A megachurch is a large church, frequently defined as having more than 2,000 worshippers for a typical weekly service. Globally, these large congregations are a significant development in Protestant Christianity, challenging the roles of denominations as the primary sources of ministry resources and ministerial training. Most megachurches tend to be evangelical or pentecostal. Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea (with 780,000 members in 2003) is the largest church in the world. Other examples are Hillsong Chur ...

Including:

• Megachurch - History
• Megachurch - Denominational links
• Megachurch - Adjustments to cater for size
• Megachurch - Demographics
• Megachurch - Controversy

Read more here: » Megachurch: Encyclopedia - Megachurch

See also:

Megachurch, Megachurch - History, Megachurch - Denominational links, Megachurch - Adjustments to cater for size, Megachurch - Demographics, Megachurch - Controversy

Read more here: » Megachurch: Encyclopedia II - Megachurch - Demographics

Concerns have been expressed about the orthodoxy of a number of churches and their popularization of evangelical and pentacostal Christianity. They are seen by some as being middle of the road, avoiding unconventional doctrinal positions or asceticism. Particular concerns have been expressed at different times about the then current successful megachurch, the Crystal Cathedral, Willow Creek, Saddleback Church and others. Critics have raised issues with the application of secular [business model]]s[2], e.g., from Walmart, a huma ...

See also:

Megachurch, Megachurch - History, Megachurch - Denominational links, Megachurch - Adjustments to cater for size, Megachurch - Demographics, Megachurch - Controversy

Read more here: » Megachurch: Encyclopedia II - Megachurch - Controversy

Yoido Full Gospel Church is a Pentecostal Christian church in Seoul, South Korea. Numbering over 800 000 members in 2006, it is the largest known congregation of Christian adherents in the world. Founded and led by Dr David Yonggi Cho since 1958, it is one of the most internationally visible manifestations of Korean Christianity. Yoido Full Gospel Church - History. Yoido Full Gospel Church - Early years: 1958-1961. The Yoido Full Gospel Church was founded by Dr David Yonggi Cho ...

Including:

• Yoido Full Gospel Church - History
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - Early years: 1958-1961
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - The Seodaemun Church: 1961-1973
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - The Yoido Church: 1973-present
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - Ministries of the church
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - Recent activities
• Yoido Full Gospel Church - Theology

Read more here: » Yoido Full Gospel Church: Encyclopedia - Yoido Full Gospel Church

Willow Creek Community Church is a large American interdenominational church located in the suburb of South Barrington, Illinois, near Chicago, Illinois. It was founded on October 12, 1975 by Bill Hybels, who is currently the Senior Pastor. The church has three weekend services with approximately 17,000 attendees. Willow Creek Community Church - History. Willow Creek Community Church started when Bill Hybels was inspired by the success of the South Park Church’s youth ministry, of which he was a leader, a ...

Including:

• Willow Creek Community Church - History
• Willow Creek Community Church - Beliefs
• Willow Creek Community Church - Church Organization
• Willow Creek Community Church - Willow Creek Association
• Willow Creek Community Church - Criticisms of Willow Creek Community Church

Read more here: » Willow Creek Community Church: Encyclopedia - Willow Creek Community Church

Charles Haddon Spurgeon, commonly C.H. Spurgeon, (June 19, 1834 – January 31, 1892) was a British Baptist preacher. Born in Kelvedon, Essex, Spurgeon's conversion to Christianity came in January 1850 at the age of fifteen. On his way to a scheduled appointment, a snow storm forced him to cut short his intended journey and turn in to a Primitive Methodist chapel in Colchester where, in his own words: "God opened his heart to the salvation message." He preached his first sermon in 1851 and, from the beginning of his ministry, his sty ...

Including:

• Charles Spurgeon - Some of Spurgeon's written works

Read more here: » Charles Spurgeon: Encyclopedia - Charles Spurgeon

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denominations Chris ...

Including:

• Baptist - Beliefs
• Baptist - Baptist distinctives acrostic
• Baptist - Biblical authority
• Baptist - Autonomy of the local church Congregationalism
• Baptist - Priesthood of all believers
• Baptist - Two ordinances Baptism and Communion
• Baptist - Individual soul liberty
• Baptist - Separation of church and state
• Baptist - Two offices Pastor and Deacon
• Baptist - Justification by faith
• Baptist - Beliefs that vary among Baptists
• Baptist - Comparisons with other denominations
• Baptist - Worship style
• Baptist - Origins
• Baptist - Landmarkist
• Baptist - Anabaptist
• Baptist - Separatist
• Baptist - The name Baptist
• Baptist - Questions of labeling
• Baptist - Other resources

Read more here: » Baptist: Encyclopedia - Baptist

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denominations C ...

