For the past decade, Leadership Network and Hartford Institute for Religion Research have been collected and releasing research data about megachurches in America. They have just released the data from their fourth such study.

Some of the more prominent findings include:

• Average growth among megachurches as a whole is at 8% over the past five years.
• Megachurches continue to draw youthful, middle class, family-oriented people as 70% of attendees are under the age of 50.
• Nearly 50% of the megachurches in America are located in the southern states (Texas to Virginia).
• A dramatic decrease occurred in the number of churches claiming a specific denominational affiliation. Over half (54%) are nondenominational, however, 70% claim to be connected to a network, fellowship, association, or denomination.
• Not surprisingly, 80% of the churches are still led by the pastor under whose tenure the most dramatic growth occurred.
• These churches continue to be regional draws as only 60% of attendees live less than 15 minutes away from the church. 
• The gender balance in megachurches is closer than smaller churches (55% women, 45% men).
• On a whole, megachurches were not as affected by the recent economic downturn as media reports made it seem. While some were affected greatly, the percentage of churches reporting serious financial struggles decreased in the past five years.

These are just some of the highlights. For the full report, click here.  Megachurches are fascinating and worthy of research. The research also pushes against many stereotypes and misinformation about megachurches-- facts are our friends. 

I just returned from preaching this weekend at Woodlands Church (pictured here).  I saw much of this research reflected there-- more on that later.

 In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts below.

I spent the last two days with Vineyard megachurch pastors and preached at First Baptist Atlanta on Sunday-- so I have megachurch on the brain, I guess.

What does the average megachurch look like? I came across this infographic that draws info from Forbes, Christian Post and Leadership Network.

A while back, I started sharing my experiences at different churches where I might speak. People seemed to find it interesting to learn about other churches and their practices. Before we started Grace Church, I would speak more frequently-- now it is about once a month.

Since, at times, I speak at churches from different traditions, I tend to do a little research before I go. So, I thought I would share a little with you-- perhaps it might be encouraging and educational. I have several churches in the queue and will share those over the coming weeks. If it gets boring, then I will stop. ;-)

This week, I was at James River Assembly is a church in Ozark, MO, just outside of Springfield. Planted in 1991, it has grown from 85 people to over 8000 attending each week on two campuses. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with pastor John Lindell, speaking to their Life Group leaders on Saturday, then preaching during the morning services on Sunday.

If James River Assembly is anything-- and it is many things-- it is hospitable. It's the only church I've ever had the privilege of being in to preach where they created my own parking space for me.

When I arrived, a host stayed with me almost the entire morning answering any questions or concerns I had. They were not just hospitable to me-- they also advertise their "Connect Center" where newcomers can get things squared away immediately upon arrival with the help of "Red Carpet Hosts" who are located everywhere. James River is a church that loves and shows hospitality.

John Lindell is a wonderful communicator and strong leader. He has a heart for those without Christ and has demonstrated remarkable leadership.

John is a committed expository preacher and a sincerely committed Pentecostal. This is not a total anomaly, but expository preaching is not as widely practiced inside Pentecostalism as within some Presbyterian denominations, for instance. This is one of the defining characteristics of the church-- they are serious about teaching through the scriptures. You can listen to John's preaching here.

James River is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. The AoG is a Pentecostal and evangelical denomination holding, among other things, the Divine inspiration of the Bible, the Trinity, the Deity of Christ, salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as the believer's empowerment for witness and service, speaking in tongues as the evidence of that baptism, sanctification through the work of the Spirit, a church on mission, Divine healing for the sick available to believers, the return of Christ and a final judgment.

Most Pentecostal denominations are Evangelical, as is the Assemblies of God, and James River Assembly is certainly both Evangelical and Pentecostal. They are evangelicals in belief and practice, but also are distinctively Pentecostal.

As an expression of their belief, they regularly offer opportunities on Wednesday night to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as in the Pentecostal tradition (where the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is considered a distinct experience from conversion). This is probably the main doctrinal distinction between Pentecostals and most other evangelicals.

