Evangelical Growth in Least Reached States
(image credit: pixabay)
While the past several posts have focused on the least-reached areas of the country, this one continues that pattern but turns attention toward a few particular states. Evangelical growth is taking place in a variety of contexts, but what about the least-reached areas? What locations have experienced triple-digit percentage growth over the past four decades?
Locations
Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Washington, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania experienced triple-digit percentage growth from 1980-2020 among evangelicals as a proportion of the population. These percentages are the highest among all fifty states. But before looking at those percentage shifts, it is important to see each state’s evangelical percentages:
Vermont 7.25% (2020); 1.57% (1980)
Rhode Island 3.83% (2020); 1.02% (1980)
Connecticut 6.89% (2020); 1.93% (1980)
New Jersey 5.13% (2020); 1.82% (1980)
Massachusetts 3.65% (2020); 1.40% (1980)
New York 5.15% (2020); 2.03% (1980)
Ohio 19.70% (2020); 7.97% (1980)
Washington 20.48% (2020); 8.32 (1980)
Delaware 9.10% (2020); 3.82% (1980)
Hawaii 9.29% (2020); 3.95% (1980)
New Hampshire 4.84% (2020); 2.07% (1980)
Pennsylvania 9.80% (2020); 4.51% (1980)
Though Washington and Ohio are outliers in this list with both now comprised of twenty percent evangelical populations, the rest fall below ten percent. Four of these states make the list of the least evangelical states in the country.
Percentages
Evangelicals in Vermont had a six percentage point increase that represented a 363% growth in their proportion over the last four decades. Rhode Island (three percentage point increase) and Connecticut (five percentage point increase) easily surpassed the 200% threshold at 273% and 258%, respectively. The remaining states ranged between 182% (New Jersey) and 117% (Pennsylvania). If few evangelicals were present in 1980, then large percentage shifts might not equate to large numbers of evangelicals. It is important to consider those numbers as well.
Numbers
Ohio and Washington grew by over one million evangelicals each. Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania experienced growth in the hundreds of thousands. Evangelicals increased in the tens-of-thousands in the remaining states. While Vermont increased by 363%, it grew by 39,000 evangelicals.
Receptivity?
More research is needed. The increase in numbers could be the result of reporting error. The growth rate would appear substantial if a particular denomination failed to report data for a couple of decades and then decided to share numbers. Transfer growth is another potential growth driver. What portion of the numbers are related to evangelicals moving from other states to these? Their numbers would inflate the data recorded in 2020.
However, it is desired that conversion growth is behind what is observed. Could these numbers reflect people repenting of sin and placing faith in Jesus (Acts 20:21)? It is possible; but, future research is necessary before such may be stated with certainty. Anecdotally, I have heard from some church leaders of people coming to faith in these areas and other encouraging reports. Maybe one of you will do the research and share the findings with us?
Regardless, something is happening in these locations. If the Spirit has been awakening people to the truth of the gospel, then such is occurring in some of the least-reached areas of the country. A proper response would be to provide more prayer, ministry, and church planting labors in such communities while receptivity levels are high.
Donald McGavran once stated receptivity is like the tide: it comes and goes. However, unlike the predictable tide, receptivity is unpredictable. Once it comes in, we do not know how long it will last. And if it goes out, we are not guaranteed it will return again.
If you have not seen the interactive map, infographics, and data set on my evangelical study, then you may obtain access to them HERE.