STUDY REPORTS ON TOP 100 LARGEST AND FASTEST-GROWING CHURCHES

Christian e-tailing ^ | May 3, 2004 | None named

[holyscroller]

Lakewood Church in Houston has been named the largest and fastest-growing church in America, according to the 2004 Church Growth Today Study/Outreach magazine report published exclusively in the May/June issue of Outreach. Lakewood Church, founded by the late John Osteen in a feed store in 1959, is pastored by his son Joel Osteen. The congregation recently purchased and is renovating the Compaq Center, former home of the NBA's Houston Rockets, to house its services.

However, Lakewood is only one of 100 churches, which made each of the two lists: The 100 Largest Churches in America and The 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches of the 21st Century.

The research for both lists was compiled by John N. Vaughan of Church Growth Today, widely recognized as the leading expert on church growth statistics specifically related to the phenomenon of "megachurches" (churches running 2,000-plus in weekly attendance).

The report titled "The Exponential Church" states: "Once each year Outreach unapologetically reports on the largest and fastest-growing churches in America. We don't look to these churches as 'the best,' 'the most spiritual' or any other qualifier; they are simply the largest and-because of their size-command our interest and attention."

Emerging from the 2004 list is a new category of church the magazine has labeled the "gigachurch," a church with a weekly attendance in excess of 10,000. A total of 31 churches appear on the 100 Largest Churches list.

The report, which collectively represents a total of 166 churches, features profiles of six of the churches on the Fastest-Growing list, offering transferable principles and insights into their growth.

Published by San Diego-based Outreach Inc., Outreach is a bi-monthly magazine for church leadership, which offers the ideas, insights and stories of today's outreach-oriented churches. For more information, go to http://www.Outreachmagazine.com.

[holyscroller]

I wish I lived in Houston. I catch Joel Osteen on TV occasionally, and love his preaching. He has a wonderful dry sense of humor. Many people don't like these "mega-churches", but the fact is, sheep go where they're fed.

[pissant]

sheep is right, if they listen to that guy. A $1K suit, a rolex and a $100 haircut. Enough to make Benny Hinn (not to be confused with Benny Hill) proud.

[The Lumster]

The sheep like to go where they get their ears tickled and this guy is one of the best ear ticklers around.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. Luke 6:26

[job]

a thousand dollar suit is not considered high end, in fact its probably about the middle of the market. I would rather have 4 $1000 suits over the next few years, than 16 $250 suits, believe me. Plus, that is his uniform. Now, if he has 250 $1000 suits, that may be a different matter.

But the key is, never, never pay retail. You can get a $1000 suit, at various times, for $400-$650, on sale.

[Who dat?]

A $1K suit, a rolex and a $100 haircut.

Ha. I believe that was a Ray Stevens song (Would Jesus wear a Rolex on his television show?)

The one I get a kick out of is the guy from Shepherd’s Chapel in Gravette(?) Arkansas. Arnold something (Murray?)… he gives ‘em hell from time to time. He’s always on TV in the wee hours of the morning here. He's a cranky old coot sometimes but seems to be quite knowledgeable.

But then there's another guy that I've never been able to figure out. He's Dr. Something-or-other and always wears two pairs of glasses (glasses and sunglasses) and smokes a cigar. Also always shows racing horses(?) being worked out... he's a strange one. I've turned him on a couple of times where he's berating his staff.

[ChocChipCookie]

I've never heard Joel Osteen and don't know about the ear-tickling thing. We go to Calvary Community in Phoenix, and the teaching is amazing. It's a huge church -- not sure if it's in the Top 100 in this article but easily could be. Pastor Mark Martin is simply the best teacher/pastor I've ever heard. Website address is www.calvaryphx.com

[Who dat?]

He's Dr. Something-or-other…

Dr. Gene Scott, IIRC…

[fishtank]

False Prophet Joel Osteen Three Days in Hell Word of Faith Name it and Claim it .......


Bump!

[r9etb]

Lakewood Church, founded by the late John Osteen in a feed store in 1959, is pastored by his son Joel Osteen.

It's interesting to me how in many of these big churchs the son takes over from the father. It's a comforting transition, I'm sure, but there's a bit too much of "the family bidness" about it for my tastes.

[Congressman Billybob]

Your "Dr. Something-or-other" is Dr. Gene Scott. He is an odd duck, but he reads several dead languages and can preach up a storm on tectual analysis. In addition to race horses, he also has a stable of attractive young ladies. They do shots of him bicycling around the So-Cal neighborhood with them.

He is a hoot, but he is also quite educational. (Not sure I like the camera shots he favors where the lens is directly in his face, tight on his cigar.)

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Honesty Problems with Kerry and Gorelick: Pin the Truth on the Democrat."

