Bob Merritt
Encyclopedia
Bob Merritt is the Senior Pastor of Eagle Brook Church in Lino Lakes, Minnesota
, USA, a megachurch
that has seen explosive growth under his leadership.
Six years into his ministry, by 1997 the church had attendance of 1,400.
According to Outreach Magazine
in 2008 this was the 30th fastest growing church in the USA and the 38th in size based on attendance of 10,334.
By 2010 typical weekend attendance had risen to 13,000.
Bob Merritt attended Neshannock High School in the 1970s, then went to Bethel University
in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he obtained a Master's degree in divinity. From 1983 to 1988 he was pastor of the Falun First Baptist Church in Falun, Wisconsin
.
He then went to Penn State University where he earned a Doctorate in Speech Communications in 1991.
By 1997, when the church took its present name, average weekend attendance had grown to 1,400.
The decision to change the name was in part to avoid deterring people from other denominations.
Although the church is Baptist in origin, its core belief is in the foundation of the Christian faith and the church welcomes people from all denominations from Catholic and Lutheran to Assembly of God.
Merritt led modernization and expansion of the facilities and development of the organization required for a megachurch to operate effectively.
After rapid and continued growth, the church now has four campuses in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area.
In September 2009 Merritt announced plans for further expansion, bringing the number of campuses to five.
On a typical weekend up to 13,000 people hear his or the other teaching pastors messages live or simulcast at one of the campuses.
To encourage people who may have been turned off by the formality of other churches, Merritt deliberately gave Eagle Brook an informal atmosphere, with no stained glass, pews or altar.
Merritt attributes the healthy level of donations from his core congregation to the sense of mission in the church, the drive to reach as many people as possible and help them grow in their faith.
He also emphasizes the importance of providing more than just a place to hear music and listen to an inspiring or helpful message, but to also be active in the world community assisting the oppressed, poor and hungry.
.
In 2006 he was named Bethel Seminary Alumnus of the Year for his work in guiding the church through explosive growth and reaching out to people who had been lost to the church.
In May 2009 he hosted an event at Eagle Brook where hundreds of church leaders listened to a dialog with Rev. Bill Hybels
of Willow Creek Church in the Chicago area on effective ways to organize and run a large church.
Lino Lakes, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,791 people, 4,857 households, and 4,162 families residing in the city. The population density was 595.1 people per square mile . There were 4,921 housing units at an average density of 174.4 per square mile...
, USA, a 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...
that has seen explosive growth under his leadership.
Six years into his ministry, by 1997 the church had attendance of 1,400.
According to 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...
in 2008 this was the 30th fastest growing church in the USA and the 38th in size based on attendance of 10,334.
By 2010 typical weekend attendance had risen to 13,000.
Early years
Merritt's father was Calvin Merritt, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.Bob Merritt attended Neshannock High School in the 1970s, then went to Bethel University
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he obtained a Master's degree in divinity. From 1983 to 1988 he was pastor of the Falun First Baptist Church in Falun, Wisconsin
Falun, Wisconsin
Falun is an unincorporated community in western Burnett County in northwestern Wisconsin, United States. The community is in the town of Daniels, which had a population of 665 at the 2000 census....
.
He then went to Penn State University where he earned a Doctorate in Speech Communications in 1991.
Eagle Brook pastor
Merritt became pastor of the Eagle Brook Church, then called First Baptist Church of White Bear Lake, in 1991.By 1997, when the church took its present name, average weekend attendance had grown to 1,400.
The decision to change the name was in part to avoid deterring people from other denominations.
Although the church is Baptist in origin, its core belief is in the foundation of the Christian faith and the church welcomes people from all denominations from Catholic and Lutheran to Assembly of God.
Merritt led modernization and expansion of the facilities and development of the organization required for a megachurch to operate effectively.
After rapid and continued growth, the church now has four campuses in the Minneapolis – Saint Paul area.
In September 2009 Merritt announced plans for further expansion, bringing the number of campuses to five.
On a typical weekend up to 13,000 people hear his or the other teaching pastors messages live or simulcast at one of the campuses.
To encourage people who may have been turned off by the formality of other churches, Merritt deliberately gave Eagle Brook an informal atmosphere, with no stained glass, pews or altar.
Merritt attributes the healthy level of donations from his core congregation to the sense of mission in the church, the drive to reach as many people as possible and help them grow in their faith.
He also emphasizes the importance of providing more than just a place to hear music and listen to an inspiring or helpful message, but to also be active in the world community assisting the oppressed, poor and hungry.
Leadership training
Merritt is an instructor at Bethel Virtual Seminary of Bethel UniversityBethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
.
In 2006 he was named Bethel Seminary Alumnus of the Year for his work in guiding the church through explosive growth and reaching out to people who had been lost to the church.
In May 2009 he hosted an event at Eagle Brook where hundreds of church leaders listened to a dialog with Rev. Bill Hybels
Bill Hybels
William Hybels is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, one of the most attended churches in North America, with an average attendance of nearly 24,000 as of 2011...
of Willow Creek Church in the Chicago area on effective ways to organize and run a large church.