Remember when you could tell two churches that split: Harmony Baptist Church and Greater Harmony Baptist Church?
Those days are gone. But what has not changed is that many churches have commonalities in names. In their attempts to be different, they have become common:
- “Point” has become ubiquitous. LifePoint. CrossPoint. Add an “e” to be fancy: GracePointe; LifePointe; CrossPointe.
- “Life” has a new life: Life Church; Real Life; New Life; LifePoint or LifePointe (see above).
- City Church, usually with another name in front of it. These churches can be found in the city, suburbs, and the country.
- Christ Church. It’s simple and popular.
- Five biggies the past ten years: Journey, Bridge, Foundry, Mosaic, and Generation.
- Cross has made a surge. Cross Church. Cross Fellowship. Cross Roads. CrossPoint or CrossPointe (see above).
- Meaningful names. Impact. Potential. Epic. Transformation. Renovation. Innovate.
- Many churches like the new factor: New Life. New Hope. New Song. Now (I made up the one). NewPoint. NewPointe (see above).
- Moving on up. Elevate. Vertical. Summit.
- Non-English. Pick a Greek or Latin name you remember from seminary. Eklessia. Ecclessia. Koinonia. Agape. Many others.
What are some contemporary church names you could add? Got any funny examples?
You are mistaken in your identification of the use “Greater” in a church name. It does not mean that it split from another church, rather it means that it is a new building of that same church. So therefore, Greater John the Baptist Church is a new building built by John the Baptist Church.
Some are quite funny here Jim Price
Today churches and pastors sometime create a name they hope will catch folks eye, and they will want to come in. As a minister and pastor for nearly 40 years, I have found that most people just want a church of truth and blessings and a church they feel a part of that church family, and a newer more exciting name just might work with some; but most folk don’t need that catchy name. The church I now pastor changed name several years ago thinking a new name would help growth. Many years later the town still refers to us by the old name; which is really fine. I would just warn pastors to be careful as they can be too cute,
Jim Price spotted this one and was spot on Terry Wiles
I am not sure that pentecostals feel comfortable with the word influence but it’s a good word and fits right in with winning souls or any other words that we have used when we think about bringing men and women to Christ.
Jim Price Pentecostals feel very comfortable with the word influence studies shows. Just in this group alone dozen of videos have been published in the last 24 hrs
YES Jim Price
Yes Indeed!