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According to a recent survey conducted for The Church Report, there are four United Methodist congregations in a line-up of the 50 most influential churches in America. Not surprisingly, both of the nation's largest United Methodist congregations-United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (Leawood, Kansas) and Windsor Village United Methodist Church (Houston, Texas)-were on the list. The two other major UM churches on the list are Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church (Montgomery, Alabama) and Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church (Tipp City, Ohio). The only other mainline churches on the list were the Episcopal Trinity Church (Manhattan, New York) and the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) (Menlo Park, California).

The 2006 survey was emailed to leaders of more than 2,000 of the largest Protestant congregations in America by Dr. John Vaughan, a consultant with Church Growth Today. Participants were asked to recommend up to ten churches they considered to be among the nation's most influential.

According to The Church Report, "These churches are recommended by other church leaders as congregations that represent the passion and sense of mission mandated in the New Testament."

Despite coming from different regional and socio-economic settings, there are several common denominators among the four "most influential" United Methodist congregations. They all take discipleship very seriously through small groups and support groups. Each congregation offers a wide variety of adult and youth ministries, as well as mission opportunities. All four churches make their sermons available online, support prison ministries, and conduct at least seven services weekly. Three of the four pastors are prolific authors, while the other one has been on television for almost fifteen years.

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, pastored by Adam Hamilton (www.cor.org). "We have three visions that are at the forefront of our ministry: Changing lives, transforming communities, and renewing the mainline church," Adam Hamilton told Good News. "Two out of three people who join our congregation self-identify as non-religious or nominally religious people before joining. Our aim is to help them know Christ, to grow in him, and to serve him daily.

The congregation will soon be launching a new satellite location of the church, as well as partnering with Wesley Theological Seminary to offer seminary level courses at the church aimed at equipping lay people for ministry.

"In renewing mainline Christianity we believe the twenty-first century is ripe for the Wesleyan approach to the gospel-characterized by what Bishop Scott Jones refers to as 'the extreme center,' or what Stanley Grenz and Brian McLaren refer to as a 'generous orthodoxy,'" says Hamilton.

Those who want to see the ministry up-close can attend the congregation's annual Leadership Institute held in October. "We believe it is an exciting time to be United Methodists and that God has great things in store for our denomination," says Hamilton.

Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, pastored by John Ed Mathison (www.frazerumc.org). "The purpose of Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church is to make disciples for Jesus Christ," John Ed Mathison told Good News. "We strive to train and motivate every member to be an evangelist. We have set a goal to have at least 50 percent of our new members come on profession of faith."

Frazer launched their state-of-the-art television ministry and studio in 1992 in order to take the message of Christ to the airwaves. Three years ago, they added their seventh service-conducted in Spanish-in order to reach out to the growing Hispanic community in their area. Mathison and his congregation have a great desire to incorporate new methods to communicate the timeless truth of Jesus to a new generation.

"We also have a strong emphasis on involving people in meaningful ministry," reports Mathison. "While the norm in churches is to have 20 percent of the people doing 80 percent of the work, we currently have 90 percent of our resident members involved in some specific ministry. We strive to teach and motivate that every member is a minister."

Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio, pastored by Michael Slaughter (www.ginghamsburg.org). "We are focusing on the three R's of 21st century ministry: Relevance, Relationships, and Rigorous Mission," Michael Slaughter told Good News. "We want to demonstrate the relevance of God's redemptive work through Jesus Christ to post modern, pre-christian people."

Ginghamsburg was one of the first innovative churches to incorporate technology into its service, starting in 1994 with what they call "multi-sensory worship." They have a media team of over 70 unpaid workers.

"We understand that discipleship at its core is developed through relationships found in authentic community and that the church exist for the purpose of being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world," says Slaughter. The congregation is currently sponsoring a 3000-acre agricultural project in the Darfur region of the Sudan which feeds over 26,000 people in five displaced-persons camps. Ginghamsburg is also developing schools and child protection programs in the same area. "Our goal is to have every member spend at least one week in mission somewhere in the world," says Slaughter.

Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, pastored by Kirbyjon Caldwell (www.kingdombuilders.com). Windsor Village has got to be one of the only congregations in America that actually lists Christian entrepreneurial organization, career initiative, and a real estate ministry as a part of its church activities. But that is a direct reflection of Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell's background as a fast-paced stock broker on Wall Street, as well as his vision to make a spiritual and tangible difference in his community.

"Prayer has been an essential part of the awesome acts the Lord has been able to accomplish through us for our community," Caldwell says. "One of the best things we did at Windsor was to establish a passionate and efficacious prayer ministry. It has helped us discern and develop the Lord's vision and strategic role for our church."

Caldwell and his congregation appear to be picking up the slack for the churches that are not responding. Windsor Village launched the Kingdom Builders' Prayer Institute, a community outreach organization dedicated to prayer and intercession; The Power Center to address the educational, economical, social, spiritual, cultural, medical, and emotional needs of the community; and the Patrice House, which provides temporary emergency services and care for children who are at risk of and/or victims of neglect or abuse in their homes. That is just a few of the congregational endeavors in addition to their AIDS ministry, kids programs, and private Christian school.

Wesley's concern. "I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America," John Wesley once said. "But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out."

These four congregations are holding fast to the original vision of Methodism-making disciples for Jesus Christ through preaching and good works. Each of them are working overtime to reach their communities with a vibrant and winsome witness for Christ. John Wesley would recognize their vitality and life-giving visions and be proud.

Steve Beard is the editor of Good News.

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