By Warren Bird and Scott Thumma, at Leadership Network:
- Nearly two-thirds of attenders have been at these churches 5 years or less.
- Many attenders come from other churches, but nearly a quarter haven’t been in any church for a long time before coming to a megachurch.
- New people almost always come to the megachurch because family, friends or coworkers invited them.
- Fifty-five percent of megachurch attenders volunteer at the church in some way (a higher percentage than in smaller churches).
- What first attracted attenders were the worship style, the senior pastor and the church’s reputation, in that order.
- These same factors also influenced long-term attendance, as did the music/arts, social and community outreach, and adult-oriented programs.
- Attenders report a considerable increase in their involvement in church, in their spiritual growth, and in their needs being met.
- Attenders can craft unique, customized spiritual experiences through the multitude of ministry choices and diverse avenues for involvement that megachurches offer.
- In many ways, large churches today are making good progress in reaching people and moving them from spectators to active participants to growing disciples of Jesus Christ.