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America's 50 Most Influential Churches
Church Report Online ^ | July 2007 | Church Report Online

Posted on 07/17/2007 1:33:44 PM PDT by Terriergal

America's 50 Most Influential Churches

The Church Report is pleased to once again announce this year’s 50 Most Influential Churches in America. Each year, we look forward to working with Dr. John Vaughan and appreciate the input of pastors from throughout the country that provide their insight as to who is really influencing America's churches.
 
This year’s list has several new churches and you also note movement of other churches through the list. If you have comments, please feel to send us an email to crdaily@thechurchreport.com.
 
Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, Ill.), Saddleback Church Lake Forest, Calif.), North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, Ga.) and Fellowship Church (Grapevine, Texas) lead this years 50 Most Influential Churches list.
 
New to the top 10 churches are Granger Community Church (Granger, Ind.), Mars Hill Church (Seattle, Wash.) and Seacoast Church (Mt Pleasant, S.C.). All but Granger Community Church and The Potter’s House are multi-site churches.

 
Four of the top 10 churches are affiliated with denominations and six are non-affiliated. Lakewood Church and The Potter’s House are the only two of the 10 that are charismatic congregations. Two of the churches (Saddleback and Fellowship) are affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Life Church is Evangelical Covenant and Granger Community Church is United Methodist. Some are new churches and others date back to the late 1950s. Lakewood Church began in 1959 and is both the oldest of the five top congregations and largest in the nation. North Point was the youngest church in last year’s group and began in 1995 with about 1,200 people. Among the other three churches, Willow Creek is the second oldest and began in 1975 with a core of 75 people. Seattle’s Mars Hill Church, youngest of this year’s top ten list, began with 12 people in 1996, Granger began in 1986 with five people and Seacoast Church was launched with 65 people in 1989. Saddleback followed in 1980 with only Rick Warren and his wife Kay initially. Fellowship Church is the second youngest of the five and began in 1990 with 150 people. Each of these 10 churches now average more than 5,000 in weekend attendance.
 
Two United Methodist congregations, Granger Community Church (Granger, Ind.) and Resurrection United Methodist Church (Leawood, Kan.) were named by other church leaders for this year’s list of churches. Another returning mainline church is Menlo Park Presbyterian Church of Menlo Park, Calif., a PC(USA) congregation.
 
The 2007 survey was emailed to leaders of more than 2,000 of the largest non-Catholic congregations in the nation in April-June. Participants were asked to recommend up to 10 churches they considered to be among the nation’s most influential. A total of 77 churches were recommended. A total of 53 percent of all church leader recommendations named the five churches. The top 10 churches received a total of 65 percent of all recommendations. A summary of all 50 churches reveals:
 
Affiliation and/or Networks of Churches
 
Non-Affiliated (15)
Southern Baptist (12)

Assemblies of God (3)
Christian Churches/Churches of Christ (2)
United Methodist (2)
Calvary Chapel (3)
Baptist General Conference (2)
Presbyterian-PCA (2)
Evangelical Covenant (2)
Church of Christ (1)
Evangelical Free (1)

Foursquare (2)
Presbyterian –PC(USA) (1)
Reformed Church in America (1)
Vineyard (1)
Association of Relating Churches (1)
 
Note: Los Angeles International Church/Dream Center is affiliated with both the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and the Assemblies of God.
 
Location by Region
 

North East (3)
North Central (9)
South East (10)
South Central (6)
Southwest (8)
Mountain (2)
Pacific North West (2)
Pacific South West (10)
 

New to This Year’s Recommended Churches
 
New pastor’s to churches previously listed:
(16) Dave Stone, Southeast Christian Church – Louisville, Ky.
(34) Jonathan Falwell, Thomas Road Baptist - Lynchburg, Va.
 
New churches listed for the first time:
(25) Mariner’s Church – Irvine, Calif.
(37) Northland, A Church Distributed – Longwood, Fla.
(38) Bellevue Baptist Church – Cordova, Tenn.

