List of megachurches in the United States explained

This is a list of the largest megachurches in the United States with an attendance of more than 10,000 weekly, sometimes also termed a gigachurch.[1] [2] According to The Hartford Institute's database, approximately 50 churches had attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000 in 2010.[3] The same source also lists more than 1,300 such Protestant and Evangelical churches in the United States with a weekly attendance of more than 2,000, meeting the definition of a megachurch.[4]

As the term megachurch in common parlance refers to Protestant congregations; although there are some Catholic parishes which would meet the criteria, they are not listed.[5] St Ann's in Coppell, Texas, would be near the top, with almost 30,000 registered parishioners in 2013.[6] St Matthew's Catholic Church in the Ballantyne neighborhood of Charlotte, North Carolina likewise has been described as a Catholic megachurch[7] with nearly 36,000 registered members in 2017 and 11 weekly masses.[8] Weekly attendance figures may be lower than the number of registered parishioners, and the differences in the way the churches operate and the way attendance is counted are given as reasons for not including Catholic churches in lists of megachurches.

Membership numbers of the following churches give only a very rough indication of size. They vary from year to year. Also, some churches report typical Sunday attendance while others report the number who are listed in church records or make financial contributions, which may be higher. Some of the larger churches are multi-site churches. Many churches deliver their message through television or other media, sometimes reaching much higher numbers than those who physically attend the church.

List

Note that the attendance numbers are often provided by the church itself.

