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 »
Denomination
See Different Year
1
Gateway Fellowship Church
Gateway Fellowship Church San Antonio, TX - John Van Pay
● Fastest ● Reproducing
2
Life Church Green Bay
Life Church Green Bay De Pere, WI - Shawn Hennessy
● Fastest
3
Tabernacle of Praise Church International
Tabernacle of Praise Church International McDonough, GA - Timothy J. McBride
● Fastest
4
Red Rocks Church
Red Rocks Church Littleton, CO - Shawn Johnson
● Fastest ● Largest
5
Church of the Highlands
Church of the Highlands Birmingham, AL - Chris Hodges
● Fastest ● Largest
6
The Life Church
The Life Church Manassas, VA - David Baird
● Fastest
7
Citylife Church
Citylife Church Tampa, FL - Tony Stewart
● Fastest
8
NewSpring Church
NewSpring Church Anderson, SC - Brad Cooper (Lead Pastor of Culture and Direction)
● Fastest ● Largest
9
City First Church
City First Church Rockford, IL - Jeremy DeWeerdt
● Fastest
10
2|42 Community Church
2|42 Community Church Brighton, MI - Tony Johnson
● Fastest ● Largest ● Reproducing
11
Central Baptist Church
Central Baptist Church Jonesboro, AR - Archie Mason
● Fastest
12
Faith Promise Church
Faith Promise Church Knoxville, TN - Chris Stephens
● Fastest ● Largest
13
BridgePoint Church
BridgePoint Church St. Petersburg, FL - Tim Whipple
● Fastest
14
Real Life Christian Church
Real Life Christian Church Clermont, FL - Justin Miller
● Fastest ● Largest
15
Beltway Park Church
Beltway Park Church Abilene, TX - David McQueen
● Fastest
16
Rock City Church
Rock City Church Hilliard, OH - Chad Fisher
● Fastest
17
The Church of Eleven22
The Church of Eleven22 Jacksonville, FL - Joby Martin
● Fastest ● Largest ● Reproducing
18
Elevation Church
Elevation Church Matthews, NC - Steven Furtick
● Fastest ● Largest
19
Action Church
Action Church Orlando, FL - Justin Dailey
● Fastest
20
Next Level Church
Next Level Church Somersworth, NH - Next Level Church
● Fastest