(39) National Community Church – Washington D.C.
(41) World Changers – College Park, Ga.
(47) New Light Christian Center Church – Houston Texas
 
 
2
Saddleback
Lake Forest, Calif.

Rick Warren
 
 

  

 
3 Fellowship Church
Grapevine, Texas 
Ed Young

 

 

 
 
 
4 North Point Church
Alpharetta, Ga.
Andy Stanley

 

  
 
 

 

5 Life Church
Edmond, Okla.
Craig Groeschel

 
 
 
 

 

6 Granger Community Church
Granger, Ind.
Mark Beeson
 

 
 
 

 

7
Lakewood Church
Houston, Texas
Joel Osteen
 
 

 
 

 

8
Mars Hill Church
Seattle, Wash.
Mark Driscoll
 

 

 
 
 
9
The Potter's House
Dallas, Texas
T.D. Jakes

  

 
 

 
 
10
Seacoast Church
Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Greg Surratt
 

  
 

 

 

11
Mosaic Church
Los Angeles, Calif.
Erwin McManus
 

 

  

 

 
12
Mars Hill Church
Grandville, Mich.
Rob Bell
 
 
 
 

 

13
North Coast Church
Vista, Calif.
Larry W. Osborne
 

 

 
 
 

14 First Assembly of God

Phoenix, Ariz.

Tommy Barnett

 
 
 
 

 

15 United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
Leawood, Kan.
Adam Hamilton
 
 
 
 
 

16 Southeast Christian Church
Louisville, Ky.
Dave Stone
  
 
 
 
 

17 Brooklyn Tabernacle
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jim Cymbala
 
 
 
 
 
18 Calvary Chapel

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Bob Coy
  
 
 
 
 
19 Community Christian Church

Naperville, Ill.
Dave Ferguson
  
 
 
 
 
20 New Hope Christian Fellowship

Honolulu, Hawaii
Wayne Cordeiro
 
 
 
 
 
21 New Spring Church
Anderson, S.C.
Perry Noble

 
 
 
 
 
22 Prestonwood Baptist Church
Plano, Texas
Jack Graham
  

 
 
 
 
23 Redeemer Presbyterian
New York City, N.Y.
Timothy J. Keller
  
 

 
 
 
24 Second Baptist Church
Houston, Texas
Edwin Young
  
 

 
 
 
25 Mariners Church
Irvine, Calif.
Kenton Beshore
  
 

 
 
 
26 Bayside Church
Granite Bay, Calif.
Ray Johnston
 
 
 

 
 
27 Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa
Santa Ana, Calif.
Chuck Smith Sr.
  
 
 

 
 
28 Christ Fellowship
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Tom Mullins
 
 
 

 
 
29 First Baptist Church
Jacksonville, Fla.
Mac Brunson
  
 
 
 

 
30 First Baptist Church
Woodstock, Ga.
Johnny Hunt
 
 
 
 
 

31 Menlo Park Presbyterian Church
Menlo Park, Calif
John Ortberg
 
 
 
 
 
32 New Life Church

Colorado Springs, Colo.
Ross Parsley – Interim Senior Pastor
 
 
 
 
 
33 NorthRidge Church
Plymouth, Mich.

Brad Powell
  
 
 
 
 
34 Thomas Road Baptist Church
Lynchburg, Va.
Jerry Falwell / Jonathan Falwell

  
 
 
 
 
35 Wooddale Church
Eden Prairie, Minn.
Leith C. Anderson

  
 
 
 
 
36 Harvest Christian Fellowship
Riverside, Calif.
Greg Laurie

 
 
 
 
 
37 Northland - A Church Distributed
Longwood, Fla.
Joel Hunter

  
 
 
 
 
38 Bellevue Baptist Church
Cordova, Tenn.
Steve Gaines

 
 
 
 
 
39 National Community Church
Washington D.C.
Mark Batterson
  

 
 
 
 
40 Crystal Cathedral
Garden Grove, Calif.
Robert A. Schuller

  
 
 
 
