Warren Bird

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Dr. Warren Bird

Warren Bird (born 1956) is an American writer and researcher of megachurches. He has authored or co-authored 34 books on church leadership, including Emotionally Healthy Church and Prepare Your Church for the Future, which have both achieved the bestseller status of 100,000 or more units in print. He has also overseen more than 25 research reports on issues affecting large and growing churches. His research on megachurches is regularly cited in mainstream and religious media. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contents

Life and Ministry

Bird was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and lived there until his college years. His formal academic training comes from Wheaton College (BA, MA), Alliance Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Fordham University (PhD). An ordained minister, he has served in several church roles including church planter and assistant pastor, including his longest tenure being for 10 years (1997-2006) on staff at Princeton Alliance Church. While pastoring, he also served as long time adjunct professor at Alliance Theological Seminary. [1]

He has been licensed for ministry under the Christian & Missionary Alliance. [2]

Bird is married to his college sweetheart. He and his wife, Michelle, live in a suburb of New York City. [3]

Research and Writing

In his early years, Bird served on Carl George’s senior management team of the Pasadena-based Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth where he visited, interviewed, researched, and profiled many of the largest, fastest-growing, or newest churches in North America. [4] In subsequent years, he did similar research and development for the Canada-based Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada, and for the Asbury Theological Seminary-based Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership (1996-2006). From 2006 to 2018 Bird served as Director of Research and Intellectual Capital Development at Leadership Network. [5]

In 2018 he became Senior Vice President of Research and Equipping at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit accrediting agency designed to enhance trust and certify integrity in Christ-centered churches and ministries. [6]

He has compiled and maintained a sortable list of US and Global megachurches published by Leadership Network since 2010. [7]

Articles

Bird has published more than 200 magazine articles on church leadership including two cover stories for Christianity Today [8] [9] and the cover story for Evangelicals (the National Association of Evangelicals). [10] He has written a “Leadership from the Global Church” column for each issue of Outreach magazine since 2014. [11] He has also contributed collaborative chapters or sections to 8 other books. He has also written guest columns on megachurch issues such as “Not a Baby Boomer Phenomenon—Megachurches Draw Twice as Many People Under 45” in Christian Post. [12] In 2022, he oversaw the nation's largest research to date on new churches, many of which were started by megachurches. [13]

Megachurch Research, US and Global

Bird's research has focused mainly on megachurches (Protestant congregations with 2,000 or more weekly attenders). He has authored more than 25 published reports based on original research including a collection of reports on comparative trends in US megachurches. [14] This includes a 2021 co-authored study that was the nation’s largest-ever study of megachurches, “The Changing Reality in America’s Largest Churches: Megachurch Research Report.” Specialty studies include Canadian megachurches, [15] internships/residencies in large churches, [16] multisite megachurches, [17] and salaries in megachurches. [18] He also co-authored a scholarly chapter on the global megachurch phenomenon. [19] He has contributed articles to Review of Religious Research and to the Journal for the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion.

Books

Bird has authored or co-authored 34 books (listed below). Bird received the prestigious Gold Medallion Award, the top honor given by the international trade association for Christian publishers, for Emotionally Healthy Church (2004). [20] Teams that Thrive was named Leadership Resource of the Year by Outreach magazine in 2019. [21]

Translations of his books include Burmese, Chinese, Czech, [22] French, [23] German, [24] [25] Indonesian, Korean, [26] [27] [28] [29] Norwegian, [30] Portuguese, [31] [31] Russian, [32] and Spanish. [33] [34] [35]

Books are listed in order of publication newest to oldest:

Related Research Articles

Nondenominational Christianity consists of churches, and individual Christians, which typically distance themselves from the confessionalism or creedalism of other Christian communities by not formally aligning with a specific Christian denomination. Although nondenominational churches typically consider themselves to be non-creedal and flexible, many identify as Charismatic. Many nondenominational churches are associated with Baptists who have chosen not to affiliate themselves any organization beyond their local church.

A megachurch is a church with a very large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities. Most megachurches are Protestant, and particularly Evangelical, although the word denotes a type of organization, not a denomination. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research defines a megachurch as any Protestant Christian church that draws 2,000 or more people in a weekend.

Credokirken is a charismatic megachurch in Bergen, Norway. The church also has its own Bible school, and an elementary school. The senior pastor is Olav Rønhovde.

