MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

America’s 25 Most Innovative Churches

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Thu, January 10, 2008
Viewed 99
(8) comments so far

1. lifechurch.tv (edmond, ok) - craig groeschel
2. mars hill church (seattle, wa) - mark driscoll
3. granger community church (granger, in) - mark beeson
4. flamingo road church (cooper city, fl) - tony gramling
5. seacoast church (mt. pleasant, sc) - greg surratt
6. saddleback church (lake forest, ca) - rick warren
7. mosaic church (los angeles, ca) - erwin mcmanus
8. fellowship church (grapevine, tx) - ed young, jr
9. northpoint community church (alpharetta, ga) - andy stanley
10 willow creek community church (south barrington, il) - bill hybels
11. national community church (washington, dc) - mark batterson
12. newspring church (anderson, sc) - perry noble
13. community christian church (naperville, il) - dave ferguson
14. elevation church (charlotte, sc) - steve furtick
15. healing place church (baton rouge, la) - dino rizzo
16. north coast church (vista, ca) - larry osborn
17. northwood church (keller, tx) - bob roberts
18. newsong church (irvine, ca) - dave gibbons
19. new hope christian fellowship (honolulu, hi) - wayne cordeiro
20. redeemer presbyterian church (new york, ny) - tim keller
21. crossover church (tampa bay, fl) - tommy kyllonen
22. perimeter church (duluth, ga) - randy pope
23. mars hill bible church (grandville, mi) - rob bell
24. orchard valley community church (aurora, il) - scott hodge
25. the sanctuary covenant church (minneapolis, mn) - efrem smith

(list compilation and picture thanks to my man Dan Ohlerking!)

Outreach Magazine has come out with it's 2008 list of America's 25 most innovative churches. I was part of the panel that pulled together this list, and although I haven't seen the article yet that accompanies the list, I think it's an interesting list to take a look at. What do you think? Who would you have included (or excluded) from the list?

Comments

if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.

Anthony Trask on Thu, January 10, 2008

Thinking out loud here- Like the list. There are a few on there that I have never heard of that I will have to check out.

I guess I can see why lifechurch.tv is number one due to their pioneering efforts in the multi-site ‘revolution’.

I love Mars Hill in Seattle and have attended several times even though I do not live in the area, but I’m not sure why they were ranked at number two simply because I am not sure what has been so innovative- influential for sure, but not super innovatve although they are definitely starting a multi-site push as well.

I’m really suprised that Mars Hill Bible Church is so low on the list. They are very innovative in philosophy, teaching, loving, and giving.

I am also very suprised that Cornerstone in Simi Valley, Imago Dei in Portland, Ecclesia in Houston , and even Lakewood in Houston (who is very inovative in their video, internet, and publishing miistries) were not on the list.

I guess that I am having a hard time differentiating between innovative and influential…..

Jesus, bottom line, is the reason for all of this though- not to try to immulate these places, but to be encouraged by them and to pray for them and to join in their efforts to advance the Kingdom.
HER on Thu, January 10, 2008

Oh, man, this is so cool! My church made the list. I give God all the props, man. He’s the ultimate innovator and its so cool to see Him pour that part of Himself into these churches.
Josh R on Fri, January 11, 2008

Mars Hill’s “Ask anything” Series is a pretty amazing use of technology.

I have never heard of a church asking their congregation to use their cell phones during service before. Last weekend they invited the congregation to text in their questions, and Driscoll answered them extemporaneously after his sermon.

I think there where two benefits from this approach, 1, it allowed the congregation to see a pastor, not just a preacher, and 2, it allowed Driscoll to answer questions that even he would be weary to bring up.
jim on Fri, January 11, 2008

nice, and not one lead by a woman…something’s wrong with THAT picture and none in the ‘emergent church’ movement (aside from maybe Bell’s which brushes up against it.)

They should have at least made a mention of Karen Ward’s Church of the Apostles in Seattle. http://www.apostleschurch.org/ Or Tim Keel’s church in Kansas City or Doug Pagitt’s in Minneapolis.
IndyChristian on Fri, January 11, 2008

Thanks to featuring this, Todd. And I’m glad Outreach Mag is doing this. It’s a welcome step forward.

I just wish I knew their criteria for developing the list. Anthony’s point (above) is well made—the list only seems to be the fairly large, influential churches. [Let quickly note though, that truly innovative churches should & would naturally BE influential. So I guess my point is that since innovation is more typically done in smaller settings… think R&D;… then this list is probably leaving out MANY of the most innovative churches… simply because they’re not yet recognized.

And let’s have a discussion, and reach a conclusion… What is this ‘innovative’ characteristic that we’re looking for? Is it just ‘technology’? And in the final analysis, won’t it be tightly related to the criteria defining success at carrying out the Great Commission in our cities & neighborhoods?

And although ‘large’, which of these innovative churches have optimally presented the gospel by deed and by Word… to every person in their neighborhood? Typically even the LARGEST church in the city still only has a membership of less than 1% of the city’s population. So surely the Great Commission as a collaborative mission, is best accomplished TOGETHER, city by city. So show me an ‘innovative’ church pulling the body of Christ TOGETHER in a city, and getting the job done.

Might THAT help define ‘innovative’?
Kenny on Fri, January 11, 2008

Hey Todd or anyone else,

Do you know their definition of the word “innovative” as used to determine this list?

Thanks,

Kenny in Phoenix
Tony Scialdone on Fri, January 18, 2008

While I applaud innovation and ingenuity, I’m really tired of seeing ‘most innovative church’ lists. It’s as if some people think that innovation in ministry equals success.

How about a list of the churches that make the most disciples? We could split the list between bulk (most total disciples) and ratio (most disciples made on a per capita basis).

At what point did anyone decide that innovation should become a measuring stick for churches? Is it possible someone is missing the boat?
gzufqxwv on Mon, September 07, 2009

oxkldttb http://fydehiyc.com wdehsxur dpkazase