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DALLAS (AP) - A new survey shows Protestant megachurches continue to grow quickly and draw younger Americans and families through contemporary programming and conservative values.
The study said that the number of megachurches, defined as having weekly attendance of 2,000 or more, doubled over the past five years to 1,210. The churches have an estimated cumulative weekly attendance of nearly 4.4 million and income of $7.2 billion. The average megachurch posted attendance of 3,585, a 57 percent increase since 2000.
The research was published by Leadership Network, a Dallas-based nonprofit consultant on church growth, and a research institute at Hartford (Conn.) Seminary that conducted a similar survey in 2000.
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