In my last few posts, I have been drawing our attentions to the recently released data regarding the 2010 U. S. Congregational Membership Report. If you are interested in catching up, see my posts HERE and HERE.
Previously, I pointed out the least evangelical counties in the United States. Doug Black later created a visual showing these counties on a map HERE. Now, I want to note what the report shared regarding our urban contexts.
You may find the data in my table below at The ARDA site HERE. Also, the researchers’ definition of “evangelical” may be found HERE and their definition of “Adherents” and “Percent” is as follows:
“Congregational ‘adherents’ include all full members, their children, and others who regularly attend services. ‘Percent’ is the percentage of the total population that belongs to that denomination.” (Source)
Do I have concerns with the researchers’ definitions? Yes. But, their research is the most comprehensive and best available to date.
I have listed the 20 metro areas that are under 5% evangelical. Yes, such places do exist in the United States. Provo-Orem, UT continues to remain as the least reached (as compared to the 2000 research).
Would you and your church prayerfully consider sending missionary teams into these metro areas to plant churches? If you are looking for a place to begin, I would urge you to consider one of these least reached urban areas below.
| METRO AREA |
ADHERENTS |
PERCENT |
| Provo-Orem, UT |
2,540 |
0.5 |
| Logan, UT-ID |
1,746 |
1.4 |
| St. George, UT |
2,345 |
1.7 |
| Pittsfield, MA |
2,817 |
2.2 |
| Kingston, NY |
4,104 |
2.3 |
| Barnstable Town, MA |
5,281 |
2.5 |
| Salt Lake City, UT |
29,498 |
2.6 |
| Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA |
45,007 |
2.8 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH |
146,838 |
3.2 |
| Norwich-New London, CT |
9,320 |
3.4 |
| Ogden-Clearfield, UT |
18,689 |
3.4 |
| Glens Falls, NY |
4,502 |
3.5 |
| Utica-Rome, NY |
10,580 |
3.5 |
| Springfield, MA |
24,645 |
3.6 |
| New Haven-Milford, CT |
33,484 |
3.9 |
| Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME |
20,227 |
3.9 |
| New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA |
750,407 |
4 |
| Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY |
27,236 |
4.1 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT |
9,512 |
4.5 |
| Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA |
25,351 |
4.5 |
Thank you so much for sharing and organizing this information. I am originally from one of the cities on this list and am excited that God has called me back to plant a church! Some of these numbers are staggering but I know that God is raising leaders to go into these cities to make a difference.
Thanks for sharing, Felix. I am so thankful to hear that you are returning as a church planter! May the Lord bless your labors!
Hi. Cody Lorantz got this to me. Thanks for sharing ot. I live in Parsippany NJ. I figured last year that the “Parsippany sector” is 1.8% evangelical out of 112000 people. Let me say this, although it will sound crass I don’t mean it that way. With few exceptions, the typical evangelical church in northern NJ would be closed if it wasn’t for immigrant believers who have come and blessed us in so many ways here. I have no idea what the evangelical community population would be here without immigrants, but it would be tiny.
I’ve planted 2 church campuses in Detroit over the last 8 years. Our city is not on this list but is definitely a city in great need. Felix has been part of our team and now goes to those in need in New Haven, CT. Exciting to be in this adventure and to see God raise up believers in desperate places!
Thanks for the time & insight that have been given for this information!
Hey JD. Im a SBC and A29 church planter, as well as a Southern Student in Amherst MA (20 miles east of Pittsfield, 15 miles north of Springfield, and 60 miles west of Boston.) We are about 1/2 of 1% Christian with 5 colleges in our reach, and 3 pagan temples ( one to the Sun, one to the woods, and a buddhist peace pagoda) Thanks for bringing this need to light.
You are welcome, Nate! Thank you for the update!
J.D. Thank you for being a diligent servant of the Lord, providing us with demographic and statistical trends in the evangelical world. I will be graduating from Southern Seminary this December, and believe the Lord is calling me to Provo-Orem, Utah. Not only is it the least reached city, but it is the 7th fastest growing city in the country. I believe this is one of the most strategic places to lovingly display the grace and glory of Jesus Christ, and to remind the Mormon culture with respect and gentleness that they can’t earn their salvation. They must trust in Jesus Christ alone for their righteousness. Thank you brother, and I will need your prayers as I plan to pray for others at the Seminary who will join us in this endeavor. Your brother in Christ,
Chad
Thank you, Chad. May the Lord bless you in your labors. My prayers are with you.
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J.D./ Chad,
I too am being called to Utah from Louisville. How do I get in touch with you Chad?
This is really good insightful research, thanks J.D. I appreciate your diligence and passion.
Thank you, Matt.