Outreach magazine has released their 2008 list of the Top 100 Largest Churches in America. To see the full list, you can (1) buy a downloadable PDF or (2) buy a copy of the magazine’s special issue.
For a sneak peak at this year’s rankings, here are the top 15 largest churches in America for 2008 as well as how they ranked in 2007 and 2006.
Top 15 (of 100) Largest Churches in America for 2008
- Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
Founded 1959 :: 1 location
#1 = 43,500 (2008)
#1 = 47,000 (2007)
#1 = 45,000 (2006) - Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) :: Ed Young Sr.
Founded 1927 :: 5 locations
#2 = 23,659 (2008)
#3 = 23,198 (2007)
#3 = 22,266 (2006) - North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
Founded 1995 :: 3 locations
#3 = 22,557 (2008)
#7 = 17,700 (2007)
#12 = 16,700 (2006) - Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
Founded 1975 :: 4 locations
#4 = 22,500 (2008)
#2 = 23,500 (2007)
#5 = 21,500 (2006) - LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
Founded 1996 :: 11 locations
#5 = 20,823 (2008)
#5 = 19,907 (2007)
#13 = 16,071 (2006) - West Angeles Church of God in Christ (Los Angeles, CA) :: Charles Blake
Founded 1943 :: 1 location
#6 = 20,000 (2008)
#50 = 8,350 (2006) - Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young Jr.
Founded 1989 :: 5 locations
#7 = 19,913 (2008)
#16 = 13,000 (2007)(rumored misreport)
#9 = 18,124 (2006 - Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
Founded 1980 :: 2 locations
#8 = 19,414 (2008)
#4 = 22,000 (2007)
#6 = 20,595 (2006) - Calvary Chapel (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) :: Bob Coy
Founded 1985 :: 3 locations
#9 = 18,000 (2008)
#9 = 17,000 (2007)
#8 = 18,300 (2006) - The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX) :: T.D. Jakes
Founded 1996 :: 1 location
#10 = 17,000 (2008)
#10 = 17,000 (2007)
#20 = 14,000 (2006) - Woodlands Church (The Woodlands, TX) :: Kerry Shook
Founded 1993 :: 3 locations
#11 = 16,380 (2008)
#12 = 15,600 (2007)
#18 = 14,120 (2006) - Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) :: Dave Stone
Founded 1962 :: 1 location
#12 = 16,264 (2008)
#6 = 18,013 (2007)
#7 = 18,520 (2006) - Hopewell Missionary Baptist (Norcross, GA) :: William Sheals
Founded 1860s :: 1 location
#13 = 16,000 (2008) - New Birth Missionary Baptist (Decatur, GA) :: Eddie Long
Founded 1984 :: 1 location
#14 = 15,000 (2008)
#13 = 15,000 (2007)
#4 = 22,000 (2006) - NorthRidge Church (Plymouth, MI) :: Brad Powell
Founded 1929 :: 1 location
#15 = 14,762 (2008)
#15 = 13,865 (2007)
#23 = 12,700 (2006)
These “largest churches” are great sources of ministry ideas and examples. This does not mean you should copy what they do. Your ministry has a unique calling that requires unique actions.
Learn from the mistakes and successes of these “largest churches.” Learn how to do what they do better and within the context of your calling.
[...] Here is the list for the 15 largest churches in [...]
Would you mind telling me where Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas stands on the list?
@Jamie
I did not see it on the list. To make the list, a church needs (1) 7,000+ weekly weekend attendance and (2) to report their attendance to the researchers.
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I think we make a mistake in celebrating this list every year. A churches size doesn’t always have alot to do with it’s effectiveness. I praise God for what He’s doing in these churches, but I really want to hear about churches that are more like the rest of us, ie…the other 85% of churches in America!
Is there anyone that can tell me which of these churches was either started by a divorced pastor or is now led by a divorced pastor? I know Lakewood is one as Bro. John Osteen was a divorced man. I’m just trying to understand how God can richly bless a church overseen by a divorced man and so many in our Christian family say that a divorced man can not and should not have a postion of leadership whether it be pastor, deacon, bishop or elder.
@Ken
I do not know the background of each pastor of these churches.
For me personally, I am cautious to judge them because I feel like I am in no position to judge. I do know that God used David, who was an adulterer and murderer. And there are many other examples in the Bible where God uses flawed people.
In fact, I guess I can only think of one unflawed person that God ever used.
I have absolutely no problem with celebrating mega-churches…The church started as a mega-church (See Acts 2)…and this is coming from a guy who is in a church of just over 100!
