generations.
February 8, 2009
How Our Church Uses Elder Governance
Gary L. Johnson describes how Elder Governance helped The Creek create a healthier church structure by focusing elders on policy, pastoral care, doctrine, and prayer.
November 16, 2008
Elders & Ministers: Speaking the Same Language
Healthy elder-minister relationships help churches lead with trust, humility, shared vision, and spiritual focus. Darrel Rowland highlights growing churches where leaders work together well.
October 12, 2008
The Ultimate Purpose in Evangelism Is Not Church Growth
David Bycroft reflects on evangelism through the story of Smitty, emphasizing Jesus, grace, repentance, discipleship, and baptism as part of God’s work of changing lives.
October 8, 2008
Church Health and Attendance Numbers How Do They Relate?
Mark A. Taylor considers whether church health should be measured by attendance alone, weighing numerical growth against relational healing, discipleship, and congregational stability.
August 10, 2008
I Choose Optimism
Ken Idleman urges Christians to choose optimism, pointing to church growth, church planting, missionary momentum, global openness, spiritual seekers, and worship renewal as signs of gospel opportunity.
August 3, 2008
A Community for the Unchurched
Russell Jarvis examines why many unchurched Americans still seek authentic community and challenges churches to listen, rethink inherited practices, and recover a more relational expression of faith.
July 27, 2008
Lessons Learned from Christ’s Church
Bruce E. Shields reflects on ordinary congregations, faithful mentors, grief, generosity, and mission, showing how Christ’s real and often messy church teaches wisdom no classroom can fully provide.
July 27, 2008
Simple Ways to Begin to Be Intentional About Evangelism
David Bycroft calls churches to become intentional about evangelism through prayer, natural invitations, vibrant Sunday services, and special events that help people hear the gospel.
July 20, 2008
More Than the ABC’s
Mountain Christian Church keeps disciple making at the center of its mission, measuring growth by spiritual transformation rather than attendance alone.
July 16, 2008
Interview with Doug Wood
Doug Wood explains how churches can address fear, build trust, recover Restoration principles, and pursue first-century growth without compromising biblical convictions.
July 16, 2008
Showing a Better Way
Mark A. Taylor reflects on Doug Wood’s reminder that healthy church growth begins with making disciples, not with polished programming, image-building, or crowd-attracting strategies.
June 18, 2008
Interview with John Chace
John Chace reflects on how elders and staff share vision, shepherding, strategic planning, and support through growth, building expansion, and long-term ministry in South Florida.
June 15, 2008
Evangelism Is Natural Church
David Bycroft challenges churches to see evangelism and growth as natural outcomes of a healthy congregation, calling leaders to become persistently intentional about reaching the lost.
June 1, 2008
You Can Cope with Change
John Derry urges churches facing stagnation to seek faithful catalysts for renewal, adapt wisely to changing conditions, and pursue growth without compromising their mission.
May 18, 2008
Tune Up the E-String
John A. Snyder urges churches to “tune up the E-string” by keeping evangelism central, sharing the gospel clearly, and asking people to make decisions for Christ.
April 13, 2008
How Healthy Are Our Megachurches? (An Introduction)
Christian Standard’s annual megachurch issue expands its reporting with more analysis, health indicators, and an interview with Kent Fillinger. Learn about the 2007 Megachurch Report: Deluxe Edition and how readers can help identify missing churches.
April 13, 2008
The Best Indicator of Church Growth
Baptisms reveal whether churches are reaching the lost or just shifting believers. This article examines megachurch baptism ratios, giving-per-baptism figures, and why retaining new disciples matters for long-term growth.
April 13, 2008
And They Met Every Day (Almost)
Megachurches and emerging megachurches are offering worship services on multiple days and in multiple styles. Research across 113 churches suggests certain patterns—especially two service days and one or three worship styles—correlate with stronger growth.
