50 Black Megachurches, Historical Congregations and Pastors
- Brother Pastor
- Jun 12
- 14 min read

This article lists 50 prominent Black megachurches and historical congregations in the U.S. 'Top' does not imply superiority or divine favor.
'Mega' denotes Protestant churches with 1,000+ weekly attendees or a 75+ year membership history, including active, inactive, or deceased members. Attendance may vary.
The list, based on available sources, highlights churches with significant attendance and/or history, location, denomination (if any), historical beginnings (summary only) and of course, the church's pastors.
Here is the list of fifty (50) Black Megachurches, Historical Congregations and Pastors (Alphabetical Order):
1. Abyssinian Baptist Church
· Location: Harlem, NY
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 2,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Kevin R. Johnson
· Abyssinian’s Official Website: https://www.abyssinian.org/
Abyssinian’s Historical Beginning: Abyssinian was founded in 1808 and is among the oldest African-American Baptist churches in the United States. Housed in a landmark Gothic/Tudor building in Harlem, Abyssinian is steeped in national as well as local history.
2. Alfred Street Baptist Church
· Location: Alexandria, VA
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: varies from 2.3k-7.1k
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. Howard-John Wesley
· Alfred’s Official Website: https://www.alfredstreet.org/
Alfred Street’s Historical Beginning: This church traces its founding all the way back to 1803 which was just twenty-seven (27) years after the American Revolution against Great Britain.
3. Greater Allen AME Cathedral
· Location: Queens, NY
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): Stephen A. Green
· Greater Allen’s Official Website: https://www.allencathedral.org/
Greater Allen’s Historical Beginning: The story of Allen AME is rooted in the faith and perseverance of its congregants whose ancestors were still slaves during its founding in 1834. It began when a small group of Christians gathered at a house in Jamaica, New York. By the early 1840s, during a deeply divided country concerning the slavery issue, this tight-knit community built their first place of worship.
4. Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Missionary Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): Lou McElroy
· Antioch’s Official Website: https://antiochdowntown.com/
Antioch’s Historical Beginning: Back in 1866, a small group of members gathered to worship under a simple ‘bush arbor (tree) along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. As their numbers slowly began to grow, these Saints built a humble box-house structure at a place known as ‘Baptist Hill, at the corner of Rusk and Bagby, to serve as their new church home.
5. Barber’s Memorial Baptist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Missionary Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025):
· Barber’s Official Social Media: Facebook Page
Barber’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
6. Bethany Baptist Church
· Location: Newark, NJ
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025):
· Bethany’s Official Website: https://bethany-newark.org/
Bethany’s Historical Beginning: In 1870, a small but determined group of Black worshippers in Newark, New Jersey, came together to form what would become Bethany Baptist Church which was the first Baptist congregation founded by African descendants in the city. In 1871, under the leadership of Reverend Ebenezer Bird, they secured their first real church home.
7. Bethel AME Church
· Location: Baltimore, MD
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: Upwards of 1.5k
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Patrick D. Clayborn
· Bethel’s Official Website: https://bethel1.org/
Bethel’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
8. Big Bethel AME Church
· Location: Atlanta, GA
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: More than 2,000 members
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. John Foster
· Big Bethel’s Official Website: https://www.bigbethelame.org/
Big Bethel’s Historical Beginning: In 1794, Bethel AME (African American Episcopal) opened its doors for the first time, with Richard Allen, a former slave man leading as its founding pastor. In 1807 and again in 1815, he won landmark legal victories, securing Bethel’s right to exist as an independent Black church.
9. Brentwood Baptist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Estimated above 2k
· Current Pastor (2025): Joe Ratliffe
· Brentwood’s Official Website: https://brentwoodbaptist.org/
Brentwood’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
10. Christian Cultural Center (CCC)
· Location: Brooklyn, NY
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 37,000!
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. A.R. Bernard
· CCC’s Official Website: https://www.cccinfo.org/
Christian Cultural Center’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted
11. Concord Church
· Location: Dallas, TX
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 2,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Bryan Carter
· Concord’s Official Website: https://www.concorddallas.org/
Concord’s Historical Beginning: On June 29, 1975 Concord Church was founded and officially planted as a new ministry. With two-hundred-thirty (230) charter members a new journey began. These charter Saints didn’t just establish a building they built a legacy which has grown, thrived and endures to this day. From the very start, Concord was destined to transform lives and uplift the entire community, one heart at a time.
