Survey: Megachurches attract many under 45

(RNS) Megachurches are most attractive to younger adults, and almost all who arrive at their sanctuaries have darkened a church’s door before, a new survey shows.

The study by Leadership Network and Hartford Institute for Religion Research, released June 9, found that almost two-thirds (62 percent) of adults who attend Protestant megachurches are younger than 45, compared to 35 percent of U.S. Protestant congregations overall.

Researchers found that just 6 percent of those attending a megachurch – defined as a congregation attended by 2,000 or more each week – had never attended a worship service before arriving at their current church. Almost half (44 percent) had come from another local church, 28 percent had transplanted from a distant congregation, and 18 percent had not attended church for a while.

“It appears that megachurches draw persons who want a new experience of worship – contemporary, large-scale, professional, high-tech,” said Scott Thumma, co-author of “Not Who You Think They Are: The Real Story of People Who Attend America’s Megachurches.”

“For the nearly 30 percent coming from a distant church previously ... they want a place to plug in immediately to a community, missions, and small groups.”

Thumma said he was surprised at how much megachurch attendees invite others to worship with them; just 13 percent said they had not invited anyone in the past year.