Who are Your Neighbors?

by Ben Tobias, Global Reach Director

According to StatisticalAtlas.com (a website that provides demographic information for every state, county, and even TOWNSHIP in the USA), Hancock County, Ohio is 89.9% white, 5.1% Hispanic, 1.4% Black, 1.7% Asian, 1.8% “mixed,” and 0.2% “other.” This is just a sample, so please check out the data for your own community.

Digging a bit deeper, the city of Findlay in Hancock County is 85.3% white, 7.3% Hispanic, 2.2% Black, 2.6% Asian, 2.4% “mixed,” and 0.2% “other.” Furthermore, the second chart also indicates median household income according to race. (If you look closely, you’ll notice the comparison with Ohio, which is represented by the narrow line above each bar.)

Do you know the ethnic makeup of YOUR township, county, and state? If you do, how might that influence your ministry decisions? Demographic information can provide important insights about income, education, and age distribution, thus helping a church understand what the needs and gaps are in its community. An ethnic group might need extra help with tutoring for their children, or English-as-a-second language classes. However, the most important way to understand a community is to interact with people you meet in the grocery store or at the park. Pray that God sends a “person of peace” (Matthew 10:11-12) who will connect with you, and look for the opportunities He sends your way.