September 9, 2009
Mark A. Taylor introduces Christian Standard’s first medium-sized church report, invites more congregations to participate, and highlights the expanded Deluxe Edition survey findings for ministry evaluation.
June 17, 2009
Compass Christian Church won Christian Standard’s first-ever Church Branding Competition after receiving the most votes in each round of logo voting.
April 19, 2009
Kent Fillinger highlights survey findings from megachurches and emerging megachurches, urging leaders to pursue unique vision while learning from growth, recession, and baptism trends.
April 19, 2009
Kent Fillinger asks three megachurch pastors to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing their congregations and large churches in general.
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.
Mark A. Taylor explains why Christian Standard devotes a special issue to megachurches while urging churches to pursue their own God-given vision instead of copying others.
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
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.
Kent Fillinger and Ben Simms summarize 2007 megachurch attendance, growth trends, Easter attendance, baptisms, state-by-state counts, and leading churches by growth and baptism ratio.
April 13, 2008
Multisite ministry is rising among megachurches and emerging megachurches, with growth data that looks promising but not automatic. This article explores what the numbers suggest—and why long-term commitment matters.
April 9, 2008
Kent Fillinger explains how megachurch metrics can become meaningful for smaller congregations, why adaptability matters, and how leadership transitions and succession planning may shape the movement’s future.
April 9, 2008
This annual megachurch issue celebrates growth and baptisms while noting recent declines, offering smaller churches practical insights and pointing readers to the 2007 Megachurch Report: Deluxe Edition.
April 15, 2007
A report on 117 megachurches and emerging megachurches among Christian churches/churches of Christ explores growth patterns, multisite momentum, facility expansion outcomes, and demographic shifts shaping what comes next for large congregations.
April 15, 2007
A profile of Parkview Christian Church traces a pivotal 1997 congregational vote, the leadership decision that followed, and the relocation and expansion that accompanied rapid attendance growth and wider outreach.
April 15, 2007
Kent Fillinger urges church leaders to move past “dysfunctional politeness” by setting clear expectations, monitoring results, and evaluating ministry programs so churches can adjust and bear fruit.
A college coaching analogy frames the pressures on megachurch senior ministers, the dynamics of icon culture, and research on tenure and growth. The article argues churches should begin succession planning earlier to ensure healthier transitions.
April 9, 2006
A statistical snapshot of emerging megachurches and megachurches in Christian churches and churches of Christ, highlighting 2005 attendance trends, baptisms, multisite growth, staffing ratios, and facility and finance benchmarks for churches of every size.
Pantano Christian Church in Tucson has pursued a multi-year pastoral transition plan while shifting to collaborative leadership, expanding small groups, and launching church-planting efforts locally and internationally.
By Mark A. Taylor When we say CHRISTIAN STANDARD is a magazine for leaders in the local church, immediately we create a problem. Just who is a leader? At no time is that question more clearly answered than when we consider the Leaders in Christian Service program cosponsored by Milligan College and Standard Publishing. Leaders in Christian Service recognizes men and women who have discovered the beauty in the paradox presented by Christ: “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:26, New Living Translation ). Those who have received this reward in the past
November 27, 2005
A practical checklist for evaluating minister compensation beyond salary, including time away, insurance, retirement, continuing education, and ministry-related perks churches may provide.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
June 26, 2026
Jerry Harris
June 25, 2026
Lonetta McKee
June 23, 2026
Tyler McKenzie