 
41 World Changers
College Park, Ga.
Creflo Dollar

 
 
 
 
 
42 Fellowship of the Woodlands
The Woodlands, Texas
Kerry Shook

  
 
 
 
 
43 Vineyard Community Church
Cincinnati, Ohio
David Workman
 

 
 
 
 
 
44 New Birth Baptist Church
Lithonia, Ga.
Eddie L. Long

  
 
 
 
 
45 Oak Hills Church
San Antonio, Texas
Max Lucado *

 
 
 
 
 
46 Bethlehem Baptist
Minneapolis, Minn.
John Piper
 

 
 
 
47 New Light Christian Center Church
Houston, Texas
Ira Hilliard
  
 
 
 

 
48 First Baptist Church
Hammond, Ind.
Jack Schaap
 
 
 
 
 

49 McLean Bible Church
Vienna, Va.
Lon Solomon
 
 
 
 
 

50 LA International Church / Dream Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
Matthew Barnett / Tommy Barnett
  
 
 
 
 
 

(*) Max Lucado recently resigned as Minister of the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio.
 
These churches are recommended by other church leaders as congregations that represent the passion and sense of mission mandated in the New Testament. They do not all share the same view of all biblical doctrine, their recognition came from others, and they do not view themselves as better than other churches. Each just considers itself as a church wanting to be pleasing and useful to God and their understanding of His mandates to them.
 
Changes in this year’s list reflect the rapid change and diversity of ministry across the nation from year to year. It appears to also affirm the new expressions of ministry by emerging churches while also affirming the best of churches that endure through eras of dramatic change. We look forward to the churches that you will be recommending next year.
 
To compare last year’s list click here.
  
Dr. John N. Vaughan is an author and consultant for Church Growth Today in Bolivar, Mo., which provides consulting and research services for church growth and development.

He is author of the World’s 20 Largest Churches, The Large Church, Megachurches and America’s Cities and a new 10 volume series America’s Most Influential Churches.

Visit his homepage www.churchgrowthtoday.org .


TOPICS: Ecumenism; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: apostasy; apostasyonparade; charismaticism; emergent
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I'm not saying all of them are fakes, but there are quite a high percentage of them that are teaching 'another gospel' and 'another Jesus.'

Luke 6:26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."

Rev 3:7-8 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

1 posted on 07/17/2007 1:33:59 PM PDT by Terriergal
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To: Terriergal
Amen to what you write.

I notice that #15 is Church of the Resurrection, Adam Hamilton.

This is a very, very liberal Methodist, though growing by leaps and bounds (truth is that just as many walk away after a few years due to lack of following Word of God.)

Adam Hamilton, preaches and teaches that abortion and homosexuality, are "tough choices" and that there are no clear right/wrong conclusions.

Many have thought that Adam really was a "strong believer" only to find that while attractive and entertaining, he is merely candy coated Christianity Lite!

2 posted on 07/17/2007 1:44:33 PM PDT by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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To: Terriergal

Looks like Serpenthead got religion #23.


3 posted on 07/17/2007 1:45:01 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Terriergal

So they say in the survey that Catholic churches were intentionally excluded, and then when you read the results you find that other high church denominations were kept out.

Nothing more than a bunch of evangelical nonsense.


4 posted on 07/17/2007 1:46:52 PM PDT by AzaleaCity5691
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To: Terriergal

Ooh, lemme guess... “Influential” = appealing to people’s feelings (growth in numbers) and persuading them to part with their money (growth in dollars). Am I right?

/rhetorical


5 posted on 07/17/2007 1:51:21 PM PDT by newgeezer (fundamentalist, regarding the Holy Bible AND the Constitution. Words mean things.)
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To: zerosix

Amen. We just left the FUMC ( in a southern town ) after our 6 year experiment at my wife’s behest. I was raised SBC but she was against SBC for some reason but after two sermons and Sunday school at the church we are visiting she is on board.

