Daniel Ausbun
  • Home
  • About

4 Characteristics of a Megachurch

1/1/2013

4 Comments

 
Picture
Do you attend a huge church? Do you worship with not hundreds, but thousands of people every Sunday? The largest church in the world is Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea with 1 million members.

A "megachurch" is defined by at least 2,000 worshippers every week and there are about 1,200 megachurches in the United States.

What are some characteristics of a megachurch compared to your local, neighborhood church down the street? Here are 4 characteristics found in megachurches:

1). Megachurches establish a brand. Ultra large churches purposely create identities for their niche. For example, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas is known for Joel Osteen and his positive messages and upbeat worship. The Church of Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama has created an identity for radical discipleship and missions to unreached people groups. Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina is known as a hip, college-centered church - including church extensions on university campuses.

2). Megachurches communicate extremely well. Most of them have a Minister of Communications who is always emailing, snail mailing, tweeting, blogging, Facebooking, videos, advertising, publishing - every possible avenue to connect with members and guests - they're aggressive and professional. I know of a church that requires it's staff members to return phone calls/emails/Facebook messages within 4 hours of receiving them.

Logos, mission statements, and new member classes are all used to communicate the vision of the church, how you can be involved, and how you can give. Too much is at stake for a megachurch or any size church to fail at communication.

3). Megachurches master small groups. They know that a church grows larger by growing smaller. Much of their growth is building 5 hallways each with 10 large rooms seating 40 people each and clean restrooms. Whether its Sunday School, Discipleship Groups, Specialty-based classes or Weight Watchers meetings - they use small groups to connect. Megachurches know if people don't assimilate in a small group setting - they don't stick.

4). Megachurches have personalities. The pastor is publishing a book a year, the worship pastor writes the songs they sing, the children's minister is writing the curriculum for the kids. A high level of professionalism and expectation is established. This can be dangerous if a ministry leader sets himself on a higher level than the people in the pew...aka pride.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, said his goal was to memorize 3,000 names. He would study the church directory - thousands of people would attend, and he'd walk around saying their names. He knew nothing about them...but he knew their names!

4 Comments
pete carillo
10/7/2015 12:58:11 am

Thanks for the info. Now I know why a pastor while asked how he was doing in his church, blurted, yes, we're now worshiping in a bigger facility, our own, & we have so much in thousands who worship with us and our giving likewise has increased to so much each service. All physical and material- all meant to impress! Christian churches that is supposed to proclaim the grace that will save mankind. Each servant is characterized as 'fools for Christ" and the "scum of the earth" but nowadays all neat-looking and dashing, possibly in tuxedo, all ready to proclaim the good news of salvation!. The church has become business in these last days. Christians it seems have forgotten our mission given to us by Jesus in Matt. 28 which includes preaching against sin and any high thing that exalts itself against Christ. But that's not happening anymore. I recall a verse in Isaiah that says "preach to us smooth things", referring to some Jews who would rather listen to cold preaching rather than hear hard speech from Jehovah because of their sin. Yes, things that entertain(unfortunately) so that listeners would come home feeling good about themselves but would surely come back for more next Sunday. Oh boy!

Reply
zafar link
6/30/2019 12:07:53 am

Hopeless Christian children free school

Greeting my brothers and sisters in Jesus name. am pastorz afar john .my ministries name .new creation international church Pakistan..i opend school for hopeless children .in this time I have one Hundred children Girl and boys get Study in school. But many family have wish get study in hopeless school our children. The school have not own building .but school building have Rent I pay rent $200 dollar every month .the children have received note book and books begs and school clothes for study from school.10 teachers doing work hopeless Christian children school every teacher have get good salary from school .i Request for my brothers and sisters for share help my school needs . I have Needs own school building when I have needs $20,000 dollar for buy new building for school and every month Salary for teachers I have needs but as you wish you can share help for hopeless children and for school building .God bless you .very thankful for you

Office Email::ncimpk456@gmail.com
Pastor's Email::PastorZafarjohn@gmail.com
Phone Number::+92-316-7551865 and 092--0307-1566225

You can send donation through western union or money gram Services::
First Name ::zafar
Last name ::masih
City ::Faisalabad

Reply
Mega Churches In Unites States. link
5/15/2020 02:36:36 am

God is always Great

Reply
Peter Maxwell
7/3/2022 06:43:48 pm

Mega Churches are amazing in my opinion, and one in particular is our lovely church in Houston, Texas, https://lhhouston.church/. Are there any more worth mentioning besides the usual big names? A respectable Mega Church, in my opinion, contributes to the advancement of society.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    A resource for Christian ministry, leadership & life issues!

    Archives

    November 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    October 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012

    Categories

    All
    Addictions
    Adoption
    Alcohol
    Bible
    Calvinism
    Children
    Church Membership
    Culture
    Discipleship
    Divorce
    End Times
    Evangelism
    Leadership
    Marriage
    Ministry
    Missions
    Money
    Parenting
    Pornography
    Prayer
    Preteen
    Seminary
    Sin
    Social Media
    Students
    Sunday School
    Women

    RSS Feed