Census Bureau report highlights
ministry opportunities in Texas
___By Mark Wingfield
___Managing Editor
___Texas is leading the nation in the population growth of its cities, and that translates into increased missions opportunities, according to a leader of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
___The U.S. Census Bureau released new population estimates Oct. 20 that show Texas having three of the nation's top six metropolitan areas in population increase over the last
U.S. metro areas with largest population gains, 1990-1999
1. Las Vegas, Nev. 62.0%
2. Laredo, Texas 45.0%
3. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas 39.5%
4. Boise, Idaho 37.9%
5. Naples, Fla. 36.1%
6. Austin-San Marcos, Texas 35.4%
|
decade. The Laredo metropolitan area grew 45 percent during the '90s, the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area grew 39.5 percent, and the Austin-San Marcos area grew 35.4 percent.
___From another perspective, Texas is now home to five of the nation's 20 largest cities, the Census Bureau reported. Based on city populations alone (not including the surrounding metropolitan areas), Houston is the nation's fourth-largest city, with 1.8 million people, an 8.7 percent gain in the 1990s. Houston is outpaced in total population only by New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
___San Antonio is the nation's eighth-largest city, and Dallas is the ninth-largest. San Antonio's population grew 15 percent in the 1990s to a total of 1.15 million. Dallas grew 7 percent to 1.1 million. El Paso is now the nation's 17th-largest city, with 612,770 people. Austin took 19th place, with 587,873.
___Put in perspective, that means Texas' capital city is now larger than the nation's capital city. The top five Texas cities in total population each are larger now than Milwaukee, Boston, Seattle, Cleveland and Denver.
___The Census Bureau reports double-digit growth rates in the populations of many Texas cities, from McAllen (28.8 percent) to Mesquite (14.2 percent) and from Plano (81.2 percent) to Pasadena (12 percent).
___The new population report underscores the urgent need for expanded efforts in missions, ministry and evangelism in Texas, said James Semple, director of the BGCT's State Missions Commission.
___"For years, we have spoken about how Texas has become a mission field with a burgeoning population," he noted. "This latest information from the Census Bureau reveals that the challenge is even greater than we thought.
___"It would be hard to imagine any other state being home to three of the nation's six fastest-growing metropolitan areas. It is especially significant that two of those metropolitan areas are along the Rio Grande. Obviously, much of this population growth is among new immigrants from Mexico. That underscores the need to strengthen our efforts as Texas Baptists in reaching the Hispanic population with the saving message of Jesus Christ.
___"It is also significant to note that while the area bordering the Rio Grande includes two of the most populous metropolitan areas, the region also includes some of the poorest counties in the nation. This reminds us once again of the great ministry and mission opportunities within our state.
___"We must step up our efforts to reach Texas with the gospel," Semple concluded. "If we don't, who will?"
___With additional reporting by Ken Camp
__
The Baptist Standard
©2000 The Baptist Standard
|