Nondenominational megachurches seeing major growth (UCNN, 10/22/17)

247WALLST: Millions of Americans attend megachurches, Protestant Christian congregations with regular attendance of more than 2,000 people at all worship locations. A new list of America’s 25 largest churches, based on average weekly attendees has been released. Most of these mega churches are located in southern Sunbelt states such as Texas and Florida, and many are found in fast-growing suburbs of cities such as Dallas and Houston. While denominations such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Independent Christian Churches make several appearances, the nation’s largest churches are disproportionately independent, non-denominational. Reflecting a recent trend, 40% of the more than 1,500 mega churches in North America and a majority of the hundred largest churches are unaffiliated denominations. The top 5 churches on the list are Lakewood Church in Houston, TX; North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA; Life.Church in Edmond, OK; Gateway Church in Southlake, TX; and Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, IL.

AP/FOX: Authorities in Richardson, Texas, said Sunday they believe they have found the body of Sherin Mathews, the adopted 3-year-old girl who disappeared in the early hours of Oct. 7. The Richardson Police Department said investigators discovered a body around 11 a.m. Sunday in a culvert beneath a road and believe it to be Mathews; however, police won’t identify the body until there is a positive identification by proper officials. The location where the body was found is close to the Mathews’ home.