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deskjockey
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Hello all. My wife and I are currently in the process of joining what I would classify as a “megachurch”. It is non-denominational and has experienced significant growth over the past ten years. I come from an Episcopalian background. For some reason, there does seem to be a social trend for young people to gravitate toward these types of churches. At our church, the pastor is very popular and there is the option of attending the contemporary service that has the rock band. There are some very talented people that work and volunteer for the church. However, I can see how entertainment and advertising come to mind when talking about churches that become so-called megachurches. My wife loves our church. I am struggling with it. I feel more drawn to the Catholic Church now than ever in the past.
C
CalChristian
Guest
My Catholic parish was a mega-church. HUGE.So why are some people attracted to meg-churches? I never really was that all that much…
Why do people go to those mega-churches???
I think people are attracted to very large churches for much the same reason as they are to large cities. Lots of opportunities, lots of stuff going on, lots of services rendered.
I now attend a tiny church (church attendance is about 100). I DO miss all the groups, the big worship services, the special music, the plethora of activities. On the other hand, I like the “family” feel, the closeness to the pastor, the opportunities to get involved. Large and small churches have a lot of the same characteristics as large cities and small towns.
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A
Ahimsa
Guest
Mega-churches are about to go “bust”:
I’m reminded of an article by Walter Kallestad in Leadership. Walt led Community Church of Joy in Phoenix, a megachurch that had been an average congregation of 200 before he took over in the 80s and oversaw it’s growth. But in 2002 he suffered a massive heart attack requiring six-way bypass surgery. The heart attack, says Walt, was a “wake up call” for the leaders to develop a succession plan to ensure the megachurch continued to thrive after Walt’s tenure.
Kallestad began networking around the country looking for a young pastor he could bring onboard and eventually hand the church over to. One conversation stuck with him.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity,” Walt said. “We have 187 acres just off a major freeway, multipurpose buildings, and a great staff.”
The leader looked him in the eyes and said, “Who’d want it? Who in their right minds would want to run that?”
“That’s when it dawned on me,” Kallestad reflected. “By the time we service the $12-million debt, pay the staff, and maintain the property, we’ve spent more than a million before we can spend a dime on our mission. At the time, we had plans for a spectacular worship center with a retractable roof. After that conversation, I scrapped it.”
As Walt Kallestad discovered, for younger church leaders who value mission, social activism, and innovation, the thought of maintaining the mega-institutions built by their parents generation may prove to be a tough sell. No matter what happens, the next 10-15 years are going to be critical ones for the future of the American megachurch movement.
I’m reminded of an article by Walter Kallestad in Leadership. Walt led Community Church of Joy in Phoenix, a megachurch that had been an average congregation of 200 before he took over in the 80s and oversaw it’s growth. But in 2002 he suffered a massive heart attack requiring six-way bypass surgery. The heart attack, says Walt, was a “wake up call” for the leaders to develop a succession plan to ensure the megachurch continued to thrive after Walt’s tenure.
Kallestad began networking around the country looking for a young pastor he could bring onboard and eventually hand the church over to. One conversation stuck with him.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity,” Walt said. “We have 187 acres just off a major freeway, multipurpose buildings, and a great staff.”
The leader looked him in the eyes and said, “Who’d want it? Who in their right minds would want to run that?”
“That’s when it dawned on me,” Kallestad reflected. “By the time we service the $12-million debt, pay the staff, and maintain the property, we’ve spent more than a million before we can spend a dime on our mission. At the time, we had plans for a spectacular worship center with a retractable roof. After that conversation, I scrapped it.”
As Walt Kallestad discovered, for younger church leaders who value mission, social activism, and innovation, the thought of maintaining the mega-institutions built by their parents generation may prove to be a tough sell. No matter what happens, the next 10-15 years are going to be critical ones for the future of the American megachurch movement.
J
JustaServant
Guest
Catholic cathedrals are not MCs. They were from a historically and sociologically different pattern. The purpose of worship was different as well.My Catholic parish was a mega-church. HUGE.
What is termed megs-churches are a phenomena of late 20th century, early 21st century evangelical culture.
J
JustaServant
Guest
IOW they are a passing fad.Mega-churches are about to go “bust”:
I’m reminded of an article by Walter Kallestad in Leadership. Walt led Community Church of Joy in Phoenix, a megachurch that had been an average congregation of 200 before he took over in the 80s and oversaw it’s growth. But in 2002 he suffered a massive heart attack requiring six-way bypass surgery. The heart attack, says Walt, was a “wake up call” for the leaders to develop a succession plan to ensure the megachurch continued to thrive after Walt’s tenure.
Kallestad began networking around the country looking for a young pastor he could bring onboard and eventually hand the church over to. One conversation stuck with him.
“It’s a pretty good opportunity,” Walt said. “We have 187 acres just off a major freeway, multipurpose buildings, and a great staff.”
The leader looked him in the eyes and said, “Who’d want it? Who in their right minds would want to run that?”
“That’s when it dawned on me,” Kallestad reflected. “By the time we service the $12-million debt, pay the staff, and maintain the property, we’ve spent more than a million before we can spend a dime on our mission. At the time, we had plans for a spectacular worship center with a retractable roof. After that conversation, I scrapped it.”
As Walt Kallestad discovered, for younger church leaders who value mission, social activism, and innovation, the thought of maintaining the mega-institutions built by their parents generation may prove to be a tough sell. No matter what happens, the next 10-15 years are going to be critical ones for the future of the American megachurch movement.
N
Nicea325
Guest
Yes they have what is called free-will a gift given to us by God. However,with all due respect,but it has nothing to do with concepts or what have you not,but…TRUTH. The entire Mass is scriptural and very beautiful.I wouldn’t think of asking them that information… Why would I? They are adults and can make their own decisions. However, just because you cannot understand does not make the concept untrue to others, obviously.
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