A megachurch is usually defined as having 2000 or more people in attendance for services each week. More than 1300 churches in the United States fit this description. About fifty of these churches have weekly attendance in the range of 10000 to 47000. Since the megachurch is usually considered to be a Protestant phenomenon, Roman Catholic churches are not usually defined as megachurches though about 3000 US Catholic churches have more than 2000 members. Five of the largest churches in the world are in South Korea, the only Asian country to be predominantly Christian. The Yoido Full Gospel Church, a Pentecostal church in Seoul has 830000 members.
Probably the earliest megachurch (19th Century) was the Baptist Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, led by Charles Spurgeon.
A list of some of the megachurches in the United States follows. Some are controversial for various reasons. Inclusion in this list does not indicate that I endorse their policies or doctrines. Occasionally, the megachurches are accused of being personality cults centered around their founder or current pastor.
Some of the megachurches are criticized as being “big box churches” in which individuals do not matter. Many are accused of being more interested in entertaining their members than in preaching the Gospel. Critics also decry the fact that many megachuches are operated along secular business models.
Lakewood Church, in Houston, Texas, is pastored by Joel Osteen.
LifeChurch.tv, in Edmund, Oklahoma, is pastored by Craig Groeschel.
North Point Community Church, in Alpharetta, Georgia, is pastored by Andy Stanley.
Willow Creek Community Church, in South Barrington, Illinois, is pastored by Bill Hybels.
Second Baptist Church, in Houston, Texas, is pastored by Ed Young.
Fellowship Church, in Grapevine, Texas, is pastored by Ed Young, the son of the pastor mentioned above.
Saddleback Church, in Lake Forest, California, is pastored by Rick Warren.
Southeast Christian Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, is pastored by Dave Stone.
Woodlands Church, in Woodlands, Texas, is pastored by Kerry Shook.
Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is pastored by Bob Coy.
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