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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 years 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 years 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 Potters House are multi-site churches.
Four of the top 10 churches are affiliated with denominations and six are non-affiliated. Lakewood Church and The Potters 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 years 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. Seattles Mars Hill Church, youngest of this years 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 years 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 nations 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 Years Recommended Churches
New pastors 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) Mariners 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.
3 Fellowship ChurchGrapevine, Texas
Ed Young
4 North Point ChurchAlpharetta, Ga.
Andy Stanley
5 Life ChurchEdmond, Okla.
Craig Groeschel
6 Granger Community ChurchGranger, 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 years 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 years 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 Worlds 20 Largest Churches, The Large Church, Megachurches and Americas Cities and a new 10 volume series Americas Most Influential Churches.
Visit his homepage www.churchgrowthtoday.org .
TOPICS: Ecumenism; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: apostasy; apostasyonparade; charismaticism; emergent
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To: Salvation
Well, in spite of the fact that I have problems with Catholic doctrine, I do find it odd that they left them out. Probably because there aren’t any ‘big name’ Catholics on TV (e.g. seeking attention for themselves)
41
posted on
07/17/2007 7:15:22 PM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: AzaleaCity5691
IF the church doesn’t offer holy communion every week then who cares what they say or think?
42
posted on
07/17/2007 7:16:10 PM PDT
by
x_plus_one
(As long as we pretend to not be fighting Iran in Iraq, we can't pretend to win the war.)
To: fkabuckeyesrule
I guess it all depends on how "influential" is defined?
BTW, I had the privilege of studying under him while in seminary, and he officiated at our wedding! I am truly blessed!
43
posted on
07/17/2007 7:16:15 PM PDT
by
LiteKeeper
(Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
To: dangus
The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.
It's a participatory "roll up your shirtsleeves" church staffed by almost exclusively by an unpaid lay ministry, a church where worshippers are expected to show their love for God and Jesus Christ through service to others. There isn't a single Rick Warren-style "rockstar" among any of the leadership. No entertainment value to be had. No pressure to satisfy itching ears.
44
posted on
07/17/2007 7:21:04 PM PDT
by
JCEccles
To: Xenalyte
45
posted on
07/17/2007 7:26:38 PM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: Vision
lol you’re not serious...
I agree that asking the leadership isn’t the most scientific method of getting these results... but ... are you saying that Lakewood should be #1 in this survey...You’re not saying that Osteen is biblical? are you?
46
posted on
07/17/2007 7:28:39 PM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: JCEccles
I think you may be right. But another question is — is social justice/social gospel/social reform supposed to be what Christ’s church is focused on?
47
posted on
07/17/2007 7:29:27 PM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: dangus
Megachurches arent influential; sees are. People attend whatever megachurch they feel comfortable with. Don't you mean "Mega-ecclesial communities"? ;-)
48
posted on
07/17/2007 7:38:22 PM PDT
by
murphE
(These are days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed but his own. --G.K. Chesterton)
To: Terriergal
Sounds like a popularity contest to me!
49
posted on
07/18/2007 12:05:41 AM PDT
by
CANBFORGIVEN
(! Corinthians 2:14)
To: Terriergal
Yes. Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
As for non-essential doctrines, I can live with some variation.
50
posted on
07/18/2007 3:14:26 AM PDT
by
ovrtaxt
(The FairTax and the North American Union are mutually exclusive.)
To: Terriergal
I sure am. The Lakewood message has been growing for 40 years and isn’t showing any sign of stopping.
51
posted on
07/18/2007 5:54:28 AM PDT
by
Vision
("Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7)
To: PAR35
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. The TV news stated that most of this money will have to be loaned or donated. They do not have enough to write a $600 check.
52
posted on
07/18/2007 6:20:59 AM PDT
by
al_c
To: zerosix
To: Terriergal
RE: “(*) Max Lucado recently resigned as Minister of the Oak Hills
Church in San Antonio.”
OK, I’ll be honest that I’m cynical enough to wonder what that is
all about.
Took a little searching, but it appears that a health concern is
the reason behind Max Lucado stepping down.
(But his writing career should see him through his retirement years!)
http://www.oakhillschurchsa.org/about/employment/seniormin.php
54
posted on
07/18/2007 10:00:32 AM PDT
by
VOA
To: Vision
55
posted on
07/18/2007 10:01:07 AM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: VOA
Yeah, it would have piqued my curiosity too. But not much. I haven’t heard much strange about Max Lucado except his fluffy pretty shallow writing.
56
posted on
07/18/2007 10:02:04 AM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: ovrtaxt
Ever hear of file-cabinet orthodoxy? (e.g. we have a statement of faith that sounds pretty orthodox, but that’s not what we preach every Sunday)
57
posted on
07/18/2007 10:03:02 AM PDT
by
Terriergal
("I am ashamed that women are so simple To offer war where they should kneel for peace," Shakespeare)
To: dangus
Most influential churches:
1. Roman Catholic Cathedral of Los Angeles
Influential, yes.
As for Roger Mahoney and his Taj Mahoney...
for good or for evil, that's a whole other question.
58
posted on
07/18/2007 10:04:11 AM PDT
by
VOA
To: Terriergal
59
posted on
07/18/2007 10:10:56 AM PDT
by
Vision
("Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7)
To: Terriergal
I havent heard much strange about Max Lucado except his fluffy pretty
shallow writing.
Yes, Lucado sure does seem to have found a niche in religional writing.
At least he hasn't yet been revealed to be a Ted Haggard.
And he does seem to be a pretty decent and unassuming type compared
to some (mainstream) Church of Christ preachers I've been
exposed to.
60
posted on
07/18/2007 10:15:19 AM PDT
by
VOA
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