Missouri's Largest Churches

By

Here is a list of the largest churches in Missouri measured by estimated average weekly attendance. For the scope of this list only those that are estimated to be in the top ten largest are featured. Other "megachurches" (2,000+ in weekly attendance) are listed below.

Due to varying quality of available data, churches are presented in rough order and some may not be in the top ten largest if exact data wasn't available. 

If there are any churches that you think should've made this list or to report corrections, please comment below or email us at info @ our-domainname.com (not subdomain).

Please note: some church numbers reflect pre-pandemic attendance, so church attendance could vary significantly since then.

James River Church


Pastor: John Lindell

Theology/Denomination: Assemblies of God (Pentecostal)

Location(s): Ozark (founding/largest campus), western Springfield, northern Springfield, Joplin

Attendance: ~ 15,000-19,000 (numbers vary according to sources: here, here, and here)

This is the largest church in Missouri with several campuses across Southwest Missouri, primarily in the Springfield area, with a fourth located an hour away in Joplin. Given its place as the largest church in Missouri and the Springfield area, it has been involved in several controversies.

The Assemblies of God, the Pentecostal denomination which it is part of, is headquartered in Springfield as well. 

Faith Church


Pastor: David Crank

Theology/Denomination: Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Word of Faith

Location(s): St Louis Area: Sunset Hills (largest/founding campus), Earth City, Weldon Springs, North County, Fairview Heights, IL; Palm Beach Area: West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach

Attendance: 7,000+ (source; 2021)

The largest church in the St. Louis area, and by all estimation, the second largest in Missouri. This church clearly teaches the false doctrine, of "the prosperity gospel." Their flagship campus in Sunset Hills is estimated to have 4,000 weekly attendees alone (source?).

Abundant Life



Pastor: Phil Hopper

Theology/Denomination: Southern Baptist

Location(s): Lee's Summit (largest/founding campus), Blue Springs, Independence, Crossroads

Attendance: 5,700 (source and source)

Abundant Life is the largest Southern Baptist church in Missouri (and one of the largest churches in the Kansas City area (across state-lines). It has predominantly been in Lee's Summit, only recently branching out to launch other campuses. It is one of many Southern Baptist megachurches in the Kansas City area.

Sheffield Family Life Center




Pastor: George Westlake III

Theology/Denomination: Assemblies of God

Location(s): Sheffield neighborhood of Kansas City

Attendance:  ~ 5,400 (source; 2017)


The Crossing Church – St. Louis 



Pastor: Greg Holder
Theology/Denomination: Non-denominational; seeker-sensitive
Location(s): Chesterfield (main campus), Fenton, St. Peters, South City
Attendance: 5,800 (source: 2023)

Friendly Temple


Pastor: Michael Jones

Theology/Denomination: Missionary Baptist

Location(s): North St. Louis City (main campus), Florissant, Spanish lake

Attendance: Unknown; auditorium can seat 2,500 (source) 


Historically African-American congregation Friendly Temple Church has arguably been the most influential church in inner-city Saint Louis. They have a very large social outreach with numerous community programs, housing development projects (Robert Fulton Development Corporation), a senior living apartment, and educational outreaches.

Element Church

Pastor: Erik lawson

Theology/Denomination: Non-denominational, Charismatic

Location(s): Wentzville, St. Charles (satellite)

Attendance: ~ 3,500 (source)

Church on the Rock


Pastor: David Blunt

Theology/Denomination: Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Word of Faith

Location(s): St. Peters

Attendance: Unknown; auditorium seats ~ 2,000 +

While the church affiliates the Word of Faith movement and its figures (such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland), it is not as flamboyant as Faith Church.

Word of Life Church

Pastor: Brian Zahnd

Theology/Denomination: Non-denominational, Charismatic?, Liturgical; Non-Penal Substitutionary Atonement

Location(s): St. Joseph

Attendance: Unknown

When it was founded, Word of Life Church was famously a Word of Faith Church. The founding pastor came to a conviction regarding that former theology and shifted the church away to a more liturgy-based teaching. Its apparent the church significantly downsized after that point, but it still appears to qualify as a "megachurch." 