It is funny to me that all these churches are found in the notorious “Bible Belt” except for the two L.A. churches, but it doesn’t really matter - let’s all passionately pursue the unchurched and show them Jesus!
Where is Calvary Temple in Modesto, CA on the list?
Where is Harvest Bible Chapel in IL on the list?
[...] went about with the sampling process and who knows if it was a fair sampling of the population. Two largest churches in America (or mega-churches) can account for more than the 54,000 people they sampled. So it really depends [...]
Where is Cornerstone Church, San Antonio, Texas? This is John Hagee’s church and they have over 18,000 people.
I am glad to see this report as there are so many people in this country that are saying Christianity will soon be obsolete, churches are dying, people are rejecting Christianity, etc. I am glad to see so many mega churches.
Is there a list of key contacts or email addresses for the top 100 churches available in this article?
In reply to ken Durham’s question about John Osteen. This is not a judgement on Lakewood Church. Remember that big is not necessarily a sign of God’s blessing. One can get a large following by telling people what they want to hear as there is so much of that in our world, yes even Christian world today. I went to school with John’s sister Lisa and on one spring break drove her to meet her dad on my way to South Carolina. We were students at ORU. One has to look at the fruit. Is it lasting? Is sin being watered down in favor of a loving God? Is real repentance part of the salvation experience? God does love us but he does hate sin too. The more the church is like the world the less effective she is to bring about lasting change in the hearts of her members.
One further comment. I am a member of Biltmore Baptist Church, not on staff. I am in the orchestra. my wife and I have been members there since 2001. We do have close to 6000 members, Glory to God but as our last pastor James Walker said, the growth is only because of the large prayer ministry the church has to daily cover the staff in prayer. When James came there the church membership was around 178 in 1994. Under God’s leading James got the people to focus on five goals and began the prayer ministry. Each week over 1000 people meet all over town in groups of 4-8 or more to pray over the specific needs of the church and to cover the staff in prayer. Each group meets for at least an hour and everyone prays according to the quarterly prayer guide. Everyone praying the same thing. There is also prayer going on during all the services in a separate room. You can access the prayer guide on the church website.
http://www.biltmorebaptist.org/clientimages/30808/prayer/winter09prayer.pdf
MANY churches today DO NOT follow God’s word in respect to pastor’s, elder’s or deacons. I would seriously question those churches likewise upon other matters of theology to see where-else they may fail, fudge or falter. As someone has said, a numerical equivalent is not … repeat NOT… a sign of God’s blessing, merely that something is being said there that tickle men’s ears.
If numerical standing was a sign of the Blessing of God, we would have to acknowledge a blessing upon muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and Scientologists… all of whom have large numbers of people, but are DEAD WRONG theologically.
Numbers DO NOT MATTER…and I really wish we in America would get it out of our heads that it did. God finds more pleasure in ONE HEART that follows him obediantly, than 10,000 who congregate in his name on any given sunday, and worship a God of their own construct.
I’ll get off my soap-box now.
What about Noel Jone’s church The City of Refuge? It’s said to have 17,000 members. How come I don’t see that church noted as one of the largest churches in America?
[...] http://churchrelevance.com/top-100-largest-churches-in-america-of-2008/. It is digno de notar que segun esta fuente, la asistencia ha descendido a 3,500 personas desde el [...]
[...] http://churchrelevance.com/top-100-largest-churches-in-america-of-2008/. It is digno de notar que según esta fuente, la asistencia ha descendido a 3,500 personas desde el [...]
[...] http://churchrelevance.com/top-100-largest-churches-in-america-of-2008/. It is worthy of note that according to this source, attendance has dropped by 3,500 people [...]
Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City, Florida is an awesome Church visit: Flamingoroadchurch.com
I believe that it is not for us to judge whether any pastor’s church is small or big.do we have to tear each other apart because some are doing well?…lets celebrate our herroes and lets leave the court room for God.. The difference between the ordinary and the extra- ordinary people is the word ‘extra’..You can also have a big church if you go extra mile
In spite of all our justification of why churches are the size they are, the fact is all pastors wish to see their churches grow and encourage their members to win souls (new people) in. People like to relate to a messsage being preached and more so a message that can change their present circumstance. e.g there is no use of telling me every church service how bad i am and that i will die in hell as a prostitute. I already know what i am doing is wrong thats why am in church. I need to know how I can change my situation and be a better person. That’s the reason why some churches dont grow, people know what they looking for.
[...] Korea. Membership at the most mega-church of all: 750,000. To put that in perspective in America the largest 15 churches combined do not make up even half that number. Yoido Full Gospel Church in S. Korea’s [...]