Some American churches have grown so enormous that the words “church campus” barely begin to describe what you’re looking at.
One Church Took Over an NBA Arena
Lakewood Church in Houston turned the former Compaq Center—the longtime home of the Houston Rockets—into its main campus. The building has 16,000 seats, and Lakewood has historically reported weekly attendance of around 50,000 people across multiple services.
One Church Has Its Own Airport
Kenneth Copeland Ministries operates Kenneth Copeland Airport in Fort Worth, Texas, serving the ministry’s Eagle Mountain International Church campus. The church also operates a private Bible college and broadcasts services internationally.
One Church Has a 140-Acre Campus
Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, occupies about 140 acres. Its campus includes a 7,000-seat worship center, a pre-K–12 school, football and baseball facilities, basketball and volleyball spaces, a fitness center, café, library and bookstore.
One Church Has Three “Worshipnasiums”
Fallbrook Church in Houston has three gyms that double as worship spaces. Its largest gym can host basketball and volleyball, while the campus also houses after-school programs, a charter school, daycare and a Lone Star College campus.
A Church Can Spend More Like a Media Company
Lakewood’s operation has gone far beyond Sunday services. A Houston Chronicle investigation reported roughly $90 million in annual operating expenses at the church, alongside $83 million in contributions and $2.8 million in ministry-product sales in the period examined.
One Sermon Can Reach Millions Outside the Building
Lakewood’s televised services have historically reached an estimated 10 million U.S. viewers per week. That means the largest megachurches aren’t really limited by the number of seats they can fit inside a building—their audience can extend into millions of homes.
Sources
- Houston Chronicle — Lakewood Church history, attendance, finances and media reach. (Houston Chronicle)
- Compaq Center historical archive — former arena history and Lakewood’s conversion of the facility. (Compaq Center)
- Kenneth Copeland Ministries / Eagle Mountain International Church — airport, Bible college and international broadcasting. (Wikipedia)
- ABC News — Prestonwood Baptist Church’s 140-acre campus and facilities. (abcnews.com)
- Houston Chronicle — Fallbrook Church’s three “worshipnasiums,” school and college campus. (Houston Chronicle)
