Megachurches Are Back — And More Innovative Than Ever

What if the narrative about large churches in America is wrong?

I originally posted this on Church Leader Insider, as one of the content providers alongside Dave Travis and Jim Sheppard and rereleasing today. Enjoy!

For the last several years, the storyline in many circles has been:
“Megachurches are a boomer phenomenon. The moment has passed. The future belongs to something smaller, more nimble, more local.”

The newest research says otherwise.

In a fresh study on megachurch resurgence—led by Warren Bird in partnership with Scott Thumma and the Hartford Institute—we’re seeing a different picture emerge:

• Large-attendance churches have come back strongly post-pandemic.

• Leadership is shifting younger (more Gen X and millennial senior pastors than boomers).

• Megachurches are functioning as innovation incubators for the broader church.

I sat down with Warren to unpack the report and talk about what it means for your leadership, your church, and your next season of ministry.

Watch the Conversation with Warren Bird

VIDEO: Megachurch Resurgence & Innovation with Warren Bird
Watch and download HERE.

In this 20-minute interview, Warren and I walk through some of the big ideas and surprising findings from the report, including:

• Biggest surprise in the data

  • Confirmation that large churches are not just a boomer-era anomaly

  • Strong evidence that younger leaders are now at the helm of many megachurches

• Residencies & leadership pipelines

  • The rapid rise of residency and internship programs as a primary pipeline for future pastors

  • How churches are developing lay leaders intentionally, not accidentally

  • Why the largest churches tend to have the most residents, shaping the future leadership landscape

• Multi-site: not slowing down

  • Why 24 of the 25 largest churches in the U.S. are multi-site

  • The real story: not just how many churches become multi-site, but how many campuses they are launching

  • How multi-site and church planting actually fuel each other, rather than compete

• Facilities as community assets

  • How churches are using their buildings strategically for their communities 7 days a week

  • Examples: schools, other churches, community services, food pantries, after-school tutoring, fields used as community soccer fields, and more

  • Why less than 1% of church income comes from these uses—this is not a revenue strategy; it’s a kingdom impact strategy

• Attendance frequency, small groups, and discipleship

  • Long-term decline in worship attendance frequency across all church sizes

  • At the same time, a dramatic rise in the centrality of small groups to discipleship

  • In the latest survey, 94% of large churches say groups are central to their Christian formation strategy

  • People in groups are consistently more likely to give, serve, and invite friends

• Spiritual vitality & succession readiness

  • Self-reported spiritual vitality is significantly up, not just attendance

  • Churches report higher engagement in inviting friends, volunteering, and stepping into leadership

  • Succession readiness has improved, but still lags behind where it needs to be

  • The most common regret from pastors who have already transitioned?

“I wish I had started sooner.”

If you find yourself beginning to think about succession, I’d love to connect. I am leading a cohort called Senior Pastors Finishing Well that may be just what you need. It it for pastors 55+ that aren’t ready to pass the baton but want to finish strong and get ready of the handoff. If you are interested, schedule a discovery call. When we talk, mention this post for 15% off the registration fee.

• Megachurch as innovation incubator

  • Why larger churches tend to score higher on innovation, using their margin to test new ideas

  • How they’re experimenting with new forms of ministry, new ways to disciple, and new ways to reach their communities

  • The team used AI to surface the most commonly cited innovations—and many of them are simple, practical ideas your church could adopt or adapt.

Why This Matters for You Right Now

If you’re leading a larger church—or you’re on your way there—this research is less about “interesting stats” and more about practical direction:

• How will you develop your next generation of leaders?

  • Are you still hoping talent will “surface,” or are you building a structured pipeline (residencies, internships, intentional lay development)?

• How is your church present in your community Monday–Saturday?

  • Are your facilities sitting empty most of the week, or functioning as a platform for mission and community presence?

• What’s your real discipleship engine?

  • If worship attendance is less frequent, are your groups and smaller environments truly central—or just an optional side program?

• Are you playing the long game on succession?

  • Have you and your board normalized a yearly, unemotional review of succession readiness, or is it still the conversation no one wants to have?

These aren’t “megachurch questions.” They’re future-church questions.

Two Next Steps You Can Take This Month

Here are two simple, concrete action steps coming out of this conversation and the report:

1. Download the “Megachurch Resurgence” Report here and Review It with Your Team

Use Warren’s full report as a mirror and a map for your own church:

• Compare your church’s reality to the national trends

• Identify 3–5 gaps or opportunities:

  • Leadership pipeline / residencies

  • Multi-site and expansion strategy

  • Community engagement and use of facilities

  • Small groups and discipleship strategy

  • Spiritual vitality and engagement

  • Succession planning

Block 60–90 minutes with your senior team or board to walk through the most relevant visuals and ask, “What does this mean for us in the next 12–18 months?”

2. Start a Strategic Conversation with Leadwell

Much of what Warren and I talk about in this interview connects directly to the work we do with churches through Leadwell.

If you’re wrestling with questions like:

• How do we design a real leadership pipeline (not just talk about it)?

• Is it time to clarify our multi-site, campus, or expansion strategy?

• How do we plan and lead a healthy senior pastor succession that honors both the founding pastor and the future?

• How do we re-align our structure, staff, and strategy for the next season of growth?

Our team at Leadwell comes alongside churches to help you:

• Assess where you are today (leadership, structure, culture, and strategy)

• Clarify where you need to go next

• Design practical, implementable pathways in areas like:

  • Succession and transition planning

  • Multi-site strategy and campus design

  • Senior pastor cohorts and finishing well

  • Leadership development pipelines and team restructuring

If this interview surfaces questions or tensions you’re already feeling, that’s a good sign it’s time for a guided, outside conversation.

👉 Action step:
Consider these two options:

1. Schedule a discovery call with Leadwell to talk about your current challenges and explore whether our services are a fit.

2. Bring this video and the report to your board or elders, then invite Leadwell into that conversation as a facilitator to help you move from insight to action.

You can learn more and reach out here: Leadwell Services

As you look toward the fall and into next year, my hope is that this interview and the “Megachurch Resurgence” report give you:

• Clarity about the landscape, and

• Courage to take your next faithful step in leadership, innovation, and succession.

Now—watch the conversation with Warren, grab the report, and ask:
What’s one strategic move we need to make in the next 90 days?