On Billy Graham, Megachurches, and Doctors
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, July 21, 2005
- Viewed 56
- (14) comments so far
Only .03% of American congregations are megachurches
On Billy Graham:
1 in 6 Americans say they have heard Billy Graham speak in person.
1 in 20 non-Christian Americans have heard Billy Graham speak in person.
On Doctors:
76% of American doctors say they believe in God.
59% of American doctors say they believe in some type of an afterlife.
55% of American doctors say their beliefs influence how they practice medicine.
FOR DISCUSSION: Anybody reading today ever heard Billy Graham in person? Anybody ever met Billy Graham? Please share your experiences! 
Here are some interesting figures from Christianity Today...On Megachurches:There are 1200 protestant megachurches (congregations with over 2,000 in weekly attendance) in the United States…
Comments
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pjlr on Thu, July 21, 2005
. . . and 41% of people who attend mega-churches believe Billy Graham is God. http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
. . . 52% of all statistics are made up on the spot http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
Good morning Todd. Interesting stats on the popularity, impact and influence of Billy Graham.
Al on Thu, July 21, 2005
PJLR,
that is: 47.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot!
It is interesting to see that only .03% of American congregations are mega churches! If that is the case then why is so much “print” (i.e. media attention) given to these churches and the bulk of other sized churches are ignored? Shouldn’t we be concentrating on the issues of moderate sized churches? If the mega church was God’s plan for the Body, wouldn’t all churches be a mega church? It seems to me that God has always liked to work, in a greater measure, through small congregations to disciple his believers. I am not dumping on the mega church; I am just making an observation.
IMHO
BeHim on Thu, July 21, 2005
My parents took me to a Billy Graham Crusade in Denver at the old Mile High stadium, in the early 80’s. I don’t remember much of what was said but there were allot of people. It seemed to me like it was packed.
I’ve never met him in person.
My mom still has all the materials, programs, etc. we picked up that night.
I thought it was 37.8% off all statistics are statistically off by at least a 3% to 4% margin of error? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif
Ricky on Thu, July 21, 2005
Quote:
“If that is the case then why is so much “print” (i.e. media attention) given to these churches and the bulk of other sized churches are ignored?”
Because in America, size really does matter.
We are fixated by anything large (i.e., Wal-Mart; fast-food portions, etc.) as we equate size with success, although nothing could be farther from the truth.
In the Kingdom of God, however, the opposite is true. The mere fact that God has always chosen the smallest and the neglected to display His grace and power should be a lesson to all of us.
While all mega-complexes are not evil, the key to Kingdom success, I believe, is to stay small in our own eyes.
Larry on Thu, July 21, 2005
Actually, God hasn’t always chosen to use the small. On the day of Pentecost 3,000 came to Christ. That was immediately a mega church. God has also greatly used people like Billy Graham and thousands come to Christ during his crusades. God uses the small, the medium, the large and the mega churches. All size churches do discipleship and often I have found that it is the larger churches who do it well but all churches do it. Just be grateful for your size whether small or mega and be grateful for those who are larger whom God is using greatly as well.
pdl on Thu, July 21, 2005
55% of all statistics about statistics are 36.9% wrong by a 2-28% margin…truth be known. Anyway, my first “evangelical” experience as I was exiting the catholic church (1976 at age 13) was a Billy Graham at County Stadium in Milwaukee. The crucade made a big impact on me. Through out the years every time I went to a baseball game I would look up to the upper deck where I sat for that service and remember how God first touched my heart with the Gospel…praise His Name!
pdl
Al on Thu, July 21, 2005
Quote:
“Actually, God hasn’t always chosen to use the small. On the day of Pentecost 3,000 came to Christ.”
It is true God does work in BIG ways sometimes, not against that at all. In fact I am not against Mega Churches - I attend one with my family. Yet, the bulk of discipleship works in the small group, not in the big arena. It is interesting that after the 3,000 were converted they were scattered. Like many, I would like to see support for those who, while they might not look “successful” in our “nations” eyes are in fact the most successful in the Lord’s eyes.
As for Billy Graham, an Evangelist lets fill every football stadium so that all might hear the Gospel! The bigger the Better.
As for Statistics, a recent survey was completed of two adults that said 1/2 the people feel one way and the other 1/2 don’t care! http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif
Tim on Thu, July 21, 2005
I’ve heard Billy Graham preach live on three separate occasions spanning about twenty years.
My parents took me to the Billy Graham Crusade in 1978(?) at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. It was one of the first times I rode the subway so that was exciting in itself. I don’t remember much, just being there and sensing it was special.
