Outreach 100: Largest and Fastest-Growing Churches in America

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080927/outreach-100-largest-and-fastest-growing-churches-in-america.htm

[The Christian Post] 27 Sep 2008--For the first time since Outreach magazine has compiled its annual report of the largest churches in America, all 100 churches were listed with 7,000 weekend attendants or higher.

With seven churches reporting attendance averages of exactly 7,000, "The Outreach 100" this year included 103 churches.

Topping the fifth annual list again this year was Lakewood Church in Houston with 43,500 attendants, followed by Second Baptist Church in the same city with 23,659 and then North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., with 22,557.

Overall, the combined attendance of all 103 churches was 1,128,451 which is an increase of 111,527 people from 2007.

While some of the most well-known churches still rank highest in the report, some showed a drop in attendance over the last year. Lakewood, led by Pastor Joel Osteen, saw a dip from 47,000 attendants in 2007. Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., experienced a drop from 23,500 people to 22,500, placing the megachurch at No. 4 this year.

Also, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., led by Pastor Rick Warren, went down from 22,000 weekend attendants to 19,414. Saddleback is ranked as No. 8 this year after ranking No. 4 in 2007.