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Are You a Mega Church Drop Out?

September 21, 2009 in mega church with 9 Comments

With mega-churches basking in the spotlight of mainstream media, several studies have been done about the mega-church movement that might just surprise you. A study just released a few days ago, indicates that the largest churches in the United States are “Christian, contemporary, and evangelical.” Mega-churches are growing, so the short term studies cite. The largest churches in the United States have reach amazing numbers:

Lakewood Church – Houston, TX 43,500 weekly
LifeChurch.tv – Edmond, OK 26,776 weekly
Willow Creek Community Church – South Barrington, IL 23,400 weekly
North Point Community Church – Alpharetta, GA 23,377 weekly
Second Baptist Church – Houston, TX 22,723 weekly

However, more long term studies show that churches and communities of faith are losing ground. The 18 year American Religious Identification Survey show that the percentage of “other Christians” (evangelical, protestant, and non-denominational churches) has dropped. Even in the Bible belt! In Texas, 20% of “other Christians” (basically, non-Catholics) have changed their faith affiliation to something other than Christian. You can check out the interactive graphic here.

The American Religious Identification Survey said “the challenge to Christianity … does not come from other religions but from a rejection of all forms of organized religion.” With so many mega-churches growing, there must be a “drop out” rate that is not being reported because “the percentage of those who choose a generic label, calling themselves simply Christian, Protestant, non-denominational, evangelical or “born again,” was 14.2%, about the same as in 1990.”

Even more surprising are what these surveys and studies have found:

What You Don't Know About Generation Y

August 21, 2009 in Generation Y with 9 Comments

The Baby Boomer generation is often thought as the generation that worked hard, help get us where we are, and was the backbone of the 20th century. Now that Baby Boomers are retiring, many have asked the question, “Who will take their place?” Generation X? No.

Generation Y (the Millennials).

Within 5-10 years, Generation Y will be the largest generation of our time — some think it is already. Estimates vary, but somewhere between 60 to 78 million fall into Generation Y. The typical Generation Y’er is internet savvy, technology driven, socially linked, and was born somewhere between 1977-1995. Generation X is only third of the size of Generation Y.

Why should you care? This is why:

Mega Church, Not So Mega Committment

June 10, 2009 in Churches with 6 Comments

Several news outlets, including the Associated Press and USA Today, are reporting today on a new study published by the the Hartford Ins titute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary and Leadership Network that found some surprising trends in mega-churches. In the study they found:

Nearly two-thirds of megachurch attenders are under 45 years old, as compared to only one-third for all Protestant churches (62% vs. 35%).
Nearly a third of megachurch attenders are single, unmarried persons. In a typical church, singles account for just 10% of the congregation.
Megachurch attenders are both more educated and more affluent than attenders at other churches.
The majority of megachurch attenders are not necessarily new to Christianity but nearly a quarter had not recently been in another church before coming to a megachurch.
While newcomers almost always attend a megachurch at the invitation of family, friends or co-workers, the real attraction tends to be the church’s reputation, worship style and senior pastor.
Long-term attendance flows from an appreciation for the church’s music/arts, social and community outreach and adult-oriented programs.
45% of megachurch attenders never volunteer at the church, and 40 percent are not engaged in a small group, the mainstay of megachurch programming.

As I have commented in the past, mega churches are meeting a need and are leading to people to Jesus Christ. Two awesome things. However, this study of 25,000 people at 12 mega churches indicates that megachurch attenders volunteer less and give less money than people who attend typical Protestant churches, although megachurch-goers tend to be wealthier and better educated. This follows the greater cultural trend of people being less committed to things because of their other commitments. We are over committed and give less energy to our commitments. For megachurches, this is problematic because it shows that attendees are less commitment to the church and they are not commitment enough to their stewardship through tithing or giving. Mega churches draw in mega amounts of giving, so it leads me to believe that they can survive on less giving per member.