Including:

• Lutheranism - History of Lutheranism
• Lutheranism - Early history
• Lutheranism - Religious war
• Lutheranism - Results of the Lutheran Reformation
• Lutheranism - Lutheran doctrine
• Lutheranism - The Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions
• Lutheranism - Central doctrines
• Lutheranism - Lutheran religious practices
• Lutheranism - Lutheran ecumenism
• Lutheranism - Lutheranism in North America
• Lutheranism - Denominational organization
• Lutheranism - Inter-denomination relations
• Lutheranism - Lutheran publishers
• Lutheranism - Modern Lutheranism in Europe
• Lutheranism - Lutherans in Australia
• Lutheranism - International bodies

Read more here: » Lutheranism: Encyclopedia - Lutheranism

Charismatic is an umbrella term used to describe Christians who believe that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the first century Christian Church, such as glossolalia, healing and miracles, are available to contemporary Christians and ought to be experienced and practised today. The word charismatic is derived from the Greek word charis (meaning a grace or a gift) which is the term used in the Bible to des ...

Including:

• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - The nature of criticism
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Criticisms from Evangelical Christians
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Blessings money and prosperity
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Exegesis
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Influences of the Latter Rain Movement
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Oneness Pentecostals
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Scripture authority and guidance
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Speaking in Tongues
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Theology of worship
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Criticisms from Catholic and/or Orthodox Christians
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Medical/Scientific Criticisms
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Faith Healing
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Prosperity and Faith
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Religious ecstasy as a psychological phenomenon
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Word of Faith theology
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Criticisms from within the Pentecostal / Charismatic movement
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Authoritative leadership
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Psychological Abuse
• Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief - Theological scholarship

Read more here: » Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief: Encyclopedia - Criticisms of Charismatic and Pentecostal belief

Brian and Bobbie Houston moved from New Zealand in 1978 and joined the Sydney Christian Life Centre at Darlinghurst, pastored by Frank Houston, Brian's father. They started Hillsong Church, which was then known as Hills Christian Life Centre, in August 1983 with an initial congregation of 45. Within four years this had grown to 900 people. As the music ministry of the church developed, an annual conference called The Hillsong Conference was crea ...

See also:

Hillsong Church, Hillsong Church - History, Hillsong Church - Current operations, Hillsong Church - Political influence, Hillsong Church - Music, Hillsong Church - Controversies

Read more here: » Hillsong Church: Encyclopedia II - Hillsong Church - History

Over its twenty year history Hillsong has come under scrutiny and a number of controversies have arisen. Prosperity Teaching, as outlined in Houston's book You Need More Money, is allegedly one of the hallmarks of the church's teaching. Essentially the theology teaches that God wants his people to be wealthy and prosperous, so they have more money to help others, and has given them the ability to "unleash" this power from within. Many Christians, including Tim Costello (the brother of Hillsong conference addressee and Fe ...

See also:

Hillsong Church, Hillsong Church - History, Hillsong Church - Current operations, Hillsong Church - Political influence, Hillsong Church - Music, Hillsong Church - Controversies

Read more here: » Hillsong Church: Encyclopedia II - Hillsong Church - Controversies

The majority of non-Catholic churches are under the National Council of Churches of Singapore umbrella. Most belong to Protestant traditions which consist of an array of denominations. The more prominent ones include Anglican, Baptist, Brethren, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal amongst others. In recent years, independent megachurches sprang up and were very successful in reaching out to new members. Other notable traditions include the Armenian Church and the Syrian Orthodox church which g ...

See also:

Christianity in Singapore, Christianity in Singapore - History, Christianity in Singapore - Roman Catholicism, Christianity in Singapore - Non-Catholic/Protestants, Christianity in Singapore - Churches, Christianity in Singapore - Parachurch Organizations, Christianity in Singapore - Missionary Schools, Christianity in Singapore - Notes

Read more here: » Christianity in Singapore: Encyclopedia II - Christianity in Singapore - Non-Catholic/Protestants

Yoido Full Gospel Church - Early years: 1958-1961. The Yoido Full Gospel Church was founded by Dr David Yonggi Cho and Mrs Choi Ja-shil (최자실), both Assemblies of God pastors. On May 15, 1958, a worship service was held in the home of Choi Ja-shil. Apart from the two pastors, only Choi Ja-shil's three daughters (one of whom later married David Yonggi Cho) and one elderly woman, who had come in to escape from the rain, attended the first service. The two pastors began a vigorous campaign of knocking on doors, ...

See also:

Yoido Full Gospel Church, Yoido Full Gospel Church - History, Yoido Full Gospel Church - Early years: 1958-1961, Yoido Full Gospel Church - The Seodaemun Church: 1961-1973, Yoido Full Gospel Church - The Yoido Church: 1973-present, Yoido Full Gospel Church - Ministries of the church, Yoido Full Gospel Church - Recent activities, Yoido Full Gospel Church - Theology

Read more here: » Yoido Full Gospel Church: Encyclopedia II - Yoido Full Gospel Church - History

The Hillsong Church has spearheaded the growth of the Pentecostal churches in Australia, which are the fastest growing group of Christian denominations in Australia. The Hillsong Church has a number of associated operations including: the annual Hillsong Conference, which 28,000 people attended at the Sydney Superdome on 4-8 July in 2005; the Colour Your World Women's Conference; the Hillsong Men's Conference; the Hillsong International Leadership College which trains aspiring Assembly of God m ...