The 2nd time I heard him preach live was at Dr. Oswald J. Smith’s funeral at The Peoples Church in Toronto (1985?). It was the most powerful funeral I have ever attended. (and by the way, just to tie in with the megachurch part of this thread…The Peoples Church started out in 1928 as a megachurch (though I’m sure they didn’t call it that then) with more than 2000 people at the first service - probably all from other local churches, but that was at the time when the mainline churches stopped believing the Bible, so it was just as well they left - Peoples’ “growth formula” was to give all the offering to world missions and preach about missions, evangelism, the Spirit-filled life, and the return of Christ, and to pray a lot - today the underlying strategy is much the same - strong Bible preaching and a missional focus, and yes, Peoples would still be classified as a megachurch - about 4000 average Sunday attendance)
Anyway the last time I heard Billy Graham speak live was in 1996 at Skydome in Toronto - there were so many people there that we got into the stadium but we couldn’t get into the stands, so we sat in the hallway of the 500 level and listened with the kids we had brought from the youth group. (there were also about 10,000 people who watched on closed circuit TV outside the stadium - I think it still holds the all time Skydome attendance record - 2nd place is one of the Wrestlemanias…) Again, I don’t remember much of what was said, but I do remember that it was a powerful night. DC Talk and Michael W Smith were there too.
Lastly, my wife reminded me recently that it was through seeing Billy Graham on TV that she recommitted her life to Christ. Praise God for the faithful gospel ministry of Billy Graham!!
Statistic: 3 out of the 3 times I have heard Billy Graham preach live in person it has been special and that stat is not made up!
Gerry on Fri, July 22, 2005
What percentage of people who don’t like megachurches feel the way they do as a way to feel better about their own church’s smallness?
Peter Hamm on Fri, July 22, 2005
One reader writes “If the mega church was God’s plan for the Body, wouldn’t all churches be a mega church?” If by mega church you mean churches over 2000 in attendance then obviously the answer is no. But if you mean churches that put forth a “mega” effort to reach as many in the communities they are in with the Gospel, then… Yes. I think it is God’s will that every church be a “mega”-church.
There are a lot of small churches that don’t want to grow, don’t want a lot of new people. I’m tempted to say “Shame on them”. Sometimes a group of people (and come on now, a mega church is never a one-man operation, regardless of how you feel about the Osteens and Hybels and Warrens of the world) is just “mega”-effective at reaching their community. Nothing wrong with it. Everything right with it as a matter of fact.
“Oh, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. 14% of people know that.”… (quote from the great philosopher of the late 20th and early 21st centuries… Homer Simpson)
Al on Fri, July 22, 2005
Peter wrote:
But if you mean churches that put forth a “mega” effort to reach as many in the communities they are in with the Gospel, then… Yes. I think it is God’s will that every church be a “mega”-church.
That is a great thought Peter, thank you for that - don’t mind if I use it do you? http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/grin.gif
Ruth Olson on Mon, August 01, 2005
As a teenager in Minneapolis, I worked at the BGHeadquarters typing receipts, stuffing envelopes, etc. Billy’s office was upstairs for when he visited. He came in town for a banquet for the employees and I went up to meet him. He is quite a shy man; but it was as though I was the only person in the room when he looked in my eyes. I felt his personal grace to me as Jesus would and I knew that Billy was Jesus’ substitute in our world. I remembered when Billy and his friends started Youth for Christ and huge rallies in the Minneapolis auditorium during WWII and after. He then became President of Northwestern College in Minneapolis and he and his friends were starting up his evangelism team to continue the Youth for Christ idea, but in a broader sense.
kr on Mon, August 01, 2005
I happen to attend a Mega church, it didn’t start out that way but who am I to doubt what God is doing as HE gathers His children together.
I believe that we need to be more focused
on our Creator!!!
Our relationship is to be a “personal one” between us and GOD, with Jesus Christ as our mediator !!
If “believers” would quit taking thier eyes of Jesus and be more concerned with thier calling and purpose of His will in our own life we would look more like the “body of Christ” than wondering medaling questioning followers of Christ !!
All we need to know is in His word ( the bible)!!
On Billy Graham , he has visited our church, I have never met him, his grandson is a Pastor at our Church and the annointing and gifts seem to be with him also.
God uses who HE uses, I mean if made a jack-ass talk who are we to question GOD.
There are many as HE proclaims will come in His name and as we turn on christian TV we need to ask the Lord to give us the discernment to test the spirit and the spirit will reveal to each and everyone who asks !!
be blessed
kr
Jeb Ganes on Wed, January 11, 2006
The church though large in numbers seems to be powerless and often full of failure. I can not say that the USA is better off because of the church in America. I know on a local scale the church is meeting needs but America is a land sick with vile conditions that breed murder and poverty.Has the church brought great change to the current America ? Are we better off because of the many who go to church?I looked for the world and found it in the church.I looked for the church and found it loving the world.
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