ChurchCity[9] StateSenior pastor(s)data-sort-type=number Av. weekly attendance[10] AssociationMulti-site? (No.)Ref
Abundant ChurchEl PasoTXCharles Nieman12,400Non-denominational
Ada Bible ChurchAdaMIJeff Manion10,000<--Hartford source says 7,000, 2018 figure was 9,000-->Non-denominationalYes (4+1 online)
Bayside Community ChurchBradentonFLRandy and Amy Bezet12,000<--Hartford says 9,500-->Non-denominationalYes (8)
Calvary Chapel Fort LauderdaleFort LauderdaleFLDoug Sauder16,000Calvary ChapelYes (9+1 online)
Calvary Chapel Golden SpringsDiamond BarCARaul Ries12,000Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel MelbourneWest MelbourneFLDave Folkerts10,000Calvary ChapelYes (3+1 online)
Calvary Chapel of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaPAJoe Focht12,000Calvary Chapel
Calvary of AlbuquerqueAlbuquerqueNMSkip Heitzig16,200Calvary Chapel
Calvary Community ChurchPhoenixAZJ. Mark Martin11,400Calvary ChapelYes (2+1 online)
Celebration ChurchJacksonvilleFLTim Timberlake11,100<--Hartford2 has 3745-->Non-denominationalYes (9+1 online)
Central ChurchHendersonNVJud Wilhite21,100Christian churches and churches of ChristYes (9+1 online)
Christ FellowshipPalm Beach GardensFLTodd & Julie Mullins25,000Non-denominationalYes (17+1 online)
Christ's Church of the ValleyPeoriaAZAshley Wooldridge39,869[11] Non-denominationalYes (17+1 online)
Christian Cultural CenterNew YorkNYA. R. Bernard32,000[12] Non-denominationalYes (1 + 1 online)
Church of Eleven22JacksonvilleFLJoby P. Martin12,000Non-denominationalYes (6)
Church of the HighlandsBirminghamALChris Hodges60,000Non-denominationalYes (20 + 1 including online)
Church on the MoveTulsaOKWhit & Heather George11,000<--Hartford2 says 7,000-->
Church UnlimitedCorpus ChristiTXBil Cornelius12,000Non-DenominationalYes (9)[13]
City of RefugeGardenaCANoel Jones10,000<-- Hartford says 6,800-->Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
Community Bible Church[14] San AntonioTXEd Newton[15] 12,000Non-denominationalYes (at least 2+1 online)[16]
Cross ChurchSpringdaleARNick Floyd16,000<-- Hartford 2 says 6,800-->Southern Baptist ConventionYes (5)
Crossings Community ChurchOklahoma CityOKMarty Grubbs10,000<-- Hartford2 syas 5,500-->Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)Yes (2 + Online)
Crossroads Church – Cincinnati[17] CincinnatiOHBrian Tome35,000InterdenominationalYes (13 + online)
Deliverance Evangelistic ChurchPhiladelphiaPAGlen Spaulding11,000Non-denominational
Dream City Church[18] PhoenixAZTommy Barnett, Luke Barnett20,000Assemblies of GodYes (5)
Eagle Brook ChurchLino LakesMNJason Strand43,871[19] Converge (United States)Yes (11 + online)
Ebenezer AME ChurchFort WashingtonMDGrainger Browning, Jr.10,000<-- Hartford2 says 7,000-->African Methodist Episcopal Church
El Rey Jesús (King Jesus International Ministry)MiamiFLGuillermo Maldonado12,500Non-denominational/Pentecostal
Elevation ChurchCharlotteNCSteven Furtick26,000Non-denominationalYes (21)[20]
Empowerment TempleBaltimoreMDPastor GJ Barnes10,000[21] African Methodist Episcopal Church
Enon Tabernacle Baptist ChurchPhiladelphiaPAAlyn E. Waller15,000<-- Hartford2 says 4,000-->BaptistYes west
EPIC Church InternationalSayrevilleNJJohn J. Wagner10,100Non-denominational
Faith Landmarks MinistriesRichmondVARandy Gilbert10,000<-- Hartford2 says 5,000-->
Family Christian CenterMunsterINSteve Munsey14,000Non-denominational
Fellowship ChurchGrapevineTXEd Young, Jr.24,200Southern Baptist ConventionYes (9 + online)
First African Methodist Episcopal ChurchLos AngelesCAJ. Edgar Boyd10,000<-- Hartford 2 says 7000-->African Methodist Episcopal Church
First Baptist Church of GlenardenUpper MarlboroMDJohn Jenkins12,000Converge (United States)
