WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- An evangelical church in Tysons Corner, Va., is growing beyond its 13,000 worshippers and $93 million campus, following the trend of modern "megachurches."
The Washington Post reported on the growth and expansion of megachurches -- those with more than 2,000 worshippers -- which are becoming more and more common in the United States.
The McLean Bible Church in Tysons Corner is launching an ambitious expansion that includes opening nine satellite locations to bring more worshippers into its fold. The church is searching for space in nearby Washington, Maryland and Virginia. An increasing trend, churches across the country are growing by opening multiple locations under the same name and considering themselves one church, the Post said.
"The culture has changed now," said the Rev. Deron Cloud, founder of a 4,000-member megachurch that operates out of Atlanta.
"People used to talk on the telephone and meet in person, but now the culture is satisfied with e-mails and BlackBerries. We as a congregation made a decision that if we are going to embrace people, we must leave the four walls of the church."
But the Post reported that some are skeptical of this trend, worried that the approach is more about raising egos than spreading a spiritual message.
