April 7, 2011
Our annual megachurch chart is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD”s most popular features. This year there are more than 100 churches listed as megachurches (those with 2,000 or more in weekly attendance) or emerging megachurches (those with average attendance of 1,000 to 1,999). Click here to look at the chart of the 2010 Megachurches and Emerging Megachuches.
April 6, 2011
By Kent E. Fillinger A Dilbert cartoon recently featured Dogbert, the consultant, standing in front of a projection screen asking, “Where does your company fit on this comprehensive list?” The list on the screen included, in order: “Facebook, China, Irrelevant.” The next frame showed three bug-eyed employees, followed by a third frame in which Dogbert says, “Now let”s form breakout groups to fantasize about being relevant.” Just as Dilbert”s mythical company is identified as being irrelevant in the business world, the church has been declared irrelevant by our culture, and even by other Christ followers for decades. A quick scan
April 6, 2011
By Mark A. Taylor “I”m an editor. I work with words.” I”ve used that excuse more than once when I”ve miscalculated or misunderstood or misapplied some list of numbers. (My wife says she hopes I don”t die before her, because it would take her a month to figure out what”s going on with our checkbook!) So if you prefer ideas and expressing them over numbers and analyzing them, I understand. But I urge you not to ignore all the facts and figures in posts we”re planning for the next few weeks. Here”s why: We serve a God who keeps track
September 10, 2010
Hope on the Road Less Traveled By Kent E. Fillinger “Need hope? Find it here.” That is the message on the LED sign at Twin Oaks Christian Church, Woodhaven, Michigan. The message of hope is needed in this southern suburb of Detroit, given the area”s depressed economic condition. Hundreds of new people have found hope at Twin Oaks since it relocated in 2007. The church”s average attendance has grown from 282 to 738 in three years””an increase of 162 percent. Twin Oaks is the fastest-growing large-sized church during this time frame from among the 75 churches profiled. And most of this growth is
September 8, 2010
By Kent E. Fillinger What”s in a name? Abram became Abraham and Sarai become Sarah in the Old Testament, and Simon became Peter and Saul became Paul in the New Testament. Name changes were common in the Bible when God altered the purpose or role of an individual. Christian Standard has reported the average weekly attendance and the total number of baptisms annually for churches that average 1,000 or more in weekly attendance since 1997. Several years ago, the size designation of a megachurch shifted from 1,000 to 2,000 in attendance. Therefore, the term emerging megachurch was developed for churches
April 11, 2010
Our annual megachurch chart is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. This year there are 114 churches listed as megachurches (those with 2,000 or more in weekly attendance) or emerging megachurches (those with average attendance of 1,000 to 1,999). The chart/pdf that is accessible below contains the entire, 114-church listing. Click here to look at this chart of the 2009 Megachurches.
April 11, 2010
By Kent Fillinger What do “kiddie” pools, black T-shirts, towels, plastic trash bags, preaching, and prayer all have in common? Each of these items was a key part of a recent trend among 50 megachurches and emerging megachurches that resulted in 7,705 baptisms in 2009. Our churches are often referred to as the independent Christian churches, but it is also fitting to describe them as interdependent Christian churches. For years now, the megachurches and emerging megachurches have networked with one another to share resources and assist one another through various levels of growth. Many of these megachurches have also served as sounding
April 11, 2010
By Kent Fillinger The 2000s were a turbulent decade. We went from Y2K to 9/11 to H1N1. We had a housing boom followed by an economic bust. As we came to experience the world in high-definition, the sights were often scary and unpleasant””wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hurricane Katrina, the Boxing Day Tsunami, AIDS, and global poverty. “Hanging chads” made one president”s election controversial, and then the first African-American president won by a clear majority. We went from watching Friends to drinking Starbucks to opening coffee cafés in our churches. We went from church in one location to one church in
April 11, 2010
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
September 13, 2009
by Kent E. Fillinger Describing the 66 medium-sized churches analyzed in this issue reminds me of the old fable of the blind men who each touched a different part of an elephant and then tried to describe what the animal looked like. The men disagree based on the part of the elephant they touched and their personal perspective. For the last four years, 3:STRANDS Consulting has partnered with Christian Standard to conduct in-depth research of Christian church/church of Christ megachurches and emerging megachurches. For the first time, the same research survey was completed by churches with average worship attendances of
April 19, 2009
 By Kent. E. Fillinger Church Unique is the title of a great book released last year by Will Mancini, and it is also a good description of the 117 megachurches and emerging megachurches profiled in this special double issue. While there are significant trends and key stats that can be gleaned from studying these churches collectively, the strength is in the unique stories of the churches represented and how God is using each one to change people”s lives for Christ. Innovation””or Imitation? A unique vision is not limited to these 117 profiled churches; in reality, every church has a
April 19, 2009
 By Kent E. Fillinger and Ben Simms  Fastest-Growing Churches in 2008:  “¢ The Crossing, Quincy, IL, 27% “¢ Crosspointe, Cary, NC, 22% “¢ Compass Christian, Colleyville, TX, 22% “¢ Central Christian, Mesa, AZ, 22% Fastest-Growing since 2003: “¢ Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, IL, 183%  “¢ Real Life Ministries, Post Falls, ID, 172% “¢ Crossroads Christian Church, Grand Prairie, TX, 101% Fastest-Growing since 1997:  “¢ Christ”s Church of the Valley, Peoria, AZ, 477% “¢ Northside Christian Church, New Albany, IN, 371% “¢ Central Christian Church, Henderson, NV, 307% What  is “AVERAGE”? The 54 megachurches” average size: 4,116  The
April 19, 2009
The annual list of megachurches is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. Megachurches average 2,000 or more in weekly attendance and emerging megachurches average 1,000 to 1,999. This chart lists statistics from 2008. Click here to look at this chart of the 2008 Megachurches.
April 9, 2009
The annual megachurch list is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. Megachurches average 2,000 or more in weekly attendance and emerging megachurches average 1,000 to 1,999. This chart lists statistics from 2005. Click here to see the list of 2005 Megachurches.
By Mark A. Taylor Since 2003 we have recruited a group of contributing editors to help us make this magazine all it can be. One way we hear from them is at a brief retreat each January. The group gathers to brainstorm ideas for the magazine, not only what it should contain but how it can influence our whole family of churches. Of course, we can”t lead where we aren”t read, and our contributing editors have ideas for making that happen too. Randy Gariss, for example, reported that his congregation buys CHRISTIAN STANDARD for every elder, deacon, and staff member.
January 28, 2009
Mark A. Taylor shares Christian Standard updates, including an apology, a correction, Great Communion news, a megachurch survey request, and a remembrance of missionary martyr Phyllis Rine.
April 13, 2008
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
Northside Christian Church, Yorktown VA, Larry Jones, 2007 Megachurches, megachurch list, emerging megachurches, weekend worship attendance,
April 13, 2008
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.
megachurch attendance is summarized here with average size figures, total weekend and Easter attendance, and baptisms across 113 churches. Megachurch attendance averages and growth highlights This snapshot also lists state-by-state counts, fastest-growing churches, and baptism ratio leaders. Average sizes are shown for megachurches, emerging megachurches, and all 113 churches. Growth highlights include fastest-growing churches (2007, since 1997, and since 2002) and a growth overview. Baptism totals, a baptism-per-100 ratio, and top churches by baptism ratio and total baptisms are included. By Kent Fillinger and Ben Simms WHAT IS “AVERAGE”? The 52 megachurches’ average size: 4,019 The 61 emerging megachurches’ average
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