First Baptist Church of HammondHammondINJohn Wilkerson13,000Baptist
First Baptist Church OrlandoOrlandoFLDavid Uth16,000Southern Baptist Convention
Flatirons Community ChurchLafayetteCOJim Burgen19,000<-- Hartford2 says 9313-->Non-denominational evangelicalYes (Main Campus, 5 satellite, & Online Livestream)
Fountain of PraiseHoustonTXRemus Wright11,800
Free ChapelGainesvilleGAJentezen Franklin25,000[22] Non-denominationalYes (7 + TV + online)[23]
Gateway ChurchSouthlakeTXRobert Morris25,800[24] Non-denominational CharismaticYes (10 + online + prison campuses)
Germantown Baptist Church[25] GermantownTNTommy Vinson, Interim Preacher12,000Southern Baptist Convention
Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York[26] New YorkNYFloyd Flake20,000<--Hartford2 says 2000-->African Methodist Episcopal Church
Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel BaptistNew OrleansLAPaul Morton10,000Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
Green Acres Baptist ChurchTylerTXDavid Dykes14,000<--Hartfod2 says 4000-->Southern Baptist ConventionYes
Harvest Christian FellowshipRiversideCAGreg Laurie15,000Calvary ChapelYes (6)
Healing Place ChurchBaton RougeLAMike Haman12,000<--Hartford2 says 7000-->Non-denominationalYes (13)
Hickory Grove Baptist ChurchCharlotteNCClint Pressley11,900<--Hartford2 says 4000-->Southern Baptist ConventionYes (3)
Hope City ChurchHoustonTXJeremy and Jennifer Foster12,000Non-denominationalYes (4)
Hope Community ChurchRaleighNCJason Gore15,000<--Hartford2 says 4000-->Non-denominationalYes (4)
Inspiring Body of Christ Church (IBOC)DallasTXRickie Rush15,000[27] [28] Non-denominationalYes (1 + 1 online)
James River ChurchSpringfieldMOJohn Lindell17,000<--Hartford2 says 7000-->Assemblies of GodYes (5) (4 physical + 1 online)
Kensington ChurchTroyMIBrian Mowrey11,000Non-denominationalYes (7)[29]
King's Cathedral and ChapelsKahuluiHIJames Marocco & Colleen Marocco30,000<--Hartford2 says 5000-->Assemblies of GodYes (360)[30]
Lake Pointe ChurchRockwallTXJosh Howerton13,300Southern Baptist Convention
Lakewood ChurchHoustonTXJoel Osteen45,000[31] Non-denominational
Legacy ChurchAlbuquerqueNMSteve Smotherman10,100Non-denominational
LibertyLive.churchHamptonVADr. Grant Ethridge10,000<--Hartford2 says 5000-->Southern Baptist ConventionYes (7 + 1 Online)
LCBCManheimPAJason Mitchell19,000Non-denominationalYes (19 + Online)
Life.ChurchEdmondOKCraig Groeschel85,000[32] Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC)Yes (42 + online)
Living Word Christian CenterChicagoILBill Winston18,000<-- Hartford2 says 4500-->Non-denominational
Lutheran Church of HopeWest Des MoinesIAMike Housholder10,000Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Mariners ChurchIrvineCAEric Geiger12,200Non-denominational EvangelicalYes (3 + 2 campus plants + 1 online)
Mars Hill Bible ChurchGrandvilleMIAJ Sherrill12,000Non-denominational
McLean Bible ChurchMcLeanVADavid Platt16,500<--Hartford2 says 8000-->Non-denominational
Mount Zion Baptist ChurchNashvilleTNJoseph W. Walker III21,000Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship
New Birth Missionary Baptist ChurchStonecrestGAJamal H. Bryant10,000[33] Baptist
New Hope Christian FellowshipHonoluluHIWayne Cordeiro14,500Foursquare ChurchYes (>100 + online)
New Life ChurchConwayARRick & Michelle Bezet18,000[34] Non-denominationalYes (17)
New Life ChurchColorado SpringsCOBrady Boyd15,000 at main campus[35] Non-denominationalYes (8 + online and tv)
New Life Covenant ChurchChicagoILJohn F. Hannah10,000Non-denominationalYes (3)
New Light Christian Center ChurchHoustonTXIra V. Hilliard13,500Non-denominational
