Statistics from Christian Standard Church Report for 2024
Statistics from Christian Standard Church Report for 2024.
Articles for tag: Large Churches
February 4, 2025
Nebraska Nonprofit Aims to Call, Create, and Care for Local Pastors
A Nebraska church has launched a nonprofit organization aimed at calling new pastors to the ministry and supporting those who already are serving
July 1, 2024
Fences, Freedom, and Fellowship
In my study of our Restoration Movement heritage, it seemed leaders were more concerned with eradicating fences than erecting them. That value has been overlooked by some. . . .
May 1, 2023
2022 Annual Survey Fast Facts
AVERAGE WEEKLY IN-PERSON WORSHIP ATTENDANCE Megachurches: 5,136 (22 churches) Emerging Megachurches: 1,367 (37 churches) Large Churches: 714 (49 churches) Medium Churches: 361 (61 churches) Small Churches: 159 (83 churches) Very Small Churches: 51 (118 churches) _ _ _ AVERAGE WEEKLY IN-PERSON + ONLINE WORSHIP ATTENDANCE Megachurches: 6,375 (36 churches) Emerging Megachurches: 1,393 (45 churches) Large Churches: 705 (44 churches) Medium Churches: 363 (57 churches) Small Churches: 161 (87 churches) Very Small Churches: 53 (101 churches) _ _ _ TOP 3 FASTEST-GROWING CHURCHES (2021-22)* Megachurches: 67.4%: Southbrook Christian Church, Miamisburg, OH 53.8%: Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY 53.7%: The Crossing, Quincy,
August 10, 2022
Communion Survey Results: Prepackaged Cups Widely Used (and That’s Likely to Continue)
A little more than half of the respondents (54 percent) reported their church uses the prepackaged Communion cups (with juice and bread sealed in a single container, purchased from a vendor). Among those folks, 42 percent either “strongly agreed” or “agreed” they were easy to use, while 45 percent either “disagreed” or “strongly disagreed” the prefilled cups were easy to use. . . .
September 1, 2021
The Faith Practices Churches Emphasize
What people believe really matters, according to a 2017 Canadian study of 22 churches and more than 2,000 churchgoers. Churches that adhere to conservative theology are more likely to grow than those that do not, and people who attend growing churches reported praying more often and reading their Bibles more often than those who attend declining churches, the study showed. What churches teach impacts the spiritual practices of their attendees and, in turn, the health of the church. Our 2020 annual church survey asked church leaders this question: How much does your church emphasize the following personal and family faith
September 22, 2020
The Waiting Place: What Does Church Look Like When Your Doors Are Closed?
By Justin Horey Trying to summarize how churches are resuming in-person worship after the 2020 quarantine feels a bit like a tribute to Dr. Seuss: Some are meeting, some are not. Some are indoors, some are out. But while reopening plans vary across a wide spectrum, churches that have decided to postpone in-person worship, even as local municipalities began to lift restrictions, have much in common. Most of them are large, with attendance of 1,000 or more. Many of them minister in cities with left-leaning political ideologies. And all churches—regardless of their reopening plans—are eager to minister face-to-face again. Despite
Report: State of Discipleship
By Kent E. Fillinger Discipleship is a hot topic in church ministries and global missions today. Churches are placing a greater emphasis on disciple-making. And missionaries are more focused on trying to establish disciple-making movements around the world. As I prepared to write this article, I received an evite to attend a webinar about “discipling people online” in response to the COVID-19 lockdown. In our annual survey, we asked a series of questions about disciple-making processes in churches, and we also asked leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts. Would you describe your church today as a “disciple-making church”?
May 1, 2020
2019 Fast Facts from Our Annual Survey of Churches
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.” _ _ _ AVERAGE ATTENDANCE Megachurches: 5,765
August 22, 2019
The 2018 Charts: Small Churches and Very Small Churches
Our annual listing of churches is one of Christian Standard’s most popular features. This year scores of churches participated, including 78 small churches (average weekly worship attendance of 100 to 249 during 2018) and 47 very small churches (attendance of fewer than 100). In May we featured an article and statistics from 55 megachurches (2,000 or more in weekly attendance) and 70 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). In July we spotlighted 88 large churches (500 to 999 in weekly attendance) and 86 medium churches (250 to 499). Click here to view and download 2018 Charts3, with data from small churches and
June 22, 2019
2018 Fast Facts about Large and Medium Churches
These statistics from 2018 are gleaned from large and medium church data collected by Kent Fillinger. Be sure to read Fillinger’s article, “2018 Special Church Report, Part 2: Large and Medium Churches,” and look at the accompanying tables, “The 2018 Charts: Large and Medium Churches.” _ _ _ AVERAGE ATTENDANCE Large Churches: 691 Medium Churches: 358 Combined average weekly attendance (174 churches): 91,595 _ _ _ GROWTH RATES Large Churches: 1.9% (down from 2.9% in 2017); overall, 52% of large churches grew (down from 56% in 2017) Medium churches: 3.7% (up from 1.3% in 2017); overall, 60% of medium churches
June 22, 2019
2018 SPECIAL CHURCH REPORT, PART 2: Large and Medium Churches
By Kent Fillinger This is the second installment of a three-part series sharing research findings from our annual church survey. This month, we turn our attention to 88 large churches (average weekly worship attendance of 500 to 999 during 2018) and 86 medium churches (average attendance of 250 to 499). Growth Flip-Flop The medium churches on average grew at almost twice the rate of large churches in 2018 (3.7 percent compared to 1.9 percent, respectively). This was the first-time since 2009 that medium churches we surveyed grew faster than large churches. This flip-flop partially resulted from medium churches having their
June 22, 2019
SPOTLIGHT: The Crossing, Milton, Del.