12. Destiny World Church
· Location: Austell, GA
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: mid 1,000s
· Current Pastor (2025): Wilbur T. Purvis III
· Destiny’s Official Website: https://www.destinyworldchurch.org/
Destiny’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted
13. Ebenezer Baptist Church
· Location: Atlanta, GA
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): Raphael G. Warnock
· Ebenezer’s Official Website: https://www.ebenezeratl.org/
Ebenezer’s Historical Beginning: In 1886, Ebenezer Baptist Church was founded and planted with just thirteen (13) charter members under Rev. John A. Parker. By 1894, Rev. A.D. Williams took over a membership of seventeen (17), but within a year, there were eighty (80) souls. This is also the church pastored by the father of Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (King Sr.). Under ‘Daddy King’s’ leadership and later, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, this church became a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement.
14. Faithful Central Bible Church
· Location: Inglewood, CA
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: Approximately 2k+
· Current Pastor: Dr. John-Paul C. Foster
· Faithful’s Official Website: https://www.faithfulcentral.com/
Faithful Central’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
15. First African Baptist Church
· Location: Savannah, GA
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): Thurmond Neill Tillman
· First African’s Official Website: https://firstafricanbc.com/
First African’s Historical Beginning: First African Baptist Church has been praising the Lord God of Hosts longer than America has been a nation! This historic congregation was planted way back in 1773, a full three (3) years before the Declaration of Independence (1776). By May 1775, this faithful group officially became one of America's first organized Black Baptist congregations.
16. First AME Church (Nickname: FAME)
· Location: Los Angeles, CA
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: 10,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Robert Ryland Shaw II
· First AME’s Official Website: https://www.famechurchla.org/
First AME’s Historical Beginning: FAME Church is the very first Black-founded church in the City of Los Angeles, California. Back in 1872, a remarkable woman named Biddy Mason said she had a God-given vision to create a church which would care for the Saint’s mind, body and soul. What started as a small group of faithful believers has blossomed into something incredible which endures as a mega-church today.
17. First Baptist Church of Glenarden
· Location: Upper Marlboro, MD
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 10k+
· Current Pastor (2025): John K. Jenkins Sr.
· First Baptist’s Official Website: https://fbcglenarden.org/locations
First Baptist Glenarden’s Historical Beginning: In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Warren planted a church which began with an in-home Bible study. One-hundred (100) years on, and that small group Bible study has grown to become the internationally known ministry it is today.
18. Fort Bend Baptist Church
· Location: Sugar Land, TX
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 2k
· Current Pastor (2025): Byron C. Stevenson
· Fort Bend’s Official Website: https://www.thebend.org/
Fort Bend’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
19. Friendship-West Baptist Church
· Location: Dallas, TX
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 4,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Frederick D. Haynes III, PhD
· Friendship-West’s Official Website: https://www.friendshipwest.org/
Friendship-West’s Historical Beginning: However, this church is confused on doctrine and how it applies to the Black Christian experience. We will publish an article on the theological implications of their mixing atheism and Egyptian mysticism into the construction of their church building. The level of blindness by leadership is stunning.
20. Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Missionary Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): D.Z. Cofield
· Good Hope’s Official Website: https://goodhope.org/
Good Hope’s Historical Beginning: Good Hope was planted in the year 1872, and in Houston, Texas. A new ministry at the time, it was led by Rev. Samuel Grantham, affectionately known as ‘Father Grantham.’ The structure housing the founding members was located on Valentine Street, prior to that Sherman Road. Good Hope would eventually transition to a larger facility on Wilson and Saulnier Streets.
21. Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral
· Location: Queens, NY
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: 15,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Stephen A. Green
· Greater Allen’s Official Website: https://www.allencathedral.org/
Greater Allen’s Historical Beginning: Back in 1834, almost two-hundred (200) years ago, a small group of devoted folks in Jamaica, New York, dreamed of building a spiritual home. They gathered in each other’s houses, praying together. By the early 1840s, as the nation grappled with abolitionist debates, this faithful group built a simple 18x30-foot church at what’s now 160th Street and South Road. In 1842, they named it Allen, laying the foundation for our community.
22. Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church
· Location: Dallas, TX
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): David E. Wilson
· Greater Cornerstone’s Official Website: https://greatercornerstone.org/
Greater Cornerstone’s Historical Beginning: Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church began with a handful of dreamers as church plants typically do! They were armed with only faith and prayer. Yet on October 30, 1986, at 7:48 PM, we held our first meeting in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Hamilton Park at 8219 Bunche Drive, Dallas. Thanks to a lease with their kind pastor and congregation, that space became our church home.
23. Greater Grace Temple
· Location: Detroit, MI
· Denomination: COGIC (Church of God in Christ)
· Weekly Attendance: 2k+
· Current Pastor (2025): Bishop Charles H. Ellis III
· Greater Grace’s Official Website: http://www.greatergrace.org/
Greater Grace Temple’s Historical Beginning: God’s carried Greater Grace Temple a “mighty long way” as old Saints used to say. It all started with just three (3) people: Bishop Ellington Forbes, his wife, and mother-in-law. They gathered in the basement of his Detroit home. Those early days were tough, moving from place to place, scraping by after the Great Depression. But like Abraham, the Saints trusted God and kept moving forward by faith.
24. Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church
· Location: New Orleans, LA
· Denomination: Baptist Church (Full Gospel)
· Weekly Attendance: 1,500
· Current Pastor (2025): T. Delbert Robinson
· Greater St. Stephen’s Official Website: https://www.houseofgreater.org/
Greater St. Stephen’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
25. Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ
· Location: Memphis, TN
· Denomination: COGIC (Church of God in Christ)
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): L.T. Frye Jr.
· Holy Trinity’s Official Website: http://holytrinitycogic.org/ (Non-Functional)
Holy Trinity’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
26. Israelite Baptist Church
· Location: Chicago, IL
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 1,500
· Current Pastor (2025): Chenier Alston
· Israelite’s Official Website: Facebook Page
Israelite Baptist’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted
27. Kingdom Fellowship AME Church
· Location: Silver Spring, MD
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: 3,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Matthew L. Watley
· Kingdom Fellowship’s Official Website: https://kingdom.global/
Kingdom Fellowship’s Historical Beginning: No historical context noted other than an FAQ page offering; The official start date of Kingdom Builders was November 24th, 2019.
28. Metropolitan Baptist Church
· Location: Washington, D.C.
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 2,100
· Current Pastor (2025): George Lewis Parks Jr.
· Metro’s Official Website: https://metropolitanbaptist.org/
Metropolitan’s Historical Beginning: In 1864, just a year after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, black folk in D.C. were still living in neighborhoods with ugly names like Hell’s Bottom, Cow Town, and Vinegar Hill. Right there in Hell’s Bottom, Rev. Henry Bailey and ten Saints started worshipping together in an old Civil War barracks, pouring their prayer, hearts and meager finances into building a faith-filled community which became Metro Baptist Church.
29. Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
· Location: Memphis, TN
· Denomination: Disciple of Christ
· Weekly Attendance: 1,900+
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. Dr. Jay Lawrence
· Mississippi Boulevard’s Official Website: https://www.theblvd.org/
Mississippi BLVD’s Historical Beginning: Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church (MBCC) was the first African-American church in the city of Memphis under the doctrine of the Disciples of Christ (DOC). In 1921, led by Dr. Joseph Edison Walker, 11 members signed the roll as founding members. Those visionaries were Dr. Joseph and Mrs. Lelia Edison Walker, and their children, Johnetta and A. Maceo Walker.
30. Mount Zion Baptist Church
· Location: Nashville, TN
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Mid 1,000s
· Current Pastor (2025): Bishop Joseph W. Walker III
· Mount Zion’s Official Website: https://www.mtzionnashville.org/
Mount Zion’s Historical Beginning: No written history is publicly available for presentation as this church chose to tell their story through a video presentation here. I love it!
31. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
· Location: Lithonia, GA
· Denomination: Missionary Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 12,000 weekly
· Current Pastor (2025): Jamal Bryant
Warning: I warn all to stay away from this place.
32. New Hope Baptist Church
· Location: Atlanta, GA
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Likely upwards of 1.8k+
· Current Pastor (2025): Camile Holmes
· New Hope’s Official Website: https://nhbcatlanta.org/
New Hope’s Historical Beginning: On March 4, 1922, a small group of faithful Saint of Jesus gathered in a vacant storefront at McDaniel and Berckle streets in Atlanta’s Pittsburgh community to start New Hope Baptist Church. This group was a tight-knit and already running a neighborhood mission with Bible readings, prayer meetings, and Sunday gatherings.
33. New Light Christian Center Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: Likely in the thousands
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Irishea Hilliard
· New Light’s Official Website: https://newlightccc.org/
New Light Christian’s Historical Beginning: Sunday, September 2nd, 1984, to a congregation of 300 Apostle I.V. Hilliard founded New Light Church World Outreach and Worship Centers in the great city of Houston, TX. Following the bold declaration, the congregation dropped to 23. Unwavering in his faith, Apostle Hilliard led New Light Church to be one of the largest, most impactful and cutting-edge churches in the world.
Note: Although the founder of this church and others until today refer to themselves as ‘apostles,’ they could not be, at least according to the Bible for many reasons but one above every other: they have not been personally given the ‘keys to the kingdom’ by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:19, Act 1:21-22, 1 Cor. 9:1-2, 2 Cor. 12:12, et al).
34. New Salem Baptist Church
· Location: Columbus, OH
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Mid 1,000s
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Keith Troy
· New Salem’s Official Website: https://newsalemconnects.org/
New Salem’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
35. Reid Temple AME Church
· Location: Glenn Dale, MD
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: 5,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. Dr. Mark E. Whitlock Jr.
· Reid Temple’s Official Social Media: Facebook
Reid Temple’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
36. Salem Baptist Church
· Location: Chicago, IL
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 10,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Charlie Edward Dates
· Salem Baptist’s Official Website: https://www.salemchicago.org/
Salem’s Historical Beginning: Birthed in 1985, with 193 members, Salem has served as an oasis of hope within the Chicagoland area. Today, Salem has over 9,000 members and 10 ministries to choose from.
37. Shiloh Baptist Church
· Location: Washington, D.C.
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 2k+
· Current Pastor (2025): George E. Mensah Sr.
· Shiloh’s Official Website: https://shilohbaptist.org/
Shiloh’s Historical Beginning: In 1863, during the chaos of the Civil War, twenty-one (21) freed souls from Fredericksburg, Virginia, joined other escapees under Union Army protection to start Shiloh Baptist Church. After finding refuge in Washington, D.C., they gathered in homes to worship, eventually setting up a Sunday School in a modest building on L Street, nestled between 16th and 17th Northwest.
38. St. John Baptist Church
· Location: Columbia, SC
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: Mid 1,000s
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Jamey O. Graham Sr.
· St. John’s Official Website: https://www.saintjohnbaptistchurch1900.org/
St. John’s Historical Beginning: In the early 1900s, a handful of Christians started Saint John Baptist Church, congregated under the wide branches of a tree in the little neighborhood of Smith Quarters, about six blocks from where the church stands now. They poured out their hearts in prayer and sang praises to God. Later, the Saints moved services to the Old Empty Schoolhouse, and as time went on, we worshipped in the Lodge Hall on McKinley Street.
39. St. Luke Community Church
· Location: Dallas, TX
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: Approximately 1,700+
· Current Pastor (2025): Richie Butler
· St. Luke’s Official Website: https://slcumc.org/
St. Luke’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
Note: Unfortunately, except for a website logo/avatar stating the church was founded in 1933, I could find no history. As black church folk do, the ‘About Us’ page was headlined by the pastor, her credentials and theological prowess.
40. St. Philip AME Church
· Location: Atlanta, GA
· Denomination: AME (African Methodist Episcopal)
· Weekly Attendance: 2,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. Dr. Anton Elwood
· St. Philip’s Official Website: https://saintphilip.org/
St. Philip’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted due to a non-functional ‘Learn More About Us’ hyper-link.