The Sunday morning service was a remarkable mix of high-energy music, prayer, and expectation of the preaching of God's Word. During the worship time, people were invited to come forward for prayer for healing and other needs.

In many ways, the church reminded me of my time at Harvest Bible Chapel (where James MacDonald serves as pastor). The Sunday morning services were similar-- strong God-centered worship followed by expository preaching.

The entire service from start to finish lasted about 1:15-1:20 minutes. I did not preach for 1 hour and ten minutes, as shocking as this may be to some! Interestingly, the service length is stated on the church website so guests will know exactly what to expect.

The Sunday I was at James River was the day that people could sign up for Life Groups. A lemonade stand was being used for Life Group registration.

As with many megachurches, James River has a very large atrium-- larger than the terminal at the Springfield airport. It was spacious, well lighted, and welcoming-- everything spoke to excellence and connection. Everything about it said, "We are glad you are here." Interestingly, you can see in the photo below the large banners in the atrium featured pictures of and quotes from church members, not just the pastor's pithy sayings or the church logo.

One interesting thing I noticed was their children's ministry area. At my church we have a table with a single person who makes sure the kids get registered properly. James River has a wing for the same purpose. They are reaching scores of young families. It was impressive to watch.

James River was a fascinating place. God is at work in powerful ways and I was so glad to be able to encourage them-- and to be encouraged by them.

Next up, Progressive Primitive Baptist Church, a small church that is part of an historically African American denomination with fascinating roots.

We are wrapping up our work this week on the Outreach Magazine/LifeWay Research Special Report on the 100 Largest and Fastest Growing churches. If you would like to report the growth your church has experienced this past year, you can download the submission form here.

We would love to hear from you even if your church has experienced some great growth. We do ask that only staff members of churches submit forms. If you are an enthusiastic member or volunteer leader of your church, feel free to let your staff know about the project and where to get the form.

If you are interested in knowing more, I wrote this post a few months ago to talk about the project and to explain why we think it is a good thing.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Below is an excerpt from my column in the latest issue from Outreach Magazine on the research we did for the 100 Largest & Fastest Growing Churches. It's always a list that generates a lot of discussion-- some of it gets heated. This article (co-written with Lizette Beard from our LifeWay Research team) seeks to address some of the concerns people raise about the list.

I had the chance to interview some of the pastors of the churches on this list and will be posting them in the coming days. For now, check out the article (reproduced in part here), and feel free to dialog in the comment section here at the blog.

AS I SEE IT: ED STETZER

Is It All About Ego?
And Other Common Misconceptions

My team has a love-hate relationship with this project of researching the 100 Largest and 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches. They love "discovering" growing churches and learning from the churches whose commitment to reach people lands them on the lists year after year. Their favorite part is interviewing church leaders, hearing the stories of transformed communities and individual life change. They can't get enough of that stuff.

Then there are the rough days when they can't get past the gatekeepers, whose job it is to protect pastors from research companies wanting to conduct surveys. Or when they can't find out who in the church actually knows the attendance numbers. Or they can't seem to get someone to grasp the criteria of attendance not membership, weekend not weekly. And then there is the rare but very rude staff member. Fortunately, my team is familiar with what it takes to handle a sometimes difficult personality, so they have strategies in place.

But what bothers them the most is the lack of understanding about what this project is--a couple of lists that are simply meant to tell the story of how churches throughout the country are reaching people.

As you read this issue, we ask you not to miss the stories behind the lists because the real-life examples of what God is doing in and through the local church are the best part (see Page 60). We believe pastors and leaders of churches of all sizes can learn from these churches. We have. Their examples of innovation, creativity and risk taking--all to reach people and then give God the glory--have inspired each of us personally.

As we take a look at some of these churches, we're also sharing some of the more common criticisms and comparing them to what we've heard from these churches. Unfortunately, we know telling the stories won't dissuade all the critics. But we've learned that criticism actually does our research team and Outreach a favor by driving up the buzz and keeping us on our toes.

