Traditional Church
Definition: A centralized church meeting in a single physical location, often with weekly services and programs in a dedicated building.
Example: Historic denominational churches like Baptist, Methodist, or Lutheran congregations.
Multi-Site Church
Definition: A single church operating in multiple locations, with a shared leadership team and unified vision. Sermons may be live or broadcasted across campuses.
Example: Elevation Church, Life.Church.
House Church Movement/Network
Definition: Small, decentralized gatherings of believers meeting in homes, focusing on relational discipleship, prayer, and worship. Often part of a broader network that may host Sunday gatherings in one/multiple locations.
Example: CHURCH PROJECT, Church Without Walls International (CWOWI)
Micro-church Network
Definition: A collection of small, simple micro-churches or ministries that work together under a shared mission and leadership framework. May host weekly or monthly Sunday gatherings.
Example: Tampa Underground, The Greenhouse Church
Virtual/Online Church
Definition: A church that operates entirely online, offering services, discipleship, and community-building through digital platforms.
Example: Online-only churches started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Para-church Ministry
Definition: Organizations that work alongside the church to focus on specific ministries like evangelism, discipleship, or social justice. While not a “church,” they often function as one for their members.
Example: Young Life, Campus Crusade for Christ (Cru), or Samaritan's Purse
College/Campus Ministry Church
Definition: Churches or ministries targeting university students, focusing on discipleship and community on or near college campuses.
Example: Cornerstone Christian Church at University of South Florida, or any college-based campus ministry of an existing outside church.
Missional Church
Definition: A church focused on being the “hands and feet” of Jesus in the community, often prioritizing outreach, service, and local impact over traditional programs.
Example: Churches planted in urban or under-resourced communities.
Mega-church
Definition: Large churches with 2,000+ attendees weekly, often featuring professional-grade worship, robust programming, and extensive outreach initiatives.
Example: Saddleback Church, Hillsong Church, Lakewood Church.
Organic Church
Definition: Non-institutional churches that emphasize simplicity, community-driven leadership, and relational gatherings, often without formal structures.
Example: Simple church movements inspired by the New Testament model.
Network Church
Definition: A collection of autonomous churches that share a common vision, resources, and leadership structure while maintaining local independence. Potentially shares the same name, but differs from a multi-site church.
Example: Calvary Chapels
Ethnic or Cultural-specific church
Definition: Churches serving specific cultural or ethnic groups, blending their traditions with Christian worship to meet the needs of those communities.
Example: Korean or Hispanic churches.
Recovery or Specialized Ministry Church
Definition: Churches or ministries focused on specific groups, such as those in addiction recovery, the homeless, or those with disabilities.
Example: Celebrate Recovery groups or The Recovery Church movement.
Pop-Up Church
Definition: Temporary or mobile church gatherings in nontraditional locations, such as parks, cafes, or rented venues, designed for flexibility and outreach.
Example: Churches planted to reach urban or transient populations.
Event-Driven Ministry/Church
Definition: Churches that prioritize large-scale events (e.g., conferences, retreats) as their primary form of ministry, with smaller discipleship groups in between.
Example: Passion City Church (Passion Conferences)
Nomadic Church
Description: A church without a fixed location, moving from place to place by design, often to minister to different communities.
Example: A group that intentionally shifts its gatherings to reach diverse neighborhoods.
Recovery Ministry/Church
Description: Churches specifically focused on ministering to individuals in addiction recovery or rehabilitation. Worship, teaching, and community are centered on themes of healing and restoration.
Example: Churches partnered with Celebrate Recovery or similar ministries.
Prison-based Church
Description: A church established within a prison or correctional facility, focused on ministering to inmates through worship, discipleship, and community-building. These churches often operate with the support of external ministries or chaplains and aim to provide spiritual transformation, reconciliation, and preparation for reintegration into society.
Example: Churches planted by ministries like Prison Fellowship or local chaplaincy-led programs.
Marketplace Church
Description: Churches or ministries embedded in the business world, reaching people where they work. These gatherings focus on integrating faith and work through Bible studies, prayer meetings, and discipleship in professional environments.
Example: A small group or congregation meeting in office spaces or co-working hubs.
