Last week I discussed the newly-released report on megachurches’ ability to reach and serve younger generations, who make up a much larger share of the typical megachurch than more traditional congregations.

That isn’t the only thing that inspires some to cast an envious eye on their larger counterparts. While many talk about reaching out and seeing new growth, megachurches typify that goal: two-thirds of attenders have been there five years or less.

Sound great? Imagine having to educate, train, equip and minister to a flock of mostly newcomers and you will appreciate the fact that every situation has its challenges.

Some other facts of life that spill out of the report written by seminarian Scott Thumma and researcher Warren Bird illustrate this truth.

For example, the finding that 45 percent of megachurch attenders never volunteer at church. That brings to mind our experience at a large congregation where the children’s minister stormed to the podium one Sunday. Then she dressed down the people over the fact that she had just closed two children’s classes for lack of help.

In addition, despite the supposed yearning for intimate connections in today’s society, 41 percent of megachurchers don’t participate in small groups and more than 30 percent give very little money. (Of course, according to surveys I’ve seen, a larger percentage never give to traditional churches, so that’s a wash.)

They are also mobile. When Leadership Network asked attenders if this was their church home, 12 percent said they attended other churches and 11 percent didn’t consider it as such yet—meaning nearly a quarter have divided loyalties.

Among the many criticisms aimed at megachurches is their supposed propensity for transfer growth. Or, to put it in more sinister terms, "sheep stealing." Which is why I found one report statistic particularly interesting. Namely, that while three-quarters of megachurch attenders come from other, established churches, that is only six percent higher than all-size congregations.

"Thus, it is clear that many of the attenders of megachurches did come from other local churches, but this does not account for even half the attendance of these large churches," the report says.

Nor, despite the fact that the average megachurch audience is more educated and wealthier, does that transfer to predominantly white. According to the report, of U.S. megas, only 50 percent are white, 15 percent are black and 35 percent, multi-racial. As an aside, 5 of the 10 largest Protestant churches globally are in South Korea.

Not only is the megachurch profile a bit different than one commonly portrayed, its members do something the rest of the Church would do well to emulate—they invite others.

A national survey used as a companion for this study found that 57 percent of church members had invited someone in the past year. In megachurches, a whopping 87 percent of megachurch attenders invited at least one person; 58 percent, at least three.

The authors conclude that megachurch members are not radically different people than the rest of the Church. They don’t come to a large congregation and develop into different spiritual beings.

However, the complex structure, multiple choices and large-scale social forms create the possibility for different interaction and involvement, they say.

"Different" is the key word here. Wise Church leaders will spend more time learning from their larger counterparts than complaining about their existence.