41. The Church Without Walls
· Location: Houston, TX (There are three (3) locations for this church)
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 15k+
· Current Pastor (2025): Ralph Douglas West
· Church Without Wall’s Official Website: https://tcww.org/
Church Without Walls Historical Beginning: On a chilly November night in 1987, thirty-two dedicated Christian men and women gathered in the home of Ralph and Sheretta West on Joy Street in Northeast Houston (TX). That evening, a church was planted and forged a deep bond of faith, committing to bring Brookhollow Baptist Church to life.
42. The Fountain of Praise
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 2.2k
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Remus E. Wright
· Fountain of Praises’ Official Website: https://www.tfop.org/
Fountain of Praise’s Historical Beginning: The Fountain of Praise began as a small congregation in 1959. With all their hearts, the charter Saints poured themselves into building a foundation to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Their faith and dedication bore fruit so quickly—within just five years, they raised up the first buildings of our South Post Oak Campus.
43. The Lighthouse Church
· Location: Houston, TX (This fellowship has multiple campuses)
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 15,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Keion Henderson
· Lighthouses’ Official Website: https://tlhc.org/
Lighthouse Church’s Historical Beginning: The Lighthouse Church (TLHC) is a contemporary ministry led by Senior Pastor Keion Henderson and First Lady Shaunie Henderson. Founded in Houston, Texas, in 2009, the church welcomes more than 22,000 members to services at four campuses each week.
44. The Luke Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: Unknown
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Timothy Sloan
· Luke Church’s Official Website: https://www.theluke.org/
Luke’s Historical Beginning: Back on September 12, 1900, a group of devoted believers came together in Humble, Texas, to found St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, led by the heartfelt guidance of Reverend R. F. Skinner. They built their first sanctuary right in the heart of Humble, tucked behind the Lindsay Lumber Company, pouring their love and faith into creating a sacred space.
45. The Potter’s House (There are multiple churches in various cities)
· Location: Dallas, TX
· Denomination: None
· Weekly Attendance: 16,140
· Current Pastor (2025): T.D. Jakes (Thomas Dexter Jakes)
Warning: I have personal experience being in one of this church’s many campuses. Once, they produced the Michael Jackson Thriller performance while the false pastor (Chris Hill) attempted to connect this to Ezekiel 37. False doctrine!
View the video yourself: (If you think this is Holy Ghost, like the clowns in the video, you need to be SAVED)
46. Trinity United Church of Christ
· Location: Chicago, IL
· Denomination: Unknown
· Weekly Attendance: 2,200+
· Current Pastor (2025): Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III
· Trinity’s Official Website: https://www.trinitychicago.org/
Trinity United’s Historical Beginning: None publicly written but watch History Video Here
47. West Angeles Church of God in Christ
· Location: Los Angeles, CA
· Denomination: COGIC (Church of God in Christ)
· Weekly Attendance: 20,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Charles E. Blake Sr.
Note: If ever there was, in modernity, a Book of Revelation Church, and more specifically, Laodeci, which was wealthy but blind, cold and naked, this is it (Rev. 3:17).
48. Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: Baptist
· Weekly Attendance: 2,000+
· Current Pastor (2025): Dr. Marcus D. Cosby
· Wheeler Avenue’s Official Website: https://wheelerbc.org/
Wheeler Avenue’s Historical Beginning: In March 1962, a group of 13 dedicated individuals gathered in the Baptist Student Union lounge at Texas Southern University, united by their shared vision of creating a spiritual community. Their goal was to form a worship practice that blended devotion to God with a commitment to serving humanity.
49. Windsor Village United Methodist Church
· Location: Houston, TX
· Denomination: United Methodist (UMC)
· Weekly Attendance: mid-2,000s
· Current Pastor (2025): Suzette Caldwell
· Windsor Village’s Official Website: https://www.kingdombuilders.com/
Windsor Village’s Historical Beginning: None publicly noted.
50. World Changers Church International
· Location: College Park, GA
· Denomination: None
· Weekly Attendance: 15,000
· Current Pastor (2025): Creflo Dollar
Warning: Creflo Dollar. Need I say anything else?
Comentários