The Southeastern Christian Church is a multi-site evangelical megachurch of the Christian churches denomination based in Louisville, Kentucky. We believe in the Church of Jesus Christ, founded on the day of Pentecost and composed of all Christians from around the world organized in local assemblies, called churches. The church is famously known as Six Flags over Jesus among local residents, a satirical reference to its grand size. Last week, this writer had the opportunity to visit the Southeastern Christian Church located in a southeastern suburb of Louisville, Kentucky.
The Southeastern Christian Church is an impressive sight to behold. By comparison, it outperforms the well-known Willow Creek Church in Barrington, Illinois, with more than 4,000 seats. The entire church is carpeted in mauve to match the theater's large plush upholstered seats with veneer wood backs. Having grown up in New York City, I can only say that the interior of the church is approximately twice as large as Radio City Music Hall.
The church has grown significantly since its first service held in the new facilities at Christmas in 1998 to June 1, 1999. In five months, it has added 1,041 new members and has grown to 15,000 members. This is an incredible feat for any church and speaks volumes about the dedication and commitment of its members. For a little perspective, Life is believed to be the largest church in the country right now. Every year thousands of churches are invited to participate in a survey but some may decline due to various reasons such as stopped growth or leaders not wanting to emphasize numbers.
The LCMS Council of District Presidents, the Lutheran Church Outreach Fund and many synodal officials are trying to compete with Southeast Christian by adopting and promoting the Church Growth Movement. On a per-member basis, no church in the United States does a better job with Lutheran parish education than the LCMS. No church in the United States so fully recognizes the royal priesthood of believers presented in the doctrine of the Church and Ministry by C. No church in the United States has a more accurate and biblically accurate and complete presentation of the Christian faith than the LCMS.
No church in the United States is better positioned to promote these strengths from coast to coast than the LCMS. The Southeastern Christian Church is an awe-inspiring example of what can be achieved when people come together for a common purpose. It stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when faith and dedication are combined with hard work and commitment. It is an inspiring reminder that anything is possible when we put our minds and hearts into it.