2012's Top Churches to Watch in America | churchrelevance.com


(in red is churches known to be seeker-driven and have been mentioned on Fighting for the Faith radio show occassionally or a lot)



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TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH GROWTH
These are the top churches to learn from about how to consistently experience high level growth.





1.Church of the Highlands (Birmingham, AL) :: Chris Hodges
Made 7/8 growth lists with an average rank of #29.86
2.Crossroads Community Church (Cincinnati, OH) :: Brian Tome
Made 7/8 growth lists with an average rank of #37.14
3.Seacoast Church (Mt. Pleasant, SC) :: Greg Surratt
Made 7/8 growth lists with an average rank of #59.14
4.Lancaster County Bible Church (Manheim, PA) :: David Ashcraft
Made 7/8 growth lists with an average rank of #68.0
5.Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
Made 6/8 growth lists with an average rank of 34.17
6.Central Christian Church (Las Vegas, NV) :: Jud Wilhite
Made 6/8 lists with an average rank of 36.0
7.Woodlands Church (Woodlands, TX) :: Kerry Shook
Made 6/8 growth lists with an average rank of #37.0


8.Christ’s Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ) :: Don Wilson
Made 6/8 growth lists with an average rank of 37.67
9.Community Bible Church (San Antonio, TX) :: Robert Emmitt
Made 6/8 growth lists with an average rank of #48.33
10.NewSpring Church (Anderson, SC) :: Perry Noble
Made 6/8 growth lists with an average rank of #49.17



TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH INNOVATION
These are the top churches to learn from about innovative methods.

1.LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #1
2.Granger Community Church (Granger, IN) :: Mark Beeson
Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #2.5
3.Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
[tie for 3rd] Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #5.5


4.Seacoast Church (Mt. Pleasant, SC) :: Greg Surratt


[tie for 3rd] Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #5.5
5.Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young, Jr.
[tie for 5th] Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #6
6.Mosaic Church (Los Angeles, CA) :: Erwin McManus
[tie for 5th] Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #6
7.North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
[tie for 5th] Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #6
8.National Community Church (Washington, DC) :: Mark Batterson
Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #9.5


9.Community Christian Church (Naperville, IL) :: Dave Ferguson
Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #10
10.Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren



12′s Top Churches to Watch in America



Made 2/2 innovation lists with an average rank of #12



TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH PLANTING


These are the top churches to learn from about planting multiple churches.

1.Redeemer Presbyterian Church (New York, NY) :: Tim Keller
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #1
2.Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #2



3.Northwood Church (Keller, TX) :: Bob Roberts
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #3
4.Perimeter Church (Duluth, GA) :: Randy Pope
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #4
5.Spanish River Church (Boca Raton, FL) :: David Nicholas
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #5
6.East 91st Street Christian Center (Indianapolis, IN) :: Derek Duncan
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #6


7.Community Christian Church (Naperville, IL) :: Dave Ferguson
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #7
8.Fellowship Bible Church (Little Rock, AR) :: Bill Wellons
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #8
9.Kensington Community Church (Troy, MI) :: Steve Andrews
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #9


10.Church at the Springs (Ocala, FL) :: Ron Sylvia
Made 1/1 church planting lists with a rank of #10



TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from about CHURCH SIZE


These are the top churches to learn from about running a large church.



1.Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 44,333


2.Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill HybelsMade 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 23,213


3.Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) :: Ed Young, Sr.
Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 22,325


4.North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 22,015


5.LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
**Made 4/4 size lists with an average attendance of 20,894
**(did not report numbers in 2010 & 2011 despite mid-30K+ attendance)


6.Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 20,489



7.Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) :: Dave Stone
8.Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 18,348



9.Phoenix First Assembly (Phoenix, AZ) :: Tommy Barnett
**Made 4/4 size lists with an average attendance of 17,023
**(did not report numbers in 2008 & 2009)


10.Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) :: Bob Coy
Made 6/6 size lists with an average attendance of 16,900




TOP 10 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from that are INFLUENCING OTHER CHURCHES
These are the top churches that are influencing how other churches do ministry.



