BIRMINGHAM — Birmingham’s Church of the Highlands has been named the fastest-growing church in America by Outreach magazine, a publication for religious leaders that does an annual analysis of church growth.
In the yearlong survey of church attendance ending in spring 2008, Highlands grew by 3,418 from the previous year. This was a jump of 72 percent to 8,168.
And in the months since, attendance has increased by more than 2,500 at its main campus and three satellite branches, said Pastor Chris Hodges, 45, who founded the church just seven years ago. Weekly attendance exceeds 10,000, and was 11,670 on Easter.
“It’s about worship, music, child care, creating a breath of fresh air,” Hodges said. “A life-giving experience is what draws people.”
A big factor in becoming the fastest-growing church in the country was the opening last year of a $15 million campus with a 2,400-seat sanctuary next to Interstate 459. The church is planning a 1,000-seat youth auditorium that can serve as an overflow area.
“That’ll give us the ability to grow at the main campus,” Associate Pastor Layne Schranz said. “Our youth group has exploded. We have 500 high school and junior high school students a week.”
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