A multi-site church is a specific church congregation which holds services at multiple geographical locations, either within a specific metropolitan area or, increasingly, several such areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Every Nation Churches & Ministries</span>

Every Nation Churches & Ministries is a worldwide organization of churches and campus ministries. The organization is located in seven regions around the world. The president is Steve Murrell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victory (church)</span> A church in the Philippines

Victory Christian Fellowship of the Philippines, Inc., commonly known as Victory, is an evangelical multi-site church based in Taguig, Philippines. It is a member of Every Nation Churches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James MacDonald (pastor)</span> Canadian-American pastor and author

James MacDonald is a Canadian-born evangelical Christian pastor, television evangelist, and author. He was the senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel megachurch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States and was the host for the church's former broadcast ministry, Walk in the Word.

Faith Tabernacle is an evangelical megachurch and the headquarters church of Living Faith Church Worldwide. It is at Canaanland, Ota, Lagos, Nigeria, current neo-charismatic movement. The senior pastor of this community is David Oyedepo since its founding in 1983. In 2023, the attendance is 100,000+ people.

Misión Carismática Internacional is an evangelical megachurch, in Bogotá, Colombia, its part of the neo-charismatic movement. It operates under a pyramidal and cellular model.

Emanuel Baptist Church of Oradea, formerly known as the Second Baptist Church of Oradea, is a Baptist megachurch located in Oradea, Romania. It is affiliated with the Union of Christian Baptist Churches in Romania.

New Life Fellowship Association, commonly known as New Life Fellowship (NLF), is a group of megachurches primarily located in India, that is characterised by adherence to the Holiness movement, Evangelicalism, and Biblical fundamentalism. New Life Fellowship Association Mumbai (Bombay) is a megachurch with 70,000 members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darrin Patrick</span> American author and pastor (1970–2020)

Darrin Patrick was an American author and teaching pastor at Seacoast Church in Charleston, South Carolina. He was a pastor of The Journey, a fellowship of churches in St. Louis, Missouri, which he founded in 2002. He served as the chaplain to the St. Louis Cardinals and was the author of several books. A prominent figure within New Calvinism, he was the vice-president of the Acts 29 Network, an international church planting organization, and a council member of The Gospel Coalition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Stetzer</span> American Christian evangelical (born 1966)

Edward John Stetzer is an American author, pastor, and Christian missiologist. He is Dean and Professor of Leadership and Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He also serves as Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University. Stetzer is Regional Director for Lausanne North America and editor-in-chief of Outreach. Stetzer has written for USA Today and CNN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooklyn Tabernacle</span> Church in New York City, United States

Brooklyn Tabernacle is an evangelical non-denominational megachurch located at 17 Smith Street at the Fulton Mall in downtown Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The senior pastor is Jim Cymbala.

Harvest Bible Chapel is an evangelical Christian megachurch in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Founded in 1988, it has grown to seven campuses in the Chicago metropolitan area. In 2008, the church was listed by Outreach magazine as one of the 100 fastest-growing churches in America. In January 2019, it was listed as one of the 50 largest churches in the United States. The church's current ministries include Vertical Worship and Harvest Christian Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagoinha Church</span> Church in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Lagoinha Baptist Church is a charismatic Evangelical Baptist multi-site megachurch based in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais in Brazil. Márcio Valadão is the current senior pastor of the church. The church became known through one of its ministries, the worship ministry Diante do Trono, which is one of the world's largest ministries of praise, worship and mission. Some of the main services are broadcast live via Internet and also via their own TV and radio station: Rede Super. It is affiliated with the Convenção Batista Nacional and Baptist World Alliance.

Fraternidad Cristiana de Guatemala is an evangelical pentecostal megachurch, in Mixco, Guatemala. The senior pastor of this community is Dr. Jorge H. Lopez. In 2016, the attendance was 20,000 people.

Suwon Central Baptist Church is an Evangelical Christian Baptist megachurch located in Suwon, South Korea, affiliated with the Korea Baptist Convention. At present, the senior pastor is Myung Jin Ko.

