Harris County
Welcome to Southeast Texas; an area that is southeast of a line from Jasper to Livingston to Huntsville to Bryan/College Station to Brenham to Sealy to Victoria. It is the smallest in square miles of the four vice presidential areas of the Texas District but has the largest county of the state included. As all of you know, Texas is growing and changing. While the message we have to proclaim is unchanging, the culture, the people, the values, and the importance of the church to people in the communities are changing and will continue to change as we move into the 21st century.
The Texas District has been intentionally working at understanding the way our communities are changing. I want to take some time in this article to highlight what is taking place in Harris county. Yes, there are other counties in Texas and they too are changing. But maybe by looking at just one area, we can gain a glimpse into what might be happening in other areas.
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Population |
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|
|
1980 Census |
1990 Census |
2002 Update |
2007 Projection |
|
Population |
2,409,547 |
2,818,199 |
3,444,448 |
3,662,328 |
|
Population Change |
|
408,652 |
626,249 |
217,880 |
|
Percentage Change |
|
17.0% |
22.2% |
6.3% |
Over the past 20 years the population in Harris County has increased by 39.2%. That=s a sizable change over these past years and the change will continue into the 21st century, up another 6.3% in the next five years. Who makes up the growth of the past years and the projected growth? We have 53 LCMS Churches in Harris County with 34,871 members or 1% of the population. 4% of the population (137,778 people) indicated a preference for Lutheran...and we have 34,871 members...could it be that we aren't even reaching those indicating a Lutheran preference?
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Population by Race/Ethnicity |
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|
1990 Census |
2002 Update |
2004 Projection |
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|
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
Number |
Percent |
|
White |
1,528,113 |
54.2% |
1,454,109 |
42.2% |
1,446,075 |
39.5% |
|
African-American |
527,964 |
18.7% |
630,593 |
18.3% |
667,072 |
18.2% |
|
Hispanic/Latino |
644,935 |
22.9% |
1,151,494 |
33.4% |
1,312,112 |
35.8% |
|
Asian/Other |
117,187 |
4.2% |
208,252 |
6.0% |
237,069 |
6.5% |
|
Population by Generation |
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|
Millennial (Born 1982 or later) |
473,707 |
16.8% |
1,098,895 |
31.9% |
1,345,840 |
36.7% |
|
Survivors (Born 1961 to 1981) |
920,035 |
32.6% |
1,014,794 |
29.5% |
1,092,351 |
29.8% |
|
Boomers (Born 1943 to 1960) |
918,871 |
32.6% |
917,471 |
26.6% |
885,668 |
24.2% |
|
Silents (Born 1925 to 1942) |
307,364 |
10.9% |
293,467 |
8.5% |
305,267 |
8.3% |
|
Builders (Born before 1924) |
198,222 |
7.0% |
119,821 |
3.5% |
33,202 |
0.9% |
As you review the information contained in just these few statistics, here are some questions to ponder...ponder them from the perspective of reaching the lost, discipling the saved, and caring for people locally.
Are there a growing number of un-churched in Harris County? (That statistics isn't listed above. Think about this from your own experience with people where you live.)
Has the membership of our congregations in Harris County grown since 1980 by 39.2%? What about our church attendance?
If the millennial group is projected to be the largest age group by 2007 (36.7%) of the population in Harris County, that must mean that our Sunday schools will be growing considerably? How are we equipping and training people to be involved in this important area of ministry in our congregation?
If people today aren't searching us out, how do we let the community know where our congregation is located, know who we are, what we teach, and what message we have to proclaim? (It's a powerful message of God's love for us and His redemptive work on our behalf.
By looking at the statistics, what might be some of the needs people in our communities are facing? How does the church reach out to these people?
While certainly our intent is not just to grow for growth sake, the statistics do indicate that Harris county and most areas of Texas are experiencing a tremendous amount of growth and change. We have an opportunity to share the joy of Christ, the eternal hope we share, the love of our heavenly Father, and be an instrument of the Holy Spirit as He works in us and through us. The time is now!
"We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done." Psalm 78:4.
(Source of the above from Percept, A demographics resource)