A Strategy to Reach a ‘Dry and Weary Land’ By Justin Horey Every three years, the leadership team at The Crossing in Milton, Delaware, asks itself this question: “If the Lord allows us to minister here for three more years, what does he want us to focus on?” That question is part of a three-day planning retreat in which staff, elders, and key leaders prayerfully consider a strategic plan that will guide the church’s ministry. Senior minister Mark Magee has led The Crossing since June 1993, when he was just 25 years old. There were 40 people in attendance on
June 22, 2019
SPOTLIGHT: Two Rivers Church, New Bern, N.C.
Uniquely Positioned to Help the Community By Chris Moon As Hurricane Florence tore across North Carolina last September, Two Rivers Church in New Bern was at the center of it all. Thousands of homes in the city were severely flooded. People were coping with major damage to their homes. A massive reconstruction effort was about to launch. And Two Rivers Church was in the right place at the right time—at least that’s the way lead minister David McCants views it. “It’s given us an opportunity to be the church we say we are,” McCants said. “If we say we love
June 22, 2019
The 2018 Charts: Large Churches and Medium Churches
Our annual listing of churches is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. This year scores of churches participated, including 88 large churches (those with 500 to 999 in weekly attendance during 2018) and 86 medium churches (250 to 499). In May we featured an article and statistics from 55 megachurches (2,000 or more in weekly attendance) and 70 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). Come back in October for articles and charts from small (100–249) and very small churches (less than 100). Click here to view and download 2018 Charts2, with data from large churches and medium churches . . .
April 24, 2019
The 2018 Charts: Megachurches and Emerging Megachurches
Our annual megachurch listing is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD?™s most popular features. This year scores of churches participated, including 55 megachurches (those with 2,000 or more in weekly attendance during 2017) and 70 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). Come back in August for articles and charts from large churches (those that averaged 500–999) and medium churches (250–499). In October, we will post data and have feature articles from small (100–249) and very small churches (less than 100). Click here to view and download the 2018 Charts, or click on them individually. • 2018 Megachurches • 2018 Emerging Megachurches Click here
July 6, 2018
The 2017 Charts: Small Churches and Very Small Churches
Our annual listing of churches is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. This year scores of churches participated, including 77 small churches (average weekly worship attendance of 100 to 249 during 2017) and 51 very small churches (attendance of fewer than 100). In May we featured an article and statistics from 55 megachurches (2,000 or more in weekly attendance) and 72 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). In June we spotlighted 91 large churches (500 to 999 in weekly attendance) and 83 medium churches (250 to 499). Click here to view and download 2017 Charts3, with data from small churches and
May 22, 2018
2017 Fast Facts about Large Churches and Medium Churches
AVERAGE SIZE Large churches: 724 Medium churches: 363 Combined average weekly attendance for these 174 churches: 96,012 GROWTH RATES Large churches: 2.9 percent (down from 4.3 percent in 2016); overall, 56 percent of the large churches grew (down from 69 percent in 2016). Medium churches: 1.3 percent (down from 2.1 percent in 2016); overall, 49 percent of medium churches grew (down from 62 percent in 2016). FASTEST-GROWING LARGE CHURCHES Hope City Church, Joplin, MO, 32.5 percent The Crossing Church, Batavia, OH, 28.9 percent Restoration Park Church, Medway, OH, 26.9 percent FASTEST-GROWING MEDIUM CHURCHES CrossPointe Christian Church, Valparaiso, IN, 23.6 percent The Journey
May 18, 2018
The 2017 Charts: Large Churches and Medium Churches
Our annual listing of churches is one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD’s most popular features. This year scores of churches participated, including 91 large churches (those with 500 to 999 in weekly attendance during 2017) and 83 medium churches (250 to 499). In May we featured an article and statistics from 55 megachurches (2,000 or more in weekly attendance) and 72 emerging megachurches (1,000 to 1,999). Come back next month for articles and charts from small (100–249) and very small churches (less than 100). Click here to view and download 2017 Charts2, with data from large churches and medium churches . . .
May 17, 2018
Special Church Report Part 2: Large and Medium Churches
By Kent Fillinger This month, the focus is on large churches (average worship attendance of 500 to 999) and medium churches (250 to 499 weekly) from our annual church survey. If you missed the May issue on megachurches and emerging megachurches, you can read it online to get caught up. Next month, I’ll conclude this series with a report on small churches (averaging 100 to 249 weekly) and very small churches (fewer than 100) and share the first-ever recorded data on these two church sizes. Here are some stats and stories that show the major themes that emerged for large
