Resources for PCA Hispanic church planting in Dallas


Demographics
PCA Churches
Things to Read
Links to Visit
Strategy

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Expanding Population. Expanding Church?

According to data released by the United States Census Bureau, the North Central Texas region is now home to over 1.1 million persons of Hispanic Origin. Public Law data released by the Bureau for redistricting initiatives indicates an increase of over 600,000 Hispanics between 1990 and 2000, giving Hispanics a 20 percent relative share of the total population, and making them the largest minority in North Texas. In Dallas County alone, the Hispanic population has grown from 21 to 35.6 percent over the last ten years, for a total of more than 660,000 people. (Source: DFW Info)

How have the churches in North Texas handled this huge influx and growth of Hispanics? According to a recent article in Christianity Today: "While exact figures are not available, Spanish-speaking charismatic, Pentecostal, and non-denominational churches, and to a lesser extent Baptist congregations, have multiplied in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in the past 10 years....In 1990 there were 38 Hispanic Baptist congregations in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. By 2000 there were 97... Some Spanish-speaking charismatic Catholic congregations have also formed." Despite this "multiplication," the overwhelming majority of North Texas Hispanics remain unexposed to the gospel and unchurched (likely more than 95%!).

Realizing the need to plant churches, and particularly for Reformed and Covenantal churches within this vast, unreached population, the Mission to North America Committee (MNA) of the North Texas Presbytery (PCA) and the Southwest Church Planting Network began an attempt at a church planting movement among Hispanics in Dallas in 2000, and although initial plans ran into difficulty, this August will bring a renewed effort as Josh Geiger arrives in the Metroplex. Over the next year, Josh will research the area and strategize the planting of not one, but many Presbyterian churches among the Hispanics of Dallas.


If you have read this report in hard copy before, here is a summary of what is new here on the website:

  • Links to Census 2000 information and demographic information drawn from it, as well as links to some important selected reports.
  • Aerial maps of each of the area PCA churches and up to date information on the Hispanic population in their five mile radii.
  • Links to articles concerning national and local Hispanic demographic information, as well as some that are are relevant to Hispanic church planting.
  • Links to some PCA resources as well as Hispanic sites (these lists will grow as the author has more time to surf and discover!)