Top 50 Churches

Dr. Bob,

Isn't #47, Northridge Church, the old Temple Baptist Church that G.B. Vick pastored? Do they still consider themselves IFB?

 

Interesting that there are 2 father/sons on the list; Charles and Andy Stanley and Ed Young and Ed Young Jr.

Lots of those guys I'd never heard of. I don't know much about Mars Hill, but back in January I heard Rob Bell preach in person, and it was probably the best sermon I ever heard. Very detailed, technical message and he did the whole thing without any notes. I was impressed!

 

Interesting list, which I think w've discussed before. I like some of the folks on it, and dislike some others. But concrete is made up of numerous compounds, some of which on thier own appear useless or unappealing.

 

I'm concerned that it seems the basis for "influential" is numbers. When a church resembles a sporting event or shopping experience and that is the standard for influential, that is wrong. What about mission work, salvation and evengelism?

 

Great point webdog

 

Webdog, I'm happy to say I agree with you wholeheartedly on this one!

 

What if a church is in a small town, but is still influential in it's area of the world? Too say a church has to have a certain number of people each Sunday to be influential is just wrong. It should be based in the size of their town/city, number of salvations, baptisms, and ministry work, especially outside their walls.
Nt the bigges numbers win the prize.

 

Our church is influential in our city although we have just under 200 people and most do not know who we are.

In July we baptized 14 people (an entire family included).
We have just collected 59 book bags to give to a local school in need with only a note inside telling them that Jesus loved them (no marketing involved).
We train people to be disciples of Christ.
We have an excellent children's and youth ministry.
We provide opportunities for children and adult mission trips (we are in the process of getting something together for the hurricane relief). We go door to door to our immediate neighbors collecting food for the local food bank. We tell them we are praying for the food bank and ask them if there is anything we can pray for them about (no church marketing involved).
We provide L.I.F.E groups for all ages to grow in Christ.

All this without a building (we rent a theater). I am not boasting about what we are doing, but about what God is doing through us. You don't need big numbers, expensive facilities, or high profile pastors to be influential (although there is nothing wrong with this).

 

Wellll. I agree that size is not what should be utilized to count influence.

Especially since a couple of the churches I consider to be marginal in their theology. I know that someone won't like that statement.

However, being called of God, I know that my heart hurts for all of His people that are not shepherded by godly men of God! And people usually gather around strong leaders(hip). Prayerfully, I submit that the churches with better (solid) theology are led by men that are close to God and His call upon their lives.

That does not imply that Dr. Bob with a congregation of 25 is not close to his call. My statement is stating that: "God's people have not gathered around him, yet".

Picture this: 100,000 churches that would make this list would not reach all of the lost that there are in our country RIGHT NOW TODAY. (100,000 times 2,000 = 200,000,000).

I pray that our country will see a revival soon. Our country is DYING AND GOING TO HELL.

 

PS:

Dr. Bob - thank your for the article. It will challenge me to reach His people ...

 

True. However, it seems that we tend to automatically discount church that are over some contrived set size. So, while we say that size should not be a factor, we truly mean that size should should not be factor unless the church is large; then, that church should be summarily discounted. It seems we sometimes are guilty of pew-envy.

 

Our son is a member of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Co. #10, he and his wife are happy there.

As for us, my wife and I have never been a member of such a church. We were members of an American Baptist church in another state. It's membership was over 200 and was doing quite well, it had many different programs during the week and had two Sunday morning services and an evening service. Wednesday evening service plus other programs: youth, single adults, young marrieds, ect. We moved to the state of Wash. About two years ago we heard from a member of that church, they only had 35 members, we were just sick to hear that as it was the church where our two sons grew up.

 

John

I really did not understand what you were saying. I think that I understoond you to say that we discount large churches? Is this what you meant? Could you clarify?

 

It is an interesting list, though most likely the list would change drastically depending on which 2,000 church leaders you surveyed. Thats why I don't know that I put too much stock in it.

 

That's exactly that I'm saying. We say "size doesn't matter", but we tend to want to discount a church that's large.

 

I see on here sometimes people write off a church because it is large, they can't be godly if they have a lot of people it seems thats an automatic given, but if numbers don't matter, how can those churches be written off?

 

Interesting that First Baptist of Jackonville, Fl or First Baptist Woodstock, GA didn't make the list.

 

I also think it's unwise to write off a church only due to it's size. That should only be a small criteria to use, however, when it comes to being labeled influential. I think there is a drastic difference between a Bible preaching church with 10,000 members and a catholic church with 10,000 members.