1.Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #1.33
2.Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #1.67
3.North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #3.33
4.Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young, Jr.
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #3.67
5.Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #5.67
6.The Potter’s House (Dallas, TX) :: T.D. Jakes
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #8.33


7.LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #9.33

8.The Brooklyn Tabernacle (Brooklyn, NY) :: Jim Cymbala
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #10.67


9.The Church of the Resurrection UMC (Leawood, KS) :: Adam Hamilton
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #11


10.North Coast Church (Vista, CA) :: Larry Osborne
Made 3/3 influential lists with an average rank of #11.33





TOP 29 U.S. CHURCHES to learn from in ALL AREAS



These are the top churches that excel in all the measured areas from lists.

1.Seacoast Church (Mt. Pleasant, SC) :: Greg Surratt
Made 18/20 lists with an average rank of #42.39
2.Saddleback Church (Lake Forest, CA) :: Rick Warren
Made 16/20 lists with an average rank of #14.38

3.New Hope Christian Fellowship (Oahu, HI) :: Wayne Cordeiro
Made 16/20 lists with an average rank of #28.31

4.North Point Community Church (Alpharetta, GA) :: Andy Stanley
Made 15/20 lists with an average rank of #12.80
5.Willow Creek Community Church (South Barrington, IL) :: Bill Hybels
Made 15/20 lists with an average rank of #25.67
6.Woodlands Church (Woodlands, TX) :: Kerry Shook
Made 15/20 lists with an average rank of #25.67
7.Mars Hill Church (Seattle, WA) :: Mark Driscoll
Made 15/20 lists with an average rank of #28.87
8.LifeChurch.tv (Edmond, OK) :: Craig Groeschel
Made 14/20 lists with an average rank of #8.64
9.Fellowship Church (Grapevine, TX) :: Ed Young, Jr.
Made 14/16 lists with an average rank of #11.14


10.Southeast Christian Church (Louisville, KY) :: Dave Stone
Made 14/16 lists with an average rank of #26.07
11.NorthRidge Church (Plymouth, MI) :: Brad Powell
Made 14/20 lists with an average rank of #41.79
12.Second Baptist Church (Houston, TX) :: Ed Young, Sr.
Made 13/20 lists with an average rank of #20.54
13.Christ’s Church of the Valley (Peoria, AZ) :: Don Wilson
Made 13/20 lists with an average rank of #29.38


14.NewSpring Church (Anderson, SC) :: Perry Noble
Made 13/20 lists with an average rank of #44.85


15.Lakewood Church (Houston, TX) :: Joel Osteen
Made 12/16 lists with an average rank of #2.33
16.Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) :: Bob Coy
Made 12/16 lists with an average rank of #23.75
17.Central Christian Church (Las Vegas, NV) :: Jud Wilhite
Made 12/20 lists with an average rank of 27.50


18.Crossroads Community Church (Cincinnati, OH) :: Brian Tome
Made 12/20 lists with an average rank of #34.25
19.Community Bible Church (San Antonio, TX) :: Robert Emmitt
Made 12/20 lists with an average rank of #39.50
20.The Church of the Resurrection UMC (Leawood, KS) :: Adam Hamilton
Made 12/20 lists with an average rank of #44.08
21.Lancaster County Bible Church (Manheim, PA) :: David Ashcraft
Made 12/20 lists with an average rank of #65.17
22.Prestonwood Baptist Church (Plano, TX) :: Jack Graham
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of #28.55
23.First Baptist Church Hammond (Hammond, IN) :: Jack Schaap
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of #30.00
24.McLean Bible Church (Vienna, VA) :: Lon Soloman
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of #32.0
25.Church of the Highlands (Birmingham, AL) :: Chris Hodges
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of 32.64
26.North Coast Church (Vista, CA) :: Larry Osbourne
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of 40.82
27.Eagle Brook Church (White Bear Lake, MN) :: Bob Merritt
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of 41.73


28.Harvest Bible Church (Rolling Meadows, IL) :: James MacDonald
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of 43.45


29.Mariner’s Church (Irvine, CA) :: Kenton Beshore
Made 11/20 lists with an average rank of 49.73



2012's Top Churches to Watch in America | churchrelevance.com