Free Republic

There are more churches and denominations than anyone can keep track of ... So what draws a group of believers together, and keeps them together over time? Fellowship and commonalities. An excellent example of this cultural phenomena is found in today's Cowboy Churches. Although it could be argued that nearly every rustic church house founded in the Western states was a "cowboy church" due to the number of real life cowboys in attendance, the Texas Fellowship of Cowboy Churches is a structured organization whose headquarters are located in Waxahachie, TX (pronounced "walks-uh-hatch-ee") whose membership is currently 161 churches strong. Their...

Doha: The Catholic community is gearing up for the consecration of St. Mary's church, the first church in Qatar, on March 14. Built with the donations of the Catholic communities living in Qatar and across the Gulf, the $15 million (about Dh55 million) complex will comprise a church with a capacity of 2,700 seats, staff houses, meeting halls and other multipurpose buildings. "Work is in its final stage and we are gearing up for the consecration on March 14," said St. Mary's parish priest Father Tomasito Veneracion, a Filipino. The church is located in Mesaieer on the outskirts of Doha...

Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York was ranked the number one multiplying church in America. Based on a survey sponsored by Leadership Network, Outreach Magazine's 2007 list of the top 25 multiplying churches placed Redeemer on top, Mars Hill Church in Seattle second and NorthWood Church in Keller, Texas, third. All three churches have planted a total of 100 churches since their founding. Since its founding in 1989, Redeemer has swelled to 4,800 worship attendants each week and apportions 15 percent of its budget to church plants. Its pastor, the Rev. Timothy J. Keller, is sought after by pastors around...