NewSpring ChurchAndersonSCBrad Cooper, Shane Duffey, Michael Mulliken, Tyler Tatum, David Hall20,500[36] [37] Southern Baptist ConventionYes (20 + 1 online)
North Coast Church[38] VistaCALarry Osborne, Chris Brown10,000Evangelical Free Church of AmericaYes (5)
North Point Community ChurchAlpharettaGAAndy Stanley50,000[39] Non-denominationalYes (8 in Atlanta, and 150 partner churches)
One Community ChurchPlanoTXConway Edwards10,000Non-denominationalYes (4+1 online)
Pinelake Church[40] FlowoodMSChip Henderson11,472[41] Southern Baptist ConventionYes (5)
Potential Church[42] Fort LauderdaleFLTroy Gramling12,000Southern Baptist ConventionYes (7)
The Potter's HouseDallasTXT. D. Jakes16,100Non-denominationalYes (3)
Prestonwood Baptist ChurchPlanoTXJack Graham17,000Southern Baptist ConventionYes (2 + online)[43]
Quest Community ChurchLexingtonKYPete Hise10,000<--Hartford2 says 3000-->Christian and Missionary AllianceYes (3 + 1 online)
Redemption Church[44] San JoseCARon Carpenter11,000
Relentless Church[45] GreenvilleSCJohn Gray14,000International Pentecostal Holiness Church
River Church[46] AnaheimCADante Gebel10,000Assemblies of God
The Rock Church & World Outreach Center[47] San BernardinoCADan Roth18,000[48] Non-denominational
Rock ChurchSan DiegoCAMiles McPherson12,900Non-denominationalYes (4+1 online)
Saddleback Church[49] Lake ForestCAAndy Wood28,000BaptistYes (14 + 4 international +1 online)
Sagebrush Church[50] AlbuquerqueNMTodd Cook14,000[51] <--Hartford2 says 9,000-->Non-denominationalYes (9+1 online)
Sagemont ChurchHoustonTXJohn D. Morgan17,700<--Hartford2 says 3,400-->Southern Baptist Convention
St. Matthews Baptist ChurchWilliamstownNJRaymond Gordon Sr.13,000Baptist
Salem Baptist ChurchChicagoILJames Meeks10,100Baptist
Sandals ChurchRiversideCAMatt Brown15,000Southern Baptist ConventionYes (8)
Sarang Community Church of Southern CaliforniaAnaheimCAChang Soo Ro11,000[52] Presbyterian Church in America
Seacoast ChurchMount PleasantSCJosh Surratt14,000[53] <-- Church's own figures but we allow that--> Non-denominationalYes (13+1 online)
Second Baptist Church HoustonHoustonTXEd Young Sr.23,700[54] Southern Baptist ConventionYes (6 campuses + online)
Southeast Christian ChurchMiddletown[55] KYKyle Idleman25,940[56] Christian churches and churches of ChristYes (11 + 1 in development + online)
Southland Christian ChurchNicholasville[57] KYJon Weece12,500Christian churches and churches of ChristYes (5 campuses and online services)
Substance Church[58] MinneapolisMNPeter and Carolyn Haas12,000Non-Denominational (ARC)Yes (4 + 1 international) + online
Thomas Road Baptist ChurchLynchburgVAJohnathon Falwell24,000Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Bible Fellowship International
Triumph Church[59] DetroitMISolomon W. Kinloch, Jr14,000Non-denominationalYes (4)
12Stone ChurchLawrencevilleGAKevin Myers17,200Wesleyan ChurchYes (8) and 1 online
Valley Bible FellowshipBakersfieldCARon Vietti10,300
Victory Church[60] NorcrossGAJohnson Bowie10,200Non-denominational[61] Yes (3)
The Village ChurchHighland VillageTXMatt Chandler10,200Southern Baptist ConventionYes (3)[62]
West Angeles CathedralLos AngelesCACharles E. Blake24,000[63] Church of God in Christ
Willow Creek Community ChurchSouth BarringtonILDave Dummitt18,000[64] Non-denominationalYes (7)
Woodlands ChurchThe WoodlandsTXKerry Shook18,400Southern Baptist Convention
Woodside Bible Church[65] TroyMI Chris Brooks10,500Baptist heritageYes (14+1)
World Changers Church Int.College ParkGACreflo and Taffi Dollar15,000Pentecostal, Word of Faith
World Overcomers Christian ChurchDurhamNCAndy Thompson15,000Non-denominationalYes (4)
World Harvest ChurchColumbusOHRod Parsley13,000Pentecostal
World Outreach ChurchMurfreesboroTNAllen Jackson15,000[66] Non-denominational

