When I first saw the image at right I immediately realized I have spent my entire life living in two of three states atop the list of states with the most megachurches in America. While I have visited several such churches, my professional experience has been in smaller congregations (though dominantly in those significantly larger than most American congregations).
Mega-Interesting
- The term megachurch was first used in print in 1983 in the Miami Herald,
- Protestant megachurches are four times more likely to be growing than are all Protestant churches,
- Megachurches are not a Boomer phenomenon – they draw twice as many people under age 45,
- more than 5 million people worship in an American megachurch during a typical week, and
- Megachurches have large sanctuaries but use them often featuring an average of 5.5 services per weekend.
So What?
Most people I encounter who want to talk about megachurches have very strong opinions about them. While some such views are well informed by fact many are based primarily on misinformation or limited personal experiences. Personally, I am thankful for megachurches and think they will be around for far longer than I will (see the megachurch bubble). I also believe that each and every size congregation has something to offer the church universal.
Challenge: Share some of the gifts the megachurch has given to the American church at large.