References

  1. ↑ "Warren Bird". Abingdon Press. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  2. ↑ "News & Stories » Warren Bird" . Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  3. ↑ "Authors | Baker Publishing Group". bakerpublishinggroup.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. ↑ Gilbreath, Edward (19 June 1995). "Failed Ventures Imperil Fuller Institute". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  5. ↑ Network, Leadership (10 July 2013). "Author Insights with Warren Bird". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  6. ↑ "ECFA Staff". www.ecfa.org. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  7. ↑ "World Megachurches". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  8. ↑ "February 7". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  9. ↑ Bird, Warren (18 November 2014). "How Pastors Are Passing the Leadership Baton". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  10. ↑ "Warren Bird, Author at National Association of Evangelicals". National Association of Evangelicals. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  11. ↑ "Outreachmagazine.com/warren-bird".
  12. ↑ "Not a Baby Boomer Phenomenon – Megachurches Draw Twice as Many People Under 45". www.christianpost.com. 25 June 2014. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  13. ↑ "Church Planting Surveys". ECFA.
  14. ↑ "World Megachurches". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  15. ↑ "Canadian Large Church Studies". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  16. ↑ Bird, Warren (4 February 2016). "Leaders in Training: Internships and Residencies Help Churches Shape Future Leaders". Leadership Network. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  17. ↑ "How we Help: Multisite". Leadership Network. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  18. ↑ "Large Church Salary Resources – 2019". Leadership Network. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  19. ↑ Brunn, Stanley D. (2015). "Chapter 123: Megafaith for the Megacity: The Global Megachurch Phenomenon". In Thumma, Scott; Bird, Warren (eds.). The Changing World Religion Map: Sacred Places, Identities, Practices and Politics. Vol. IV. New York: Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg. pp. 2331–2352. ISBN   978-94-017-9375-9.
  20. ↑ "ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award | Book awards | LibraryThing". www.librarything.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  21. ↑ "14th Annual Outreach Resources of the Year". 27 February 2017.
  22. ↑ "Zachej.sk • kniha: Emocionálně zdravá církev (Peter Scazzero)". www.zachej.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  23. ↑ Scazzero, Peter (2010). Je souffre, écoute-moi ! : pour une Église à l'écoute des émotions. Warren Bird. Paris: Empreinte temps présent. ISBN   978-2-35614-025-8.
  24. ↑ Bird, Warren. "Hero Maker: Fünf grundlegende Prinzipien, wie Leiter andere zu wahrer Größe führen können (Material zum geistlichen Dienst, Bd. 26) (German Edition)". www.amazon.com. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  25. ↑ "9783880660427: Die Meta Gemeinde - Gemeindemodell für die Zukunft - AbeBooks - Carl F. George: 3880660425". www.abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  26. ↑ George, Carl F. (2002). Yŏllin so-gŭrup tach'in so-gŭrup : K'al Choji (Carl F. George) ŭi so-gŭrup lidŏ rŭl wihan 9-kaji sŏnggong wŏlli = Nine keys to effective small group leadership. Pak, Chong-hun., Chŏng, Chong-hyŏn., 박종훈., 정종현. (1-p'an ed.). Sŏul-si: Kyohoe Sŏngjang Yŏn'guso. ISBN   89-8304-043-2. OCLC   50203220.
  27. ↑ Slaughter, Michael. (2005). Mirae rŭl tamnŭn kyohoe. Bird, Warren., Kim, Hyŏng-wŏn., 김 형원. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul: Kukche Cheja Hullyŏnwŏn. ISBN   89-5731-082-7. OCLC   731704460.
  28. ↑ Lewis, Robert, 1949 November 24- (2008). Insaidŭaut kyohoe kaehyŏk iyagi. Cordeiro, Wayne., Pak, Kyu-t'ae., 박 규태. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul: Kukche Cheja Hullyŏnwŏn. ISBN   978-89-5731-255-1. OCLC   725000163.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ↑ Scazzero, Peter, 1956- (2004). Chŏngsŏjŏk ŭro kŏn'ganghan kyohoe : saram kwa kyohoe rŭl pyŏnhwa sik'inŭn yŏsŏt kaji cheja hullyŏn. Bird, Warren., Ch'oe, Chong-hun., 최종훈. (Ch'op'an ed.). Sŏul-si: Ire Sŏwŏn. ISBN   89-7435-351-2. OCLC   122359435.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "bedre-sammen".
  31. ↑ Bird, Warren; Scazzero, Pete (2014). Emotionally Healthy Church: Igreja emocionalmente saudável. Vida. ISBN   978-8538303046.
  32. ↑ Stetzer, Ed; Bird, Warren. Viral Churches: вирусная церковь как ПомоЧь Организаторам СТЕТЗЕР БЕРД.
  33. ↑ Ferguson, Dave; Bird, Warren (2019). Creador de héroes: Cinco prácticas esenciales para la formación de líderes (Exponential Series) (Spanish ed.). Vida. ISBN   978-1404110366.
  34. ↑ Scazzero, Peter; Bird, Warren (2005). Una Iglesia Emocianalimente Sana (The Emotionally Healthy Church): A Strategy for Discipleship That Actually Changes Lives (Spanish) (Spanish ed.). Vida. ISBN   978-0829738865.
  35. ↑ Surratt, Geoff; Ligon, Greg; Bird, Warren (2018). La Revolución de la Iglesia Multisitio: Ser una iglesia en muchos lugares (Spanish ed.). Editorial LiderInnova.
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