[Steve_Seattle]

Two TV preachers who I DON'T think are in it for the money are Charles Stanley and James Robison. I'm very suspicious of Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, and what's-his-name Murdock, and somewhat suspicious of Joyce Meyer. Jack van Impe is a hoot, one of the best comedy shows on TV.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

Joel Osteen never heard him.

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I have been around the fringes of religion most of my life. About two years ago I caught one of Joel messages. I was impressed, his style is one of ease and self truth.

When I first saw him he was rough around the edges, but now his much more at ease with his TV sessions.

His style is not traditional, but more look at yourself if you want to improve your life and living.

Neat approach.

[skeeter]

The sheep like to go where they get their ears tickled and this guy is one of the best ear ticklers around.

He may not preach on the bible much, but Joel sure leaves 'em feeling great about themselves. After watchin him for 5 minutes even I felt like a winner.

I especially like the way the cameras switch, timed with the cadence of his oral delivery, at precisely the time turns away from the crowd so you can see his immense flock. Its hypnotic.

I'll stick with ol' rev Stanley. His interior decorator may be Marie Calendar but he doesn't pull any punches.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Many people don't like these "mega-churches", but the fact is, sheep go where they're fed.

It's a real feast over at Jezebel's table. Yoo-hoo, Elijah...

[pissant]

My all time fave is Robert Tilton. He used to beg for money and then he'd send you a piece of a "prayer cloth" that he strenuously blessed. He got filmed just going thru the envelopes and grabbing the checks and/or cash and tossing the letters in the trash. Think he got busted for tax shenanigans and went away for awhile.

I see now he's back in all of his meticulously groomed style, renting late night TV time on the BET station (hilarious). Typical televangalist - f***ing fraud.

[zygoat]

Where's Earnest Angely when ya need him?

"What's the na-ture of ayer aff-a-lic-shun?"
" You are heee-aaaalled!"

[mombonn]

I'll give a hearty amen to your comments about Charles Stanley. I've listened to him since the late 80's, and have NEVER heard him ask for money.

He wears a simple suit, and is as humble as they come.

Don't know Robison well enough to comment.

[ken5050]

FYI bump...BT.wonder who tops the list of the fastest contracting church?

[millefleur]

"FYI bump...BT.wonder who tops the list of the fastest contracting church?"

that would probably be the church where repentance and humilty is preached, and the politically incorrect but Biblically correct truth.

[Quix]

He has a quite reasonable believe that God Almighty is a God of excellence.

I agree with him.

He extrapolates from that, that he, and every Believer should behave, own, be as excellent as possible in all their doings and possessions.

To a point, I can agree in terms of doing one's best wholeheartedly as unto The Lord.

Kenneth Hagin's organization is similar.

I think a lot of that is admirable to a point.

I do think there is a leap off the deep end to some degree when it results in well outfitted, wealth being equated with spirituality.

I agree that ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH, SO BE IT UNTO YOU.

At the same time, there are those for whom suffering seems to be their lot though they have enormous faith.

I don't think Hagin's group deals thoroughly well with that contradition. Some of their response sounds Biblical and some sounds like rationalization.

King David and Solomon clearly had and were decked out in the best of their time. I don't have a problem with believers--even spiritual leaders having wealth as long as it doesn't go to their heads or get between them and God or distance them from the lowest person, socioeconomically, in their congregations.

And, they do well to remember Christ's caution about the difficulty in a wealthy man entering Heaven.

I think Joel basically does a good job--especially for his age and responsibilities, not to mention following in his dad's considerable footsteps.

Occasionally he seems to get a bit flip and sometimes I want to slap him for his flip, crass comments reflecting on his wife less admirably than they should. But I've noticed, he's improving in that department.

The church and Joel takes seriously ministering to the poor here and overseas in very tangible ways. I suspect they go above and beyond the call of duty in doing so.

Should they raise everyone up to an equal socioeconomic level before buying the Rolex's etc.? King David and even Solomon did not. And, there's something to be said for individuals earning their own way to a large degree.

Yet Christ said, if your brother has no coat and you have two, give him one of yours.

I doubt seriously we are going to solve the tension between these values and issues before Christ comes again at the rate the end times are racing forward. I do suspect Christ's 1,000 millenial reign will have a different socioeconomic setup.

And, some would contend that with the 'free energy' or 'zero point' energy abroad in the world, everyone could have wealth.

In any case, there's not likely to be a meaningful change except toward tyranny between now and Christ's return. Certainly the globalists will contend that they are setting things up to put a Lexus in every driveway or maybe a donkey given environmental concerns. But we know that satan behind the globalists is only intent on stealing, killing and destroying. All else he puts out is deception toward such ends.

I don't have any rocks to throw at Joel Olsteen. Praise God for him and pass the ammunition. But he'd best watch and pray earnestly that he be INCREASINGLY--NOT DECREASINGLY--CLOAKED IN HUMILITY and brokenness before The Lord and man.