Interesting Stats on Mega Churches Released
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009
It seems that the mega church phenomena isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. A 2008 study of 12 of the largest churches in america found that it was these churches that we attracting young and single adults, and that 25% of their congrigations hadn’t been to church for a ‘long time’ before attending.
While some remain on the fence about the whole mega church movement, these numbers seem to indicate that the movement will remain a part of the American church landscape for quite a while.
Some of the interesting findings from the study are that:
- Young and single adults are more likely to be in mega churches 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 mega church.
- Attenders report a considerable increase in their involvement in church, in their spiritual growth, and in their needs being met.
- Forty-five percent of mega church attenders never volunteer at the church.
- New people almost always come to the mega church because family, friends or coworkers 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 mega churches offer
Check the study (linked to below) for all the stats and numbers, it is really interesting.
Download a copy of the study, “Not Who You Think They Are: The Real Story of People Who Attend America’s Megachurches”, free at www.leadnet.org/megachurch.
via Catalystspace