Behind the NumbersBehind the Numbers

Learning from America’s Learning from America’s Largest and Fastest-Largest and Fastest-Growing ChurchesGrowing Churches

DichotomiesDichotomies

Medium-sized churches continue Medium-sized churches continue to decrease in numberto decrease in number

Most churches have always been Most churches have always been smallsmall

Large churches are getting Large churches are getting largerlarger

For the first time, all 100 For the first time, all 100 churches on the 100 Largest list churches on the 100 Largest list averaged at least 7,000 peopleaveraged at least 7,000 people

Last year’s list included Last year’s list included churches of 6,376 or more.churches of 6,376 or more.

The 2004 Largest list included The 2004 Largest list included churches of 5,800 or more.churches of 5,800 or more.

While churches are getting While churches are getting larger, attendees are not often in larger, attendees are not often in one location.one location.

Mega churches are adding more Mega churches are adding more satellite locations and online satellite locations and online worship venuesworship venues

Growth CatalystsGrowth Catalysts

New sitesNew sites New buildingsNew buildings Regional population increasesRegional population increases New leadershipNew leadership

Digital ConnectionsDigital Connections

LifeChurch.tv (#5 Largest) & LifeChurch.tv (#5 Largest) & Flamingo Road (#73 Largest) Flamingo Road (#73 Largest) use digital connections to make use digital connections to make inroads with the unchurched.inroads with the unchurched.

Northland (#67 Fastest, #62 Northland (#67 Fastest, #62 Largest) is prolific at using Largest) is prolific at using online technology as a Great online technology as a Great Commission strategy.Commission strategy.

Internet CampusesInternet Campuses

Not without flaws and unique set Not without flaws and unique set of issuesof issues

No doubt that several churches No doubt that several churches aggressive in finding and aggressive in finding and reaching the unchurched are reaching the unchurched are finding that this manner of finding that this manner of engagement is working for them.engagement is working for them.

MultisiteMultisite

In 2000, only 5% of all U.S. In 2000, only 5% of all U.S. megachurches had multiple megachurches had multiple locations.locations.

In 2007, 25% had more than one In 2007, 25% had more than one site.site.

2010 predictions have 50% of 2010 predictions have 50% of megachurches with more than one megachurches with more than one sitesite

MultisitechurchRevolution.comMultisitechurchRevolution.com

MultisiteMultisite

16% of all U.S. churches – 16% of all U.S. churches – approximately 48,000 –say they approximately 48,000 –say they are seriously considering are seriously considering multisite as a ministry option.multisite as a ministry option.

Multi-Site churches: guidance for the Multi-Site churches: guidance for the Movement’s Next Generation, B&H, Scott Movement’s Next Generation, B&H, Scott McConnellMcConnell

MultisiteMultisite

Congregations are willing to take Congregations are willing to take risks and make sacrifices to risks and make sacrifices to multiply and ultimately reach multiply and ultimately reach new people for Christ.new people for Christ.

Our team heard story after story Our team heard story after story of churches that have let go of of churches that have let go of church members to “seed” the church members to “seed” the new congregation—a painful and new congregation—a painful and difficult process.difficult process.

NorthPoint NorthPoint #41 Fastest/#3 Largest

From the beginning, Andy From the beginning, Andy Stanley gave everyone a phrase Stanley gave everyone a phrase to think about…to think about…

““We don’t get any credit for who We don’t get any credit for who we keep; we keep; it’s who we reachit’s who we reach.”.”

NorthPointNorthPoint

When NorthPoint considers When NorthPoint considers building new facilities for one of building new facilities for one of its campuses or adding another its campuses or adding another site, the church uses an site, the church uses an empty empty chairchair icon to represent its icon to represent its ultimate goal.ultimate goal.

Church for All AgesChurch for All Ages

Churches are becoming Churches are becoming multigenerationalmultigenerational

Church leaders recognize the Church leaders recognize the need to be a church for all ages.need to be a church for all ages.

Heartland Community ChurchHeartland Community Church#35 Fastest Growing

Both older and younger Both older and younger generations are drawn to 10-generations are drawn to 10-year-old Heartland Community year-old Heartland Community ChurchChurch

On a recent weekend at the On a recent weekend at the Rockford, Ill., church, about 10 Rockford, Ill., church, about 10 percent of the people baptized percent of the people baptized were aged 65 and older.were aged 65 and older.

Community Bible ChurchCommunity Bible Church#78 Fastest-Growing

Becoming multigenerational has Becoming multigenerational has been intentionalbeen intentional

Fosters multigenerational Fosters multigenerational relationships beyond the church relationships beyond the church service through intergenerational service through intergenerational outreaches and activitiesoutreaches and activities

Connect senior adults in the church Connect senior adults in the church with the children of Community with the children of Community bible and attendees are forming non-bible and attendees are forming non-blood-related familiesblood-related families

20-something intentionality20-something intentionality

Other churches are focusing Other churches are focusing intently on the often-elusive intently on the often-elusive generation of 20-somethingsgeneration of 20-somethings

A significant number of young A significant number of young adults across the country embrace adults across the country embrace megachurches (especially when megachurches (especially when these large churches are these large churches are intentional about reaching them)intentional about reaching them)

Community bible churchCommunity bible church(San Antonio) #24 Fastest, #26 Largest

The church’s most intentional and The church’s most intentional and effective environment is people’s effective environment is people’s living rooms.living rooms.

Friends invite friends to their Friends invite friends to their apartments and use video-based apartments and use video-based curriculum to guide the curriculum to guide the conversation as they wrestle with conversation as they wrestle with different questions about God and different questions about God and faith.faith.

What you can learn (good and What you can learn (good and bad) from the Outreach 100bad) from the Outreach 100

Outward focusOutward focus Climate of CreativityClimate of Creativity Leader teamsLeader teams Hyper focused on the visionHyper focused on the vision Willingness to restartWillingness to restart Monocultural congregationMonocultural congregation Overwhelmed by growthOverwhelmed by growth Leadership burnoutLeadership burnout