Study shows Mormonism is fastest-growing faith in half of U.S. states
CHICAGO — Mitt Romney may or may not become the first Mormon to move into the White House next year, but a new study shows that Mormonism is moving into more parts of the country than any other religious group, making it the fastest-growing faith in more than half of U.S. states. Also see Muslim, Mormon growth spurts found
Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism?
Theologically, most megachurches are conservative in orientation, at least in a general sense. In America, a large number of megachurches are associated with the charismatic movement and denominations such as the Assemblies of God. Many are independent, though often loosely associated with other churches. The largest number of megachurches within one denomination is found within the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest non-Catholic denomination.
The emergence of the megachurch was noted by sociologists and church researchers attempting to understand the massive shifts that were taking place in the last decades of the 20th century. Researchers such as Dean M. Kelley of the National Council of Churches traced the decline of the liberal denominations that once constituted the old Protestant “mainline.” This decline was contrasted with remarkable growth among more conservative denominations and churches — a pattern traced in Kelley’s 1973 landmark book, Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. Kelley argued that conservative churches were growing precisely because of their strict doctrine and moral teachings. The early megachurches were the leading edge of the growth among conservative churches, especially in metropolitan and suburban settings.
One of the Best Sermons on Missions You’ll Ever Hear
I suspect David Platt’s sermon at T4G (April 2012) will be used of God in a similar way that John Piper’s “Doing Missions When Dying Is Gain” has been used since October 1996.
Ligon Duncan said that it was the best sermon on missions he has ever heard. John Piper tweeted, “This may have been the most powerful missions message I’ve ever heard. I needed to be quiet with God.”
