Yesterday, I began a series calling Evangelicals to increase and improve upon what little data we have regarding our urban mission fields in the United States and Canada. In this post, I want to draw your attention to some of the recent demographic changes happening in the metropolitan United States.
According to the Brookings Institution, this country has been experiencing some significant changes in its urban contexts. These transformations are happening specifically in the areas of 1) growth; 2) income; 3) diversity; 4) education; and 5) age. The country is growing quickly, rapidly diversifying, facing a large aging population, selectively educating the population, and dividing by income.
You can download the full report (172 pgs) for yourself here: “State of Metropolitan America: On the Front Lines of Demographic Transformation“. It examines what is happening in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas.
I want to encourage you to check out this 12 minute presentation that provides a summary of these five dimensions of change in these urban areas.
After viewing this presentation, what are your thoughts? How will this information influence your missional endeavors? If such changes are happening–and I believe they are–how important is it for a cadre of urban missiologists to work together in conducting, sharing, and disseminating urban research across Evangelical circles?
I think it is very important.
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Have the stats you found for the 172 page report been updated yet?
If so, where can that be found?
Thanks for your work!
I don’t know, Bruce. Check with the Brookings Institution–the publisher of that document.