Most worshippers do not view their religious institutions as places of business. However, most religious institutions face similar problems as small companies. Just like small firms, religious institutions can fail or lack members. Small churches and businesses are increasingly failing in different parts of the world. However, megachurches are increasing at a rate of 8% despite the harsh economic climate. In the last 20 years, megachurches have increasingly become popular. These churches do not only have thousands of members but also generate billions of dollars annually. Welcome to megabusiness of megachurches. Megachurches can be described as extra-large churches which receive at least 2000 believers each week. These churches are common among the evangelical Christian faith and they can accommodate over 15,000 worshippers at a given time.
Just like houses, corporations, schools and shopping malls, churches in America have increased in size in the last 30 years. There were about 50 megachurches in the US in 1970. This number has increased to over 1,300 today. Megachurches are run by pastors-cum-chief executives who use business tactics to increase their membership. This entrepreneurial approach has facilitated the growth of churches such as The Potter’s House, World Changes, New Birth and Lakewood, among others.
Although these churches have a higher purpose of spreading the gospel to as many people as possible, their growth and entrepreneurial approach is questionable. Technology plays an important role in the growth of megachurches. It enables these religious institutions to communicate with members, raise money and keep track of members. Most megachurches have websites which they use to sell their products (CDs, self-help books and DVDs) and to provide an events calendar and transcript of sermons. Members use the websites to donate money and request for prayers. The internet, complex phone systems, cell phone and e-mail services play a critical role in the operations of megachurches.
The way sermons are delivered in megachurches has completely changed. Pastors preach on huge stages and reach the audience through jumbtron TV screens. Crosses have been replaced with large plasma TVs while liturgical practices and Power-point presentations have replaced hymn books. These changes resonate with the younger generation which makes up a large percentage of members. Sermons in megachurches have a thing in common; entertainment. They use varying degrees of drama, video and contemporary music in their sermons.
Worshippers in megachurches do not only tend to be younger than at traditional churches, but also diverse. Age, income, race, ethnicity and education levels are diverse in these churches. Megachurches attract diverse people because pastors avoid controversial subjects like homosexuality and abortion. This allows such churches to attract worshippers with a wide range of beliefs. Megachurches are based on the idea of inclusivity and being inoffensive. If anything, these churches would lose members if they promoted dogmatic positions on contentious subjects.
Massive membership is not the only significant feature of a megachurch. These religious institutions also have other distinct features such as divorce centers, gymnasiums, schools, aerobic studios, banquet halls, computer centers and arcades. Some even have Starbucks and McDonald restaurants! A megachurch does not only offer a Sunday experience but also caters for other aspects of life.
Megachurches are exempted from tax in most parts of the world. In the US, they are exempt from about $7.2 billion each year. This means they have enough cash flow to develop enormous church facilities.
To fully understand the power of a megachurch, consider this fact. Only 0.5 percent Protestant churches in the US are megachurches. However, about 10% of all 56 million Protestant worshippers (about 6 million worshippers) attend megachurches. Lakewood Church in Houston has a weekly attendance of about 43,500 people and an annual budget of $70 million. The megachurch is headed by Joel Olsteen. It bought Compaq Center in 2010 for $7.5 million. Lifechurch.tv, located in Edmond, Oklahoma, receives about 42,800 worshippers weekly and approximately 100,000 viewers tune in online each week. With an annual budget of $38.5 million, the Andy Stanley-led North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia could easily pass for a large corporation. About 27,400 worshippers attend this church weekly.
Megachurches are headed by charismatic pastors who are viewed as celebrities by worshippers. Some of these pastors lead flamboyant lifestyles. For instance, Joel Olsteen owns a 17,000 square foot mansion in Houston worth $10.5 million. Creflo Dollar owns a private jet, 2 Rolls-Royce, a $1 million Atlanta home and a New York townhouse wort $2.5 million!
There is no doubt that religious institutions have learned valuable corporate techniques from businesses. Maybe it’s time they taught corporations a thing or two. The business world would certainly appreciate the services of non-paid loyal volunteers and the tactics of running a megabusiness!
Megachurches are impossible to miss, with upwards of 2,000 people crowding into their ceremonies -- sometimes as much as 15,000 -- and huge buildings that dominate the horizon. The average megachurch takes in about $6.5 million a year; some much more, like the $80 million a year budget of Houston's Lakewood Church. Add together all the megachurches in the US, and you have a financial force of billions of dollars worth of revenue.
Fortunately for secularists, much of this money is spent on buying church executives and pastors fancy cars and bigger mansions. The stories of megachurch pastors stealing money -- a Singapore megachurch founder was recently tried for embezzling over $40 million -- and finding themselves on the business end of sex and drugs scandals are beyond numerous.
Unfortunately, there's also plenty left over for political work. The Catholic Church (perhaps the biggest "megachurch" of them all) made a big point of forbidding John Kerry from communion during the 2004 elections, as a way of condemning his pro-choice views.
Other church leaders have claimed that supporting particular candidates "constitutes material cooperation with intrinsic evil." Rick Warran, pastor at California's Saddleback Megachurch, once told the world he hopes to "redefine" presidential politics. And the Mormons funded and lobbied for California's Proposition 8.
So where does that leave secularists?
Megachurches are here. And, as long as we keep seeing the "social vortex" effect which seems to draw gullible parishioners to big congregations like particles of space-dust to the gravitational field of a newly forming planet... megachurches are probably not going anywhere soon.
Secularists mostly don't enjoy the benefits of a large easily-led flock. This means they can't really compete on resources. Does that mean the cause is hopeless? Not necessarily... it just means secularists need to look for battles where the deciding factor is what they are most affective at.
For example, AronRa is an increasingly motivated activist, trying to promote science specifically and education in general. The purposeful propagation of misinformation is a multimillion-dollar business offering a lot of political power, percs, and prestige. He creates educational science videos that are entertaining and informative, and which appeal to people who aren't scientists themselves. These require a substantial investment of time as well as money. You can support AronRa with his project by donating to his crowdfunding campaign.