What about conversion growth?

Aren't these megachurches just swapping sheep and drawing in church hoppers?

I can honestly say that most of the pastors we talked to in this study are strategically focused on reaching out to those disconnected from faith and church and helping them learn about God. They seek to connect them to the community of believers....

Mike Bodine, senior leader at Central Christian Church (No. 11 Largest, No. 31 Fastest-Growing), describes what God is doing through the personal relationships Central Christian attendees are building in Las Vegas.

"It's a term we call one life--that every person at Central should have at least one life they're praying for and building an intentional relationship with," he explains. "And then they should be prepared to journey with that person and invite them to come hear a life-changing message of radical grace."

Las Vegas is experiencing a renewed spiritual hunger, Bodine says. In one weekend, Central Christian baptized 1,200 people.

"These are real stories of real people pulling back from the brink of suicide. Marriages are being restored, families being put back together, and people are becoming productive in society."

What about mobilization for service?

Aren't people at these churches just sitting and soaking?

On the contrary, some of the churches we talked to have made weekends of service an annual or twice-a-year activity. We heard stories of churches cleaning up foreclosed neighborhoods, sponsoring health clinics and stocking community food pantries. As a result, communities are seeing no-strings-attached compassion--the Church being the Church. (See PutYourFaithInAction.com for more information.) And many, perhaps most, of these churches are strategically and tangibly demonstrating the love of Christ to people with needs and hurts.

Christ's Church of the Valley in Covina, Calif. ( No. 57 Fastest-Growing, see Page 69) learned that the largest homeless population in Los Angeles County is single moms and started an after-school program

"We take these single moms who are trying to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet, and we go in with our teams to local schools," Senior Pastor Jeff Vines says. "Our goal was to have an after-school program in every elementary school in San Gabriel Valley."

"So while people have made a commitment to the ministry, at the same time there is a renewed passion for service," Vines says. "They come in to use their gifts, their talents and their abilities to make a difference in the world."

What about the churches that will never make the list?

Isn't it true that many healthy, growing churches will never qualify to be listed on some Largest or Fastest-Growing list?

Of course. I have been to some incredible churches and know great pastors who will never be on these lists. Not because they aren't reaching the lost, seeing life transformation or reaching out to their communities. I know churches that plant several churches a year. Since they give away people to the new plants, they barely "break even." Others are growing at a pace that eclipses (by percentage) those on these lists, but they don't yet meet the qualification for the Fastest-Growing list of at least 1,000 attendees. Still others are seeing steady growth, but they are in a geographic location or demographic situation where it's just harder and slower--but the ministry is still good, and it is blessed. There is nothing about these lists or this report that is ever meant to diminish or take away from the great work so many of these churches are doing. If a church doesn't make the list, I have to ask, "So what?"

Head over to Outreach Magazine to read the entire article. Feel free to give your thoughts in the comment section.

The Barna Group released the findings of a new study that showed "congregational size is related to the nature of a congregation's religious beliefs, religious behavior and demographic profile."

Specifically the study showed "statistically significant differences between churches of 100 or fewer adult attenders and churches of 1000 or more adult attenders." In fact, the only issue covered where no real difference existed was whether the person had prayed during the previous week. Here is some of the information from the article at Barna.org.

On all 9 of the belief statements tested, attenders of large churches were more likely than those engaged in a small or mid-sized congregation to give an orthodox biblical response - e.g., the Bible is totally accurate in all the principles it teaches, Satan is not merely symbolic but exists, Jesus led a sinless life, God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the world who still rules the universe, etc.

On seven of the eight behavioral measures, attenders of large churches were substantially more likely than those of small churches to be active. (These included behaviors such as attending church in the past week, reading the Bible in the past week, volunteering at their church in the past week, etc.) The average difference related to these seven behaviors was 17 percentage points.