See also:

Hillsong Church, Hillsong Church - History, Hillsong Church - Current operations, Hillsong Church - Political influence, Hillsong Church - Music, Hillsong Church - Controversies

Read more here: » Hillsong Church: Encyclopedia II - Hillsong Church - Current operations

The Hillsong Church has attracted support from high profile politicians especially in the Liberal Party of Australia. Prime Minister John Howard opened its Baulkham Hills campus and Treasurer Peter Costello spoke at its annual conference in July 2004 and 2005. Opposition Leader Mark Latham declined Hillsong's invitation to the annual 2004 conference,[1] although Bob Carr, the Premier of New South Wales, (from the A ...

See also:

Hillsong Church, Hillsong Church - History, Hillsong Church - Current operations, Hillsong Church - Political influence, Hillsong Church - Music, Hillsong Church - Controversies

Read more here: » Hillsong Church: Encyclopedia II - Hillsong Church - Political influence

See main articles: Hillsong Music and List of Hillsong songs. Hillsong's music has become well-known internationally. Songs such as "Power of Your Love" by Geoff Bullock and "Shout to the Lord" by Darlene Zschech have become popular and are sung throughout churches world-wide. Hillsong have released over 40 successful albums since 1992, many of them achieving gold status in Australia. Although the music is not well known amongst the mainstream, their 2004 live praise and worship album For All You've Done reached #1 in the mainstream Australian album charts (ARIA) when many copies were s ...

See also:

Hillsong Church, Hillsong Church - History, Hillsong Church - Current operations, Hillsong Church - Political influence, Hillsong Church - Music, Hillsong Church - Controversies

Read more here: » Hillsong Church: Encyclopedia II - Hillsong Church - Music

Some religious groups which grew or were created during this period were Christian, though quite different from other Christian denominations. Christianity saw a great deal of change during this period, particularly new forms of Evangelical Christianity which emphasized a "Personal Relationship with Jesus" and formed into a number of newly styled "non-denominational" churches and "community faith centers." The Fourth Great Awakening also saw the rise of nontraditional churches with conservative theology such as megachurches and a growth of parachurch organizations. Furthermore, ...

See also:

Fourth Great Awakening, Fourth Great Awakening - The context in which it took place, Fourth Great Awakening - The New Sects of the Fourth Great Awakening, Fourth Great Awakening - Sources

Read more here: » Fourth Great Awakening: Encyclopedia II - Fourth Great Awakening - The New Sects of the Fourth Great Awakening

List of Roman Catholic churches in Singapore Adam Road Presbyterian Centre, Singapore Faith Community Baptist Church (Singapore) Orchard Road Presbyterian Church, Singapore City Harvest Church Saint Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore New Creation Church Hope Church (Singapore) ...

See also:

Christianity in Singapore, Christianity in Singapore - History, Christianity in Singapore - Roman Catholicism, Christianity in Singapore - Non-Catholic/Protestants, Christianity in Singapore - Churches, Christianity in Singapore - Parachurch Organizations, Christianity in Singapore - Missionary Schools, Christianity in Singapore - Notes

Read more here: » Christianity in Singapore: Encyclopedia II - Christianity in Singapore - Churches

The focus of Baptist church services is the sermon. This can be seen in traditional Baptist church architecture--the pulpit, which is symbolic of proclamation of the Word of God, is the largest piece of furniture and centered on the platform, while the communion table placed below it in a symbolically "subservient" position (in sharp contrast to the Roman Catholic church which places the communion table at the center of the platform, since communion is the focus of its services, while the pulpit is off to one side). However, some of the mode ...

See also:

Baptist, Baptist - Beliefs, Baptist - Baptist distinctives acrostic, Baptist - Biblical authority, Baptist - Autonomy of the local church Congregationalism, Baptist - Priesthood of all believers, Baptist - Two ordinances Baptism and Communion, Baptist - Individual soul liberty, Baptist - Separation of church and state, Baptist - Two offices Pastor and Deacon, Baptist - Justification by faith, Baptist - Beliefs that vary among Baptists, Baptist - Comparisons with other denominations, Baptist - Worship style, Baptist - Origins, Baptist - Landmarkist, Baptist - Anabaptist, Baptist - Separatist, Baptist - The name Baptist, Baptist - Questions of labeling, Baptist - Other resources

Read more here: » Baptist: Encyclopedia II - Baptist - Worship style

Christianity first arrived on Singapore’s shore soon after Stamford Raffles founded the promising trading post in 1819. Within half a year, the first Protestant missionary arrived to set up a local ministry and subsequently, the first Catholic priest came in 1822 to shepherd the growing Catholic community. While the colonial administration adopted an official neutral and non-interference policy regarding religion, missionaries establishes churches and Christian ministries on the island. They also set up welfare organisations and many missionary schools which are well reg ...

See also:

Christianity in Singapore, Christianity in Singapore - History, Christianity in Singapore - Roman Catholicism, Christianity in Singapore - Non-Catholic/Protestants, Christianity in Singapore - Churches, Christianity in Singapore - Parachurch Organizations, Christianity in Singapore - Missionary Schools, Christianity in Singapore - Notes

Read more here: » Christianity in Singapore: Encyclopedia II - Christianity in Singapore - History