See also

Notes and References

  1. Alicia Budich, cbsnews.com,From Megachurch to "Gigachurch", USA, April 6, 2012
  2. Ed Stetzer, Newspaper christianitytoday.com,Megachurch Research - Terminology, USA, October 9, 2008
  3. Web site: Hartford Institute for Religion Research, database of Megachurches . February 6, 2010 . Hirr.hartsem.edu.
  4. Bryan S. Turner, The New Blackwell Companion to the Sociology of Religion, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 2010, p. 251
  5. Web site: The Definition of a Megachurch . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160514173618/http://hirr.hartsem.edu/megachurch/definition.html . May 14, 2016 . July 17, 2013 . Hartford Institute for Religion Research.
  6. Web site: Welcome to St. Ann Catholic Parish . July 17, 2013.
  7. Web site: Inside Charlotte's St. Matthew, the largest Catholic Parish in the U.S.. Jamie. Boll. wbtv.com. September 22, 2015 .
  8. Web site: Martin . Edward . Churches face waning influence in state . Business North Carolina . 1 March 2020.
  9. The "City" column indicates where each listed church has its main location.
  10. Numbers are rounded to the nearest hundred.
  11. Web site: CCV Annual Report Christ's Church of the Valley CCV . July 16, 2024 . ccv.church.
  12. Web site: About Us . February 14, 2022 . Christian Cultural Center .
  13. Web site: Bay Area Fellowship - Campuses . January 22, 2014.
  14. Web site: October 3, 2020 . WE ARE CBC . www.communitybible.com.
  15. Web site: Pastors Community Bible Church . January 14, 2016 . www.communitybible.com.
  16. Web site: Community Bible Church . www.communitybible.com.
  17. Web site: Outreach 100 Largest Churches 2015 - OutreachMagazine.com OutreachMagazine.com . www.outreachmagazine.com.
  18. Web site:
  19. Web site: 2022-2023 Annual Report . Eagle Brook Church.
  20. Web site: Quick Facts . February 14, 2022 . Elevation Church . February 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214000551/https://elevationchurch.org/quick-facts/ . dead .
  21. News: Blair . Leonardo . Reporter . Senior . Jamal Bryant says God told him to leave Empowerment Temple; church shocked . 28 January 2024 . The Christian Post . 21 November 2018.
  22. Web site: March 18, 2020 . Jentezen Franklin: 'We're unplugging everything. We're going back to the raw gospel.' .
  23. Web site: Inspiring People to Live for Jesus | Free Chapel . Inspiring People to Live for Jesus | Free Chapel.
  24. Web site: Outreach 100 . Outreach . 19 June 2024.
  25. Web site: Stout . Cathryn . October 16, 2007 . Germantown Baptist eyes new pastor . August 3, 2010.
  26. Web site: Greater Allen A. M. E. Cathedral of New York . August 3, 2010.
  27. Web site: Blair . Leonardo . Reporter . Senior Features . Dallas megachurch surprises seniors with rent help, commits to giving $100K at Thanksgiving service . The Christian Post . 6 August 2023 . 1 December 2020.
  28. Web site: IBOC Inspiring Body of Christ Church New Here Our History . www.ibocchurch.org . 6 August 2023.
  29. Web site: Kensington Church - Times & Locations . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170312044605/https://kensingtonchurch.org/default.aspx?page=3656 . March 12, 2017 . March 10, 2017.
  30. Web site: Embrace Conference. King's Central.
  31. Web site: Cochran . Amanda . December 3, 2021 . Lakewood Church: The Houston megachurch by the numbers . February 14, 2022 . KPRC.
  32. Web site: Outreach 100: Life.Church . 2024-01-07 . outreach100.com . en.
  33. Shelia M. Poole, New Birth names Jamal Bryant as new senior pastor, ajc.com, USA, November 19, 2018
  34. Web site: Outreach 100: New Life Church . February 14, 2022 . outreach100.com.
  35. Web site: Outreach 100: New Life Church . 2023-12-06 . outreach100.com . en.
  36. Web site: NewSpring Church Annual Report . February 14, 2022.
  37. Web site: Davis . Angelia L. . NewSpring Church praised by members for its revival of in-person services . February 14, 2022 . The Greenville News.
  38. Web site: 2012 Outreach 100 Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America . May 13, 2013.
  39. Web site: North Point Ministries . November 9, 2023 . North Point Ministries.
  40. Web site: Pinelake Church History . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130815062300/http://pinelake.org/about/history/ . August 15, 2013 . July 25, 2013.
  41. Web site: Outreach 100: 2020 Largest Churches in America . outreach100.com . 18 January 2023 . en.
  42. Web site: Potential Church . May 1, 2014.
  43. Prestonwood also operates two Spanish congregations, one at its main campus in Plano and the other in Lewisville under a facility arrangement with an existing Southern Baptist congregation which has no other ties to them.
  44. Web site: Jubilee Christian Center . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151011154109/http://jubilee.org/ . October 11, 2015 . March 28, 2014.
  45. Web site: Welcome . Relentless Church.
  46. Web site: River Church . October 11, 2012.
  47. Web site: Home . The Rock Church.
  48. Web site: Outreach 100: The Rock Church . outreach100.com . 22 September 2022 . en.
  49. Web site: Abrahamsen . Elizabeth . November 17, 2017 . 10 Largest Megachurches in Texas . Wide Open Country.
  50. Web site: Sagebrush Church . www.sagebrush.church.
  51. News: Nathanson . Rick . Porter . Gabrielle . Jackson . Anthony . Churches moving slowly to reopen in-person services . Albuquerque Journal . May 16, 2020. Clippings of the first page and second page via Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  52. Web site: largest Korean churches in North America . July 17, 2013.
  53. Web site: History, Pastors, and Story . Seacoast Church . 7 June 2023 . en.
  54. Web site: Top 100 Largest Churches in America - SermonCentral.com . www.sermoncentral.com.
  55. Although Southeast Christian has a Louisville mailing address, its main worship complex is within the city limits of Middletown. The governments of Louisville and surrounding Jefferson County merged in 2003, but Middletown and the 82 other cities (apart from Louisville) in Jefferson County retained separate city limits and some governmental powers.
  56. Web site: February 7, 2019 . Year at a Glance: An Analysis of Growth . April 14, 2019 . The Southeast Outlook . Southeast Christian Church . Middletown, KY . 11. This number reflects the average weekend attendance at all campuses for 2018.
  57. Although Southland Christian is historically associated with Lexington, it moved to an unincorporated area of Jessamine County, about a half-mile (800 m) from the Lexington boundary, in 1981. The church long maintained a Lexington mailing address, but now has a Nicholasville mailing address. Southland opened a new satellite campus in Lexington in 2013.
  58. Web site: Substance Church . Substance Church . January 11, 2022.
  59. Web site: Triumph Church, Detroit Michigan . August 3, 2010.
  60. Web site: February 19, 2010 . Victory World Church in Norcross celebrates anniversary . August 3, 2010.
  61. Web site: Victory World Church . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120503134058/http://victoryatl.com/p/11983/Default.aspx . May 3, 2012 . May 2, 2012.
  62. Village previously operated three additional campuses, in Denton, Dallas, and Plano, but those congregations are now independent; Village plans to spin off its two campuses in Fort Worth and Southlake in the future.
  63. Web site: About West Angeles COGIC . February 14, 2022 . West Angeles.
  64. Web site: Perry . Abby . Willow Creek and Harvest Struggle to Move On . February 14, 2022 . ChristianityToday.com. February 13, 2020 .
  65. Web site: Woodside Bible Church - Warren Campus . February 15, 2013.
  66. Web site: 10 largest churches in Nashville area . March 11, 2019 . The Tennessean.