Hahrie Han

So these megachurches are not only drawing a lot of people, they're growing. And so these megachurches, there's a big debate about what the value of these churches are from a theological perspective. But say what you will, it's the growth edge of American Christianity right now.

So these megachurches are not only drawing a lot of people, they're growing. And so these megachurches, there's a big debate about what the value of these churches are from a theological perspective. But say what you will, it's the growth edge of American Christianity right now.

Right, which is the modal church in America, just to be clear, right? Like I think the median church has less than 100 people and it's shrinking, right? And that's why it's like you get these like this crazy distribution.

Right, which is the modal church in America, just to be clear, right? Like I think the median church has less than 100 people and it's shrinking, right? And that's why it's like you get these like this crazy distribution.

Well, so just to give a little bit about my background. So I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I grew up going to a Catholic church. And so to me, when you say church, it means a priest wearing vestments with an altar and candles. And you sit and you stand and you kneel. I mean, there's a steeple. There's all these kinds of things that we would associate with church.

Well, so just to give a little bit about my background. So I grew up in Houston, Texas, and I grew up going to a Catholic church. And so to me, when you say church, it means a priest wearing vestments with an altar and candles. And you sit and you stand and you kneel. I mean, there's a steeple. There's all these kinds of things that we would associate with church.

And what a lot of these crossroads included, a lot of these megachurches are like, they often exist in strip malls. Because that's where they can find space big enough to host the numbers of people that they're bringing together. There's often multi, like full bands on stage. So it's not just like an organist, you know, plunking out a few songs, you know, on the piano or on the organ.

And what a lot of these crossroads included, a lot of these megachurches are like, they often exist in strip malls. Because that's where they can find space big enough to host the numbers of people that they're bringing together. There's often multi, like full bands on stage. So it's not just like an organist, you know, plunking out a few songs, you know, on the piano or on the organ.

But it's like, it's a full...

But it's like, it's a full...

sensory experience right where it's you know the first time i went to crossroads i remember i was shocked that it's like when you sit down they dim the lights in the auditorium then these like spotlights come on and the band comes on it's playing really good music and then the pastor comes on and he's wearing jeans and a t-shirt and is like you know preaching from his notes on his ipad it's a it's a very kind of modern hip

sensory experience right where it's you know the first time i went to crossroads i remember i was shocked that it's like when you sit down they dim the lights in the auditorium then these like spotlights come on and the band comes on it's playing really good music and then the pastor comes on and he's wearing jeans and a t-shirt and is like you know preaching from his notes on his ipad it's a it's a very kind of modern hip

experience that is its own form of entertainment in a way. And that's the theological critique sometimes that people have is that it might be engaging more people, but is it engaging people in authentic relationship with God or not?

experience that is its own form of entertainment in a way. And that's the theological critique sometimes that people have is that it might be engaging more people, but is it engaging people in authentic relationship with God or not?

It's white-dominant, and since it was the last time I've seen the data, it's 80% white and 20% non-white, which in Cincinnati is primarily black, but not exclusively so.

It's white-dominant, and since it was the last time I've seen the data, it's 80% white and 20% non-white, which in Cincinnati is primarily black, but not exclusively so.

So Chuck Mingo is a pastor. He had grown up in Philadelphia in the black church. And so he had grown up, you know, having attended black churches his whole life. He moved to Cincinnati originally because he had a job with Procter and Gamble. And so they're headquartered in Cincinnati.

So Chuck Mingo is a pastor. He had grown up in Philadelphia in the black church. And so he had grown up, you know, having attended black churches his whole life. He moved to Cincinnati originally because he had a job with Procter and Gamble. And so they're headquartered in Cincinnati.

And so he went there and then eventually felt the calling to go into ministry and found a job as a pastor at Crossroads, which is a white dominant church. And so that was really unfamiliar to him personally. in a way, but he was able to kind of, he felt very called by God to be a pastor there. And so he became the head pastor for the kind of flagship campus of Crossroads and was extremely popular.

And so he went there and then eventually felt the calling to go into ministry and found a job as a pastor at Crossroads, which is a white dominant church. And so that was really unfamiliar to him personally. in a way, but he was able to kind of, he felt very called by God to be a pastor there. And so he became the head pastor for the kind of flagship campus of Crossroads and was extremely popular.