The Changing Face of Christianity

Having grown up a Southern Baptist, I've long been interested in some of the ways in which American Evangelicals are reaching out to younger generations of people. One of the ways is by re-inventing modern notions of the church itself.

According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research and the Church Report, the number of megachurches (congregations with a weekly attendance 2,000+) has doubled in the last five years. As of the date of this study, there were 1,210 megachurches in the country, drawing nearly 4.4 million people to church each week. Their average attendance each week is around 3,600 people.

It's a far cry from the rural country churches in OK, but it's encouraging to see new methods of worship attracting more people to the Son. Having visited a few of these congregations myself, the entire experience is unique. It's a bit much for some, but the numbers don't lie. These churches have clearly found a way to connect with younger generations of people, which is essential for the church and Christianity's future.