Outreach magazine recently published their 5th annual special issue, which highlights America’s 100 largest and 100 fastest-growing churches. For the past few years, Outreach magazine has used research by John Vaughan of Church Growth Today for their lists. This year they have partnered with Ed Stetzer of LifeWay Research to compile 2007’s lists.

These lists are useful in guiding you to which churches are likely worth studying, but keep in mind that no list is perfect. In fact, I was surprised to see that 6 churches with 10,000+ attendance from 2006’s list were not included in 2007’s list. They still exist and have high attendance, but they just weren’t included. Instead of being a list of the 100 largest churches in America, consider it more as just 100 of the largest churches in America.

For the most part, the attendance numbers seem accurate.

2007’s list features 100 U.S. churches ranging from 47,000 to 6,376 in attendance.
2006’s list featured 100 U.S. churches ranging from 45,000 to 6,500 in attendance.

Top 18 Largest Churches in America for 2007

1. Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
   >> 07 Attendance = 47,000
   >> 06 Attendance = 45,000 (#1 in ‘06)
2. Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
   >> 07 Attendance = 23,500
   >> 06 Attendance = 21,500 (#5 in ‘06)
3. Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) :: Ed Young Sr.
   >> 07 Attendance = 23,198
   >> 06 Attendance = 22,266 (#3 in ‘06)
4. Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
   >> 07 Attendance = 22,000
   >> 06 Attendance = 20,595 (#6 in ‘06)
5. LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
   >> 07 Attendance = 19,907
   >> 06 Attendance = 16,071 (#13 in ‘06)
6. Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) :: Dave Stone
   >> 07 Attendance = 18,013
   >> 06 Attendance = 18,520 (#7 in ‘06)
7. North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
   >> 07 Attendance = 17,700
   >> 06 Attendance = 16,700 (#12 in ‘06)
8. Thomas Road Baptist Church (Lynchburg, VA) :: Jonathan Falwell
   >> 07 Attendance = 17,445
   >> 06 Attendance = 7,626 (#71 in ‘07)
9. Calvary Chapel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) :: Bob Coy
   >> 07 Attendance = 17,000
   >> 06 Attendance = 18,300 (#8 in ‘07)
10. The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX) :: T.D. Jakes
    >> 07 Attendance = 17,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 14,000 (#20 in ‘06)
11. First Assembly of God (Phoenix, AZ) :: Tommy Barnett
    >> 07 Attendance = 16,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 17,532 (#11 in ‘06)
12. Fellowship of the Woodlands (The Woodlands, TX) :: Kerry Shook
    >> 07 Attendance = 15,600
    >> 06 Attendance = 14,120 (#18 in ‘06)
13. New Birth Missionary Baptist (Decatur, GA) :: Eddie Long
    >> 07 Attendance = 15,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 22,000 (#4 in ‘06)
14. Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano, TX) :: Jack Graham
    >> 07 Attendance = 14,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 14,871 (#17 in ‘06)
15. NorthRidge Church (Plymouth, MI) :: Brad Powell
    >> 07 Attendance = 13,865
    >> 06 Attendance = 12,700 (#23 in ‘06)
16. Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young Jr.
    >> 07 Attendance = 13,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 18,124 (#9 in ‘06)
17. Christian Cultural Center (Brooklyn, NY) :: A.R. Bernard Sr.
    >> 07 Attendance = 13,000
    >> 06 Attendance = 13,000 (#21 in ‘06)
18. New Light Christian Center (Houston, TX) :: Ira Hilliard
    >> 07 Attendance = 12,500
    >> 06 Attendance = 7,070 (#81 in ‘06)

To see the entire list of 2007’s 100 Largest U.S. Churches, check out Outreach magazine’s website.

Noteworthy Absences on 2007’s List

• Without Walls International (Tampa, FL) :: Randy White
  >> #2 in ‘06 with 23,900 attendance
• World Changers Church International (College Park, GA) :: Creflo Dollar
  >> #16 in ‘06 with 15,000 attendance
• Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church (New Orleans, LA) :: Paul Morton Sr.
  >> #22 in ‘06 with 13,000 attendance
• Jericho City of Praise (Landover, MD) :: Betty Peebles
  >> #25 in ‘06 with 11,500 attendance
• The Brooklyn Tabernacle (Brooklyn, NY) :: Jim Cymbala
  >> #33 in ‘06 with 10,000 attendance
• Church on the Move (Tulsa, OK) :: Willie George
  >> #40 in ‘06 with 10,000 attendance

Noteworthy Additions on 2007’s List

• Valley Bible Fellowship (Bakersfield, CA) :: Ron Vietti
  >> #28 in ‘07 with 10,500 attendance
• Kensington Community Church (Troy, MI) :: Steve Andrews
  >> #33 in ‘07 with 10,000 attendance
• First A.M.E. Church (Los Angeles, CA) :: John Hunter
  >> #34 in ‘07 with 10,000 attendance

I have also updated Church Relevance’s churches to watch list with this information.