Over the last several years I had seen the UMC become more of a “let’s not offend” church and not a church of the word. Our pastor kept trying to tell me that changes were coming but the one’s I have seen the last couple of years were the wrong way and I got tired of waiting. Bless him, he was a God fearing man but just didn’t want to stir the pot.

It was so nice to hear a sermon that wasn’t milk-toast and a pastor who tells it like it is feelings be damned. I had forgotten what it sounded like.


6 posted on 07/17/2007 1:52:37 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Resolute Conservative

I had taken to listening to old broadcasts of Adrian Rogers to get my need fulfilled until I got my wife to wake up.


7 posted on 07/17/2007 2:00:05 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: AzaleaCity5691
So they say in the survey that Catholic churches were intentionally excluded, and then when you read the results you find that other high church denominations were kept out.

Nothing more than a bunch of evangelical nonsense.

Nothing more than a bunch of motivational speakers.

8 posted on 07/17/2007 2:11:13 PM PDT by al_c
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To: Terriergal

I have been an evangelical pastor for almost 30 years, and have heard of the majority of those churches! In my mind, the finest teaching pastor in America is John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in California, and he is not even on the list. His church trains thousands of pastors every year, and he is president of the Master’s Seminary and College. Where is his name?


9 posted on 07/17/2007 2:26:19 PM PDT by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: Terriergal

Reality check:

Most influential churches:

1. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Los Angeles
2. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Chicago
3. Roman Catholic Cathedral of New York
4. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Washington
5. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Boston
6. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Philadelphia
7. Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Louis
8. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Baltimore
9. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Detroit
10. Episcopal Cathedral of Las Vegas, Nevada
11. Falls Church Episcopal Church
12. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Washington, DC)
13. Ave Maria University Oratorium
14. Christ Church, Plano
15. Regent University

Let’s be real, folks... “Megachurches” aren’t influential; sees are. People attend whatever megachurch they feel comfortable with. There are as many members of Catholic parishes as there are of all Protestant denominations combined.


10 posted on 07/17/2007 2:31:03 PM PDT by dangus
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To: dangus

True, but Roman Catholics don’t influence elections/Republican politics. If that were the case Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey would be fountains of religious activism and Republican strongholds.


11 posted on 07/17/2007 2:33:56 PM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
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To: Terriergal
The 2007 survey was emailed to leaders of more than 2,000 of the largest non-Catholic congregations in the nation in April-June.

What does that prove? How about looking at membership, broadcast, schedule of touring, and amount of books sold. There's only one choice. Lakewood.
12 posted on 07/17/2007 2:34:59 PM PDT by Vision ("Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7)
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To: Silly

ping


13 posted on 07/17/2007 2:45:32 PM PDT by firebrand
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To: Terriergal

There’s sure a lot of teeth in the pictures atop this thread.


14 posted on 07/17/2007 2:46:47 PM PDT by Xenalyte (Lord, I apologize . . . and be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea amen.)
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To: Terriergal

Ping


15 posted on 07/17/2007 2:47:39 PM PDT by Truth is a Weapon (Truth, it hurts soooo good!)
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To: dangus

Then get off your duffs and do something instead of saying how great Catholicism is over Protestantism. In the south ( east of Texas ) you are in the minority.


16 posted on 07/17/2007 2:50:50 PM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: dangus
Reality check: Most influential churches: 1. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Los Angeles

Mind if I puke?

17 posted on 07/17/2007 2:54:55 PM PDT by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: Resolute Conservative
Yes I know, you and I have communicated before about this issue.

We were Presbyterians, then Covenant, now SBC affiliated!!!

Role reversal for your sweet wife.

18 posted on 07/17/2007 3:06:58 PM PDT by zerosix (Native Sunflower)
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bttt


19 posted on 07/17/2007 3:18:10 PM PDT by MovementConservative (Terminate the Duke 88)
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To: dangus
1. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Los Angeles

I don't know about influential, but when you are able to write a check for $600 million to avoid trial, you are certainly one of the richest.

20 posted on 07/17/2007 3:28:38 PM PDT by PAR35
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