MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Plant Now!

by Dave Barba of Press On! Ministries

Why Re-Seed? - Population

Our USA Population is Exploding

During the final decade of the 20th century, the United States' population increased more than during any other time in its history, including the baby boomer years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2000 USA population was 281.4 million. That's a 13.2% increase (32.7 milIion) in 10 years.

Every state grew in the last decade. The West grew by 19.7%; the South increased 17.3%; the Midwest, 7.9%; and the Northeast swelled 5.5%. Nevada grew 66% (Las Vegas is more than the infamous Strip); Arizona, 40%; Colorado (a beautiful place), 31%; Utah (who will reach the Mormons?), 30%, and Idaho, 29%.²

Now with 34 million souls, California has also grown. A survey taken by Dr. Bruce McAllister at Bob Jones University estimates that there is one fundamental church for every 1.2 million people in Los Angeles. A church planting missionary could spend a lifetime starting churches there. The survey includes a list of about 1200 cities in the USA with a population of 5000 or more and no fundamental church within 30 miles.

Our large metro areas have a few fundamental churches, but not nearly enough to reach their populace. Here is a short list of church-starved metro areas: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Miami, Austin, Spokane, Sheveport, Fargo, St. Joseph, Bismarck, Chicago, Philadelphia, and on and on and on...³

The Hispanic population in the USA increased 58% in the last decade. Pastor Rick Armstrong, who pastors a Hispanic Baptist church in Antioch, CA, says of Hispanics who find Christ in his church, "These new believers will go home for a visit to Central or South America and win their loved ones to Christ! We send foreign missionaries without even trying." Hispanics are rapidly overtaking black Americans as our largest minority ethnic group. Look for cities with many bilingual signs (like Raleigh, NC). Start a Spanish-speaking church and reach the arms of the gospel around the world. Bueno!

New York City is home to many ethnic groups. They settle and live together in little China, little Mexico, little Italy, or little Russia. Church planter/pastor Jim Bickel in Brooklyn is now planting a Russian church nearby. As floods of immigrants pursue the American dream, you can be a foreign missionary on American soil.

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2 www.census.gov - click on American Fact Finder
3 www.bju.edu/resources/cplanting/metro.html [survey on BJU website]