The Crossing — Columbia



Pastors: Dave Cover, Keith Simon, Shay Roush; Co-Lead Pastors 

Theology/Denomination: Evangelical Presbyterian Church

Location(s): Columbia

Attendance: ~ 3,000 (source: communication with The Crossing, 2022)

Note: many other churches may be near 3,000 in attendance. The Crossing is provisionally listed in the top ten largest churches, but if another church is found to have greater attendance; it will drop from the list.


Other Megachurches within Missouri

The below lists are summaries containing only megachurches within the borders of Missouri. See the full posts for listing across the St. Louis and Kansas City metro area which expand state lines.

St. Louis Area (see full post)

  • First Baptist Arnold (my home church); Southern Baptist; 2,000-3,000 attendance
  • Pathfinder Church, Ellisville; Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod; near 3,000 in attendance
  • Harvester Christian Church, St. Peters; Non-denominational/restorationist movement?
  • The Crossing Church, Chesterfield; Non-denominational (unrelated to Columbia)
  • St. Louis Family Church, Chesterfield; Non-denominational, Pentecostal
  • Twin Rivers Worship Center, Melville; Church of God International 
  • Shalom City of Peace?; (Independent?) Baptist
  • St. Joseph Catholic Parish, Cottleville; Catholic

Kansas City Area (see full post)

  • Pleasant Valley Baptist; Southern Baptist
  • Vineyard Church; Non-denominational
  • Abundant Life; Southern Baptist
  • The Summit Church; United Methodist
  • Sheffield Family Life Center; Assemblies of God

Springfield Area

  • Crossway Baptist Church; Southern Baptist
  • North Point Church; Assemblies of God

Other Areas

  • Cape Girardeau First Assembly; Assemblies of God
  • La Croix, Cape Girardeau; United Methodist Church
  • Faith Life Church, Branson; Non-denominational, Word of Faith




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Soul-Searching: Psalm 139

By
Image
What does it mean to search for something? A search is not a low-energy effort to find something. A search is a deep, intense probing that will not stop until something is found.  How do we search? We pour through our environment intently looking to find that which we are seeking. That is what we must ask God to do in our own hearts, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”- Psa 139:23-24 In Psalm 139, David is both asking God to and recognizes that he searches the heart. This idea of God searching our heart sandwiches (inclusio) the body of the Psalm, which describes God’s intimate knowledge of us in great detail, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down… and are acquainted with all my ways.”-  Psa 139:2 “Where shall I go from your spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heav
Read more

The Twelve Curses: Deuteronomy 27:15-26

By
Image
 Everyone has heard of the Ten Commandments but have you ever heard of the “Twelve Curses?” Throughout the Bible, we see lists of the good we ought to do (like the fruit of the spirit, the beatitudes, various blessings, etc.) and sins that God abhors (woes against the Pharisees, seven abominations, etc). In the closing portions of Deuteronomy, we find a list of twelve curses that have many similarities to the Ten Commandments. These specific curses were given to the Israelites alongside a lengthy description of punishments for breaking God’s law. While they function similarly to the Ten Commandments, they serve as an indictment against sinful behavior; warning what will happen if wrong is committed.  This curse tablet was discovered on Mount Ebal, the same mountain where the Israelites pronounced curses. Its discovery was announced in 2023, with research findings published in May of 2023. The Curses Idolatry “Cursed is the man who makes a carved idol or molten image—an abomination to Y
Read more

12 Stones at the Jordan River – A Miracle to Remember (Joshua 3-4)

By
Image
 This is the first post in a multi-post series on the 7 Memorials found in the Book of Joshua. See part 2 . The two spies had just returned from scouting out the city of Jericho with promising news–according to Rahab, who secretly professed faith in Yahweh, the people of Jericho were deeply afraid (their “hearts melted”) because of Israel (Joshua 2:9-11). With confidence from this report and at God’s direction, it was now time for Israel to move into their promised land.  But to do this, they would have to cross the Jordan River. In a miracle reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea, the Lord stops the flow of the Jordan River and allows the Israelites to cross it on dry ground. When the team of priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the river’s overflowing waters, the river dried and the Israelites crossed the river about a half-mile away (2,000 cubits) from the Ark. The power of this narrative is not simply the miracle of stopping water demonstrating God’s power. The
Read more