2016 Fastest-Growing Churches in America
The shape of the American megachurch is constantly shifting. What are the churches at the forefront of the movement and how are they innovating?
Each year, the Lifeway Research team surveys churches, verifies the numbers, calculates the results and compiles the list. In preparation for this annual report, they solicited participation from more than 10,000 churches. Through the process, the churches were contacted multiple times by email and fax. This is a self-reported survey, based on attendance averages, not membership. Churches that participated answered questions about their 2025 in-person, weekend attendance averages for February and March as compared to their 2024 numbers. The final Fastest-Growing rankings reflect an average of numerical gain and percentage gain.
Explore the Outreach 100 study and how your church can participate in the coming years »
Location
Denomination
See Different Year
1
Gateway Fellowship Church
San Antonio, TX
- John Van Pay
● Fastest
● Reproducing
2
Life Church Green Bay
De Pere, WI
- Shawn Hennessy
● Fastest
3
Tabernacle of Praise Church International
McDonough, GA
- Timothy J. McBride
● Fastest
4
Red Rocks Church
Littleton, CO
- Shawn Johnson
● Fastest
● Largest
5
Church of the Highlands
Birmingham, AL
- Chris Hodges
● Fastest
● Largest
6
The Life Church
Manassas, VA
- David Baird
● Fastest
7
Citylife Church
Tampa, FL
- Tony Stewart
● Fastest
8
NewSpring Church
Anderson, SC
- Brad Cooper (Lead Pastor of Culture and Direction)
● Fastest
● Largest
9
City First Church
Rockford, IL
- Jeremy DeWeerdt
● Fastest
10
2|42 Community Church
Brighton, MI
- Tony Johnson
● Fastest
● Largest
● Reproducing
11
Central Baptist Church
Jonesboro, AR
- Archie Mason
● Fastest
12
Faith Promise Church
Knoxville, TN
- Chris Stephens
● Fastest
● Largest
13
BridgePoint Church
St. Petersburg, FL
- Tim Whipple
● Fastest
14
Real Life Christian Church
Clermont, FL
- Justin Miller
● Fastest
● Largest
15
Beltway Park Church
Abilene, TX
- David McQueen
● Fastest
16
Rock City Church
Hilliard, OH
- Chad Fisher
● Fastest
17
The Church of Eleven22
Jacksonville, FL
- Joby Martin
● Fastest
● Largest
● Reproducing
18
Elevation Church
Matthews, NC
- Steven Furtick
● Fastest
● Largest
19
Action Church
Orlando, FL
- Justin Dailey
● Fastest
20
Next Level Church
Somersworth, NH
- Next Level Church
● Fastest