Elevation Church
Encyclopedia
Elevation Church in Charlotte
, North Carolina
, is a Southern Baptist
megachurch
pastored by Steven Furtick
. Elevation was cited by Outreach Magazine
as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010. It has been described as "a pop culture-friendly church with an orthodox Christian message".
of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. As part of a church planting team, Furtick and seven other families from Christ Covenant Church in Shelby, North Carolina, relocated to Matthews, meeting in Providence High School. Over its short history, it has experienced notable growth. On February 5, 2006, the first Sunday worship service, 121 people attended. Since then, the church's regular attendance has grown to over 9,000, currently meeting in six different locations.
. Charlotte services are held in Providence High School, in Uptown Charlotte at the McGlohon Theatre, in Matthews
at a renovated furniture warehouse, and in the Charlotte suburb of Blakeney in a permanent facility. Elevation Blakeney was opened November 13, 2010, and will also serve as a performance arts center available for rental to the community. Elevation Church most recently opened two new campuses on September 11, 2011: one meeting in Northwestern High School, near the heart of Rock Hill
, South Carolina
, and the second meeting at the University City YMCA, in the University Area of Charlotte.
Since 2006, Elevation Church has given more than $3.4 million to local and global outreach partners. In 2011, a partnership with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
was established to give 100,000 hours and $750,000 to serve Charlotte people in "The Orange Initiative."
. The child's mother stated they were escorted to the church's lobby after the child said "Amen" during the 2011 Easter service. The church defended its action, saying the child was not removed from the church but only escorted to another section of the church to watch the service. The mother and church officials had planned to meet to discuss the incident; however, the meeting was cancelled after the mother contacted the media. The church subsequently reported that it has reached out to the Mecklenburg County ARC, an advocacy group for the disabled, requesting special needs training for its staff.
CHARLOTTE
- CHARLOTTE :CHARLOTTE is an American blues-based hard rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California in 1986. Currently, they are signed to indie label, Eonian Records, under which they released their debut cd, Medusa Groove, in 2010. Notable Charlotte songs include 'Siren', 'Little Devils',...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, is a Southern Baptist
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
pastored by Steven Furtick
Steven Furtick
Steven Furtick is an American pastor and author. He is the Lead Pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Furtick and wife Holly have three children, Abbey, Elijah and Graham.)...
. Elevation was cited by Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine
Outreach Magazine is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Vista, California. It focuses on activities of growing churches and is non-denominational.It is a periodical from the organization Outreach, Inc...
as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010. It has been described as "a pop culture-friendly church with an orthodox Christian message".
History
The church began as a church plantChurch planting
Church planting is a process that results in a new Christian church being established. It should be distinguished from church development, where a new service, new worship centre or fresh expression is created that is integrated into an already established congregation...
of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. As part of a church planting team, Furtick and seven other families from Christ Covenant Church in Shelby, North Carolina, relocated to Matthews, meeting in Providence High School. Over its short history, it has experienced notable growth. On February 5, 2006, the first Sunday worship service, 121 people attended. Since then, the church's regular attendance has grown to over 9,000, currently meeting in six different locations.
Multi-Site
Elevation is a multi-site churchMulti-site church
A multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
. Charlotte services are held in Providence High School, in Uptown Charlotte at the McGlohon Theatre, in Matthews
Matthews, North Carolina
Matthews is a large suburban town of Charlotte located in southeastern Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The population was 27,198 according to the 2010 Census.- Geography :Matthews is located at ....
at a renovated furniture warehouse, and in the Charlotte suburb of Blakeney in a permanent facility. Elevation Blakeney was opened November 13, 2010, and will also serve as a performance arts center available for rental to the community. Elevation Church most recently opened two new campuses on September 11, 2011: one meeting in Northwestern High School, near the heart of Rock Hill
Rock Hill
Rock Hill is the name of some places in the United States of America:* Rock Hill, South Carolina, fourth largest city in South Carolina, population 70,000* Rock Hill, Missouri, small city in Missouri, population 5,000...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, and the second meeting at the University City YMCA, in the University Area of Charlotte.
Outreach
In 2008, Elevation Church made headlines when it gave out $40,000 to members, in envelopes filled with $5, $20, even $1,000, and told them to spend it kindly on others.Since 2006, Elevation Church has given more than $3.4 million to local and global outreach partners. In 2011, a partnership with Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
Anthony Foxx
Anthony R. Foxx is an American politician. He is the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. He was first elected to the Charlotte City Council in 2005, and was elected mayor on November 3, 2009, winning 51.5% of the vote and defeating his City Council colleague, Republican John Lassiter...
was established to give 100,000 hours and $750,000 to serve Charlotte people in "The Orange Initiative."
Controversy
Elevation Church attracted attention for its treatment of a child with cerebral palsyCerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
. The child's mother stated they were escorted to the church's lobby after the child said "Amen" during the 2011 Easter service. The church defended its action, saying the child was not removed from the church but only escorted to another section of the church to watch the service. The mother and church officials had planned to meet to discuss the incident; however, the meeting was cancelled after the mother contacted the media. The church subsequently reported that it has reached out to the Mecklenburg County ARC, an advocacy group for the disabled, requesting special needs training for its staff.