Comments on: Megachurches are not churches?

By: Cbell

Cbell — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 21:13:53 +0000

whether a mega church or a small community church, both i have attended. i just wish it wasn’t so hard to make a connection. Pastors seem so far. Resources seem so far and its really starting to make me feel like the church is in a class of its own and once again i don’t fit. People really don’t reach for people and the turn to your neighbor approach isn’t enough anymore. its not about church nor isn’t about the number. its once again the people. i understand the pastor may never know you, he may not even care about you, forgive him he doesn’t have time to know you and do what God called him to do. but God does and sometimes that has to be enough. at the end of the day we all just passing through. God bless pastors and their wives and families for the effort and hard work. I have written letters to my pastor and to my church, no response but hey God knows and that must be what matters. it has to be

By: A Few Fun Memories • The House Thing

A Few Fun Memories • The House Thing — Mon, 11 Sep 2017 15:49:00 +0000

[…] I read an article describing how we store up many of our memories outside our heads, whether online, in diaries, or […]

By: LTC Steve Garrington

LTC Steve Garrington — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 21:20:02 +0000

In reply to Dustin Sims Wright. My wife and I are a military family. After 29 years I have observed that the small base chapels we attended were almost family. Fifteen years after retirement we still are in contact with our brothers and sisters from military chapel.

By: Annewebb

Annewebb — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 12:34:43 +0000

I wonder if the arena style of worship in mega churches might not also have some effect on lack of bonding between church goers
When the service is very performance based , more like a concert, and less an experience that is one that is shared it is possible to feel very disconnected

By: Melly

Melly — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 10:39:07 +0000

I’ve been a member of a mega church and definately experienced a sense of community, connectedness and transactive memory. Large churches often develop internal structures to make this happen for those who will to connect. Im now involved with a much much smaller church. I honestly dont think its much different… ie i dont think its about the size of the church or the number of people. It realky comes down to having a cukture of connection.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 05:28:01 +0000

At the end of the day the amount of ‘transactive memory’ or real deep seated relationship is often not in the hands of the church…but rather in the hands of the individual in that place. They often determine the amount of openness or the extent of closeness that is allowed in their lives. They define and control their boundaries and there are times that no one can get close…and often they are the ones that will leave without even a small good bye.

By: Jessica Cruickshank

Jessica Cruickshank — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 21:49:16 +0000

This is beautiful and very true. Collective memory is the fabric of society and one of the keys to culture, and communitas. But I love what you add to it from just sharing memories to co-storing them in one another.

Excellent reflection.

By: Dustin Sims Wright

Dustin Sims Wright — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 18:49:23 +0000

In reply to Greg Memberto.

As the wife of a person serving in the military I have moved around the nation to many churches. I have been in many congregations in which no one knows me. But I have always been comforted by the fact that even if others don’t know me – God knows me inside and out. I share transactive memory with other worshipers through scripture.
1:1 relationships can and do occur in megachurches. I look forward to the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess to the glory of God that Father – and that’s pretty mega!

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 04:29:15 +0000

In reply to Tom. I don't know what KCC is. As for how big it can be, I've heard somewhere around 120-140 is the upper end of the size for a group for the members to feel a good sense of togetherness and intimacy.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 01:50:26 +0000

so when is a church too big? 100? 500? 1000? Does the same go for conferences like KCC? The theory needs definition