News
Megachurches across the country are holding their own during uncertain economic times, a new survey shows.
Most megachurches continue to see attendance and giving
rise, and the bigger the church is, the more likely it is to experience
increases, Leadership Network reported in its 2010 Large Church Economic
Outlook Report.
According to the Christian Post, survey results indicate that the economic downturn is having little impact on America's larger churches. A full 100 percent of churches with 8,000 or more attendees experienced growth in attendance and giving from 2009 to 2010. And all surveyed churches with attendance of 10,000 to 14,999 plan to reach this year's budget projections.
Overall, 81 percent of megachurches—congregations with attendance of 2,000 or more—saw more attendees and only 9 percent reported lower attendance. Sixty-seven percent of megachurches increased their budget, with the average increase being 3 percent, and the same proportion said they expect to meet their 2010 budget.
When a group of Islamic extremists on Oct. 31 burst into Our Lady of
Salvation church in Baghdad during evening mass and began spraying the sanctuary
with gunfire, the militant organization that took responsibility said Christians
in Egypt also would be targeted if its demands were not met. Taking more than
100 congregants hostage, the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) called a television
station and stated that the assault came in response to the Coptic Orthodox
Church in Egypt allegedly holding two Coptic women against their will who, the
ISI and some others believe, converted to Islam. 
A New Jersey pastor told his married church leaders to
cancel their Facebook accounts or they would need to resign. 
