Outreach Lessons From the Fastest Growing

1
Outreach Lessons From the Fastest
Growing Megachurches
Scott Thumma Hartford Institute For Religion
Research www.hartfordinstitute.org
2
(No Transcript)
3
Basic Definition
A megachurch is any Protestant Christian
congregation with a sustained average weekly
attendance of 2000 persons or more in its
worship services.  The over 1200 Protestant
megachurches in the United States share many
other traits. Virtually all megachurches have
a conservative Christian theology, a large
number are nondenominational, most have an active
small group ministry, and the majority have
multiple services with a contemporary worship
style.
4
Growth of Megachurches
5
The bottom line for the success of megachurches
is they attract and retain more persons over
time than do other churches. 
6
How Do They Grow?
It is not what megachurches do in terms of
Evangelistic Programs and Outreach, that makes
them grow. Megachurches grow because excited
attendees tell their friends.   Church
structures and programs assist in promoting this
excitement and responding to new people, but
Programs DO NOT Create Growth!
7
They Evangelize
Nearly all megachurches emphasis evangelism and
recruitment activities
8
And Their Members Evangelize
To what extent are your congregations members
involved in recruiting new members?
9
Over 6000 attendees of Very Large churches were
asked, Are you ready to talk about your faith?
10
And they were asked, Do you invite your friends
and relatives?
11
And The Churches Do Many Other Things to Reach
Out
Percent of congregations who did the following
outreach efforts in the past 12 months.
MEGA FACT Established or maintained
a web site 96 57 Encouraged members to
invite others to worship 94 98 Encouraged
members to tell others about faith
93 95 Sponsored a program or event to attract
visitors 84 70 Mailed or distributed
newsletters, letters, or flyers
77 69 Advertised on radio or TV or in a
newspaper 75 70 Developed a plan to recruit
new embers 60 51 Contacted those who
recently moved into area 41 48
12
Then They Follow Up On The Evangelism
How are visitors contacted after they attend your
worship services? MEGA FACT 7
We rarely, if ever, contact our visitors
7 77 We contact our visitors by mail
66 70 We contact our visitors by phone
52 38 We contact our visitors by e-mail
19 29 We contact our visitors by personal
visit 49
13
They have a strategy for getting people in the
door BUT they excel at using intentional efforts
to keep them in.
14
They Try to Incorporate New Persons Into The
Church
In the 2000 study 96 strongly encourage new
members to volunteer in the congregations
ministries 76 require an informational
class 32 assign a mentor to help incorporate
new persons into the church
15
They Empower All the Members To develop their
gifts To become leaders
Encouraged to discover and use your gifts here?
16
And include them in the direction decisions of
the Church
37 of attendees say they are often or
occasionally involved in decision making
Minister takes into account attendees ideas
17
They Offer Spiritual Worship and Spiritual
Development of Attenders
That Has Real Substance
18
Attenders Spiritual Needs Are Being Met
19
And A Worship Service That Helps Attendees With
Everyday Life
20
A Service That Is Marked By Contemporary,
Exciting and Inspirational Worship
21
Worship And A Church Atmosphere That
Creates Excitement About The Future
22
And In Turn, Members Who Want To Invite Others
To what extent are your congregations members
involved in recruiting new members?
23
All the characteristics mentioned are strongly
correlated to increased rates of growth over 5
years No matter what the size of the church.
But these characteristics are EVEN strongly
related to the rate of growth over 5 yearswhen
looking just at the differences in the growth
of the megachurches.
24
Not All The Megachurches Grew At The Same Rates
25
Those that grew the fastest in 5 years

• Were more likely to have their worship described
  as
• Being Informal
• Filled with Presence of God
• Joyful
• Exciting
• Inspirational
• And Thought-provoking

When compared to all other megachurches.
26
Those that grew the fastest in 5 years

• Were more likely to describe their church as
• more spiritually vital and alive
• having a clear mission and vision
• holding strong beliefs
• being willing to meet new challenges
• and as welcoming innovation and change

When compared to all other megachurches.
27
Those that grew the fastest in 5 years

• DID NOT engage in more evangelistic programs
• DID NOT do more
• Advertising
• Sponsoring visitor events
• Special activities for visitors
• Contacting of people in the community
• Or follow up with visitors to the church

When compared to all other megachurches.
28
Those that grew the fastest in 5 years
DID inspire members to be involved in
recruitment
When compared to all other megachurches.
29

• Megachurch Outreach Lessons

• Evangelize in every way you can

• Challenge members to invite others

• Follow up on those who come

• Incorporate new people into the life of the church

• Empower all members to develop their gifts and
  to use them

• Offer lively contemporary worship

• Preach sermons of substance and relevance to
  everyday life

30
Megachurch Learnings 1) Don't strive for size
strive to serve God.    2) Know your audience and
speak their language who is God calling you to
reach?     3) Make it appealing and welcoming,
then make it serious and challenging.  4) Church
is more than just a "Sunday thing."    5) Create
participants rather than members.   6) Get new
attendees/ everyone involved.   7) Intentionally
inter-connect the congregation.  8) Growth in
the faith isnt just for new Christians its for
the saints too.    9) Empower people to identify
and live out their calling.   10) Whatever you do
- do it with quality.   
31
(No Transcript)