I came across 2819 Church last week.  They have grown from a couple hundred to 6,000 and people show up as early as 5:30 AM on Sunday mornings to get a seat, so I wanted to know more:  What are they doing that other churches could learn from to reach others for Christ.  After spending a lot of time reading and watching the church in action, here are my insights. 

I do not want to create a quick easy soundbite but I saw similarities between 2819 and Saddleback church.  Different group of people but at the core similar values:  Outreach, small groups, preach God's Word, don't water it down.  It sounds like how the first generation church grew.  May each of our churches find this passion and may revival spread through America.

Across the country, many churches are shrinking, aging, and wondering why young people have disappeared from the pews. Meanwhile, a church like 2819 Church in Atlanta is exploding in attendance, mostly with young adults, to the point where people are lining up outside to get into worship.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

The growth at 2819 isn’t a magic trick. It isn’t entertainment. And it isn’t some new theological fad. It’s actually the result of returning to some very old, very biblical practices that many churches have quietly drifted away from.

Let’s look at what they’re doing right  and what any church can learn if it truly wants to reach its community again.

1. They Preach With Conviction — Not Caution

Pastor Philip Mitchell preaches straight from Scripture with clarity, urgency, and conviction. He talks honestly about sin, repentance, grace, redemption, and the real struggles people face.

Young adults aren’t leaving the church because sermons are “too strong.” They’re leaving because far too many sermons say nothing at all.

People — especially the younger generation are starving for truth. They want something solid to stand on. 2819 offers exactly that.

Lesson:
Watered-down preaching doesn’t build disciples. Clear, biblical preaching does. People recognize the difference.

2. Their Worship Feels Alive and Expectant

Worship at 2819 isn’t a show; it’s engagement. The music is passionate. People participate. There’s a sense of spiritual hunger in the room, not boredom.

Too many churches treat worship like a formality — sing a few songs, sit down, move on. But when worship is approached with expectation, people actually encounter God. That’s what draws them back.

Lesson:
Create an atmosphere where people expect God to move — not a performance, not theatrics, just genuine worship.

3. They Build Real Community — Not Just Sunday Crowds

2819 has strong small-group systems (“squads”) that help people form actual friendships. It’s simple: people stay where they feel known. Most churches try to reach their community with events, programs, and flyers — but they forget the power of genuine friendship.

Community isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s a biblical necessity.

Lesson:
If your church wants to grow, strengthen small groups, mentoring, and discipleship. Don’t just collect attenders,  build relationships.

4. They Give People a Mission Bigger Than Themselves

One of the biggest draws for young adults today isn’t entertainment,  it’s purpose. They want to contribute, not consume. 2819 emphasizes outreach, serving the needy, and living out the Gospel beyond the church walls.

A faith that never leaves the building doesn’t reach a community.

Lesson:
Put people to work in ministry. Give them mission. Give them purpose. Churches grow when Christians serve.

5. They Know Who They Are  And They Live It

2819 is clear about its identity and vision: spread the Gospel, make disciples, build community, and live generously.

Many churches today drift because they don’t really know what they’re trying to accomplish. A fuzzy mission produces fuzzy results. Clarity creates momentum.

Lesson:
Define your church’s mission. Talk about it. Live it. Use it to guide every decision.

6. They Take Their Community Seriously

People aren’t showing up because the building is fancy, it isn’t. They’re coming because the church takes them seriously: their struggles, their hunger for truth, their longing for belonging.

Ministry starts when churches stop assuming people will come and start pursuing people where they are.

Lesson:
Know your community. Understand its needs. Speak to its questions. Show people you care before expecting them to care about you.

What Traditional Churches Can Learn From 2819

• Preach truth clearly.

• Worship passionately.

• Create community on purpose.

• Mobilize people for mission.

• Stay rooted in the Gospel, not trends.

These aren’t modern tricks. They’re timeless principles. Churches grew on these foundations for centuries.

2819 Church’s growth isn’t a surprise,  it’s what happens when a church leans into biblical essentials with boldness instead of fear.

My Final Thoughts

If a church today wants to reach young adults, revive attendance, and reconnect with its neighborhood, it doesn’t need to reinvent Christianity. It needs to rediscover it.

2819 Church is proof:

• People still want the Gospel.
• They still want community.
• They still want purpose.
• They still want the presence of God.

And when a church offers those things without apology… people come.