It was also shown that larger churches were more likely to have college graduates, wealthy attenders, and attenders/members with children under 18. Adults in these Protestant mega-churches were also more likely to vote Republican.

Another interesting point was that House Churches were not following the trend of other small congregations.

The religious beliefs and behaviors of people who attend house churches, which average about 20 adults in attendance, are more similar to the results for large conventional churches (i.e., more than 500 adults) than they are to the outcomes among those who attend small conventional churches (i.e., less than 50 adults).

So head over to the Barna Group, read the report and come back here to discuss.

Megachurches are growing both in the number of churches qualifying as megachurches, and in the size of megachurches themselves. Back in 1992, if your attendance was 3,315 or higher, you got put in the "100 largest" list of churches in America. We just compiled the list for 2009 to be published this fall by Outreach Magazine, and the the cutoff for the "100 largest" was about double what it was in 1992.

So, when most people think of megachurches they not only think of mega-numbers, but also mega-sanctuaries. But you'd be surprised. While megachurch size (in number) has increased, sanctuaries have not grown in size. According to a national study co-authored by Warren Bird of Leadership Network, "Changes in American Megachurches", (see page 6), attendance in megachurches is growing but sanctuary size is the same. In fact, the average main sanctuary seating capacity in the typical American megachurch is only 1,400 (median), according to Warren's report.

That means only a few dozen churches can seat more than 5,000. Warren listed all the churches he believes have a seating capacity of 5,000 or more, and if you're curious, that list-in-progress can be downloaded here. Do you know of any U.S. church that got left out? Any thoughts or corrections to the numbers here? Please take a look and add a comment if you know of a church that's missing.

So, who would you know that needs to be on this list. Let us know and we can check and follow up.

My friends at Leadership Network surveyed 232 pastors of churches with an average weekend worship attendance of at least 2,000. Here are 10 things you might not know about megachurch pastors. Read the whole thing here, with some explanation, and then come back to discuss.

1. They think of themselves more as teachers and directional leaders than as pastors.
2. Preaching tops the list of things they do best.
3. They haven't always worked in churches.
4. Being an extrovert isn't mandatory.
5. Family stays at the top of mind when it comes to prayers.
6. They usually like the people they work with.
7. They believe their top gift is leadership.
8. They are actively involved in sports.
9. They find worship at their church helpful for personal spiritual growth.
10. They're not thinking about quitting.

Surprised? Concerned? Pleased?

I find that many people who are not currently in a mega church have certain ideas about the "kind" of people in such churches. An interesting new study by Warren Bird and Scott Thumma has been released via The Hartford Institute for Religious Research titled, Not Who You Think They Are: A Profile of The People Who Attend America's Megachurches. Below are the bullet points of the more prominent findings:

• Young and single adults are more likely to be in megachurches than in smaller churches.
• Nearly two-thirds of attenders have been at these churches 5 years or less.
• Many attenders come from other churches, but nearly a quarter haven't been in any church for a long time before coming to a megachurch.
• Attenders report a considerable increase in their involvement in church, in their spiritual growth, and in their needs being met.
• Forty-five percent of megachurch attenders never volunteer at the church.
• New people almost always come to the megachurch because family, friends or co-workers invited them.
• What first attracted attenders were the worship style, the senior pastor and the church's reputation.
• These same factors also influenced long-term attendance, as did the music/arts, social and community outreach and adult-oriented programs.
• Attenders can craft unique, customized spiritual experiences through the multitude of ministry choices and diverse avenues for involvement that megachurches offer.

This is a large document, and you would do well to download the entire report as a PDF.

Check it out and come back to discuss. Are you surprised about the findings? What are you experiencing in your church?

Here is a picture of our team looking for your attendance numbers for the Outreach Magazine/LifeWay Research Special Report that will be published in Fall 2009. If you are a church currently running over 1000 on weekend worship, please fill out this form and fax it to our offices (FAX # is on the form). We would love to hear from you!