Think of a traditional Church; soft piano plays as people shuffle in and sit, soft light filters through the stained glass windows, some waiver through the service pamphlet in front of them, waiting for the service to start. Now, picture this; a concert hall filled with people, it is dark and the band begins to play. Lights start flashing, the guitarist picks at the chords rapidly, and the vocalist sings about his journey of faith, welcome to the Mega Church.
The concept of Mega Churches has been around since the 19th century, inspiring those who follow by the thousands. It wasn’t until around 1955 that the concept became more refined, and the Mega Churches that we see today now came into place. There are many benefits to Mega Churches including the undeniable sense of community that draws so many in and keeps so many coming back. For many, the combination of fun and faith coming together is more than exciting, and something that they cant wait to share with people that they know.
Mega Churches combine the best of both worlds by giving their members alternative ways to show their love for their faith and also to grow on their journey. Mega Churches give way to more general values and guidelines to follow when interpreting their faith. It allows masses to individualize and customize their own views, rather than having them follow strict faith guidelines and rules.
A Sense of Community
Community for many is a major factor when it comes to picking a church or when choosing to follow their faith. They want to be surrounded by people who share the same values and passion for their faith as they do; they want people that share the same journey with them. Evoking a sense of community in those who attend and follow our church is something that is easily achieved when we follow a few simple steps.
First, we must engage with our audience no matter how big or small and make them feel as if their opinion or questions matter. Starting conversations or provoking thoughts is something that constantly helps those who attend to continue to attend because it stimulates their minds and fuels growth of their faith. Provoking thought and enhancing that with the sense of community will help so many on their journey towards growing closer with their own faith. More people equals more opportunities to hear things that others might not have thought of initially, it gives them the opportunity to hear from people of all walks of life and all stages of faith, ultimately allowing everyone to grow closer.
The Appeal of Congregation Size
Mega Churches, especially those who have over 2,000 people in attendance, often attract people just because of the profound size of community and inspiration. Seeing so many people congregate for one event, and stay that faithful and loyal to it over and over again shows others their determination towards their faith and also their church. It also shows that they are willing and committed to share with others their journey of faith. Many become awestruck at the vast amount of attendance that Mega Churches see, and want to come back with friends and family to share their engaging and memorable experience with them.
Often times people think that if churches are gaining attendance and followers of their faith by this many, then something profound and amazing must be happening at their masses and at their church. This is true for both small and large churches, but Mega Churches attract that attention in order to share to the love and faith that they believe in to many, many more people.
Mega Churches are profoundly great at encouraging their congregation, inspire and preach to hundreds and thousands of people at most times in one service. Organization at this large of a scale shows dedication and also inspiration at its finest. This allows people to feel as if Mega Churches are small in the sense of community, prayer and interaction even though there are many more people in attendance. It allows those leaders to still touch the hearts of many and help them to grow and prosper in their faith. Those who work or volunteer at a Mega Church engage with the people, greet them, pray with them, and hold conversations that center around faith, love, and community. Having a smiling face and warm greeting to each member helps nurture the sense of community with thousands attending.
Relevance In The Message
The dynamics of a Mega Church allow people to grow their faith how they see fit, while there is structure, there is also a lot of room for interpretation and growth which allows them to truly find their faith and path. They take the approach of their message being broader so that it resonates with the church members when they listen to the message. It creates opportunity for conversation, participation and also the ability to see others’ opinions. Having more people allows for versatile and dynamic faith patterns, whereas smaller groups sometimes might side with a majority opinion rather than allowing the majority to determine their own faith. It allows people who would have been potentially opposed to traditional church to try out a different way of finding their faith, through a more relaxed and contemporary environment that is more informal.
For some, reasons to avoid traditional church might include not having dress clothes that would be appropriate, or the fact that it is just too formal and not their style, they would rather listen to a faithful rock than traditional Church songs. Mega Churches have been able to create a sense of casual attire while still incorporating faith and message in one.
Mega Churches also inspire those who attend to live a positive lifestyle that is centered around faith. From gymnasiums to schools and many other various social avenues, Mega Churches make it easy for those to attend to make faith and their community a major part of their daily lifestyle. Mega Churches have become popular with families because there is something for everyone of all ages and all walks of life to do. By building community-like centers that are centered around these Mega Churches, they help people to easily integrate faith and their beliefs into their lives. They attract leaders and those who like a well-structured and organized service, with the benefits of having the all-in-one stop for faith and community.
Unconventional Approach to Faith
Mega Churches also help to engage all audiences. They are taking many non-traditional routes in their services that help to engage the younger audience so they delve more into the fun side of faith. Traditional sermons are often not filled with concert-like scenes and bands that are singing to the tune of their beliefs, but rather more traditional songs, avenues and instruments. Mega Churches impact the young by bringing faith to a relatable level, using contemporary music and concert settings to help reach them and help them to journey and discover what faith means to them. The main point that they want people to understand when they attend is that church is entertaining and it is fun. Mega Churches want to engage their members in a fun, exciting, and relevant way that keeps them wanting to come back for more. This encourages people to come back and learn more, and also bring people with them so they can share all of the fun experiences and memories with those that they love.
The introduction of technology is another thing that Mega Churches are doing in order to connect with the people on a more engaging level. Instead of traditional bibles, they are enhancing their sermons with big presentation screens that show the important statements and verses. This technology is engaging and makes it fun since it is outside of the traditional Church sermons. It also allows leaders to take the traditional facts and information and make it easier to understand by summarizing it down to a practical and relatable level. Many associate with this better simply because they can easily compare and apply lessons and scenarios taught in the churches to their daily lives without having to question their interpretation.
Mega Churches have changed the way that we view and interpret faith. It also has a major impact on the way that religion and faith inspire the masses of people who follow it. Mega Churches allow thousands of people to congregate and learn together on their journey towards contentment in their own faith, while also allowing them to define their own values and morals that they see fit within their own lives. Evoking a major sense of community on the church life is another thing that these Mega Churches are doing in order to help people create a lifestyle based off of their faith rather than selected events.
Modernizing the church processes by incorporating modern music and technology helps people to see that religion is something that is constant and always changing; it flows with the tides of time and allows everyone to relate to it and understand it, no matter what era you are in. Mega Churches are here to help you on your journey towards a better understanding of faith and love for religion.
