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Table of Contents
Building His Church Wisely With Numbers — It’s The Demographic Way
It is often said there is nothing spiritual about numbers. On the other hand, numbers are scriptural. The Book of Genesis records the number of days it took for creation. Jesus selected 12 disciples, commissioned 70 to go out in pairs, and miraculously fed 5,000 men, not counting the women and children. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, records that 120 were together in prayer on the Day of Pentecost. In Revelation, the last book of the Bible, numbers are used to describe population patterns, strategies for future events (the seals and trumpets), and even to describe the dimensions of a new city.
Jesus described the successful or wise builder as one who: (1) can picture in his mind the future building, (2) can accept the challenges that come with the building process, and (3) can accurately calculate the materials required in building the edifice. Unfinished structures point to the unsuccessful builder who was unable to complete the project. On the other hand, active construction projects give witness to an ongoing growth process in a successful company or enterprise.
As a pastor, you have the privilege of participating with God in building His kingdom. Today, there are many unfinished smaller churches that have become stagnant because of unwise decisions. Other unfinished churches are new church plants that never materialized successfully. Could it be that these unfinished churches could be revitalized and transformed into vibrant congregations with the use of numbers…via a demographic study?
The dictionary describes demography as, "The statistical study of human population, especially with reference to size and density, distribution, and vital statistics." A demographic study has helped many pastors of smaller churches to be successful in reaching their communities with the gospel.
Since demographics involve the statistical study of human population, they can help the smaller congregation in various ways. A demographic study provides a clear picture of the population in your community. A study can assist you and other leaders of smaller congregations in:
- structuring the ministries of the church to reach the age groupings that comprise your community.
- developing new ministries to reach the statistical trends that are impacting your population—young couples, single adults, morning and evening services, and activities to reach blue-collar workers who work day or night shifts.
- considering an outreach to an ethnic group that is growing in your community.
- affirming the current mission of a smaller congregation as the statistical data confirms the effectiveness of the local church in reaching the limited population within its outreach.
- providing a consultant service without incurring the more expensive cost of bringing a professional individual to do a site study.
A demographic study can be as challenging as you and your congregation allows it to be. Being a small congregation is not necessarily negative. Your congregation may be small, yet effective in reaching its community, and a demographic study can confirm your effectiveness. On the other hand, as a small congregation you can use demographic information to plan new outreaches and ministries that can help your church grow.
There is a difference between being efficient and being effective. Efficient is doing things right while effective is doing the right things. It is the challenge for every pastor and congregation to be effective in building Christ’s church wisely with numbers—it’s the demographic way.
—Efraim Espinoza is We Build People field representative and assistant to the commissioner on discipleship, Springfield, Missouri.
NOTE: A demographic report can be obtained at a nominal cost for a given community or sector of a city by calling Demographic and Church Research Network at 417-862-2781, ext. 3381. D-CRN is a service of the General Council of the Assemblies of God to its ministers and congregations. (See D-CRN ad in the marketplace section.)
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