A Closer Look at the
Growth of the Assemblies of God

See also: U.S. Demographic Information

Every year for the past seven years we have experienced a decline in the number of English-speaking majority white churches (from 9,137 in 1993 to 8,829 in 1999), yet we have grown from 11,762 churches in 1993 to 12,055 in 1999. The facts are these:

• We have lost an average of 44 majority white congregations per year and a net gain of 87 ethnic minority congregations per year during this seven-year period.

• In 1993, ethnic minority churches accounted for 21.8% of all A/G churches. Today, they comprise 26.8%.

• The number of Hispanic churches has increased by 11.5% since 1993, Asian/Pacific Islander churches by 20.2%, Black churches by 30.2%, and all others combined (including multi-cultural churches) by 45.9%.

• 212 Hispanic churches have been added since 1993 and 392 other non-white churches have been added since 1993.

• In 1993, Hispanic congregations made up 63.5% of all ethnic minority churches. Today, they comprise 58.1% of all ethnic minority churches.

• The Southern California District has more ethnic minority churches than any geographic district (147) and these make up one third of all of their churches.

• There are more than two and a half times as many Asian/Pacific Islander churches in California (101) than there are in Hawaii, which has 38.

• The New Jersey District has 19 black churches and 34 churches with no single majority. Majority white congregations comprise just 62% of New Jersey churches.

• There are 28 Black churches in the New York District, which has 91 ethnic minority congregations representing 18 different countries.

• 42 churches in Arizona are Native American. These, together with 29 other ethnic minority churches, make up one third of all district congregations.

• Just over half of Alaska’s 81 churches are ethnic minority congregations.

• 37 of New Mexico’s 100 churches are ethnic minority congregations.

• In 37 of the 58 districts, at least 10% of the congregations are ethnic minority. In 19 districts, over 20% are ethnic minority.

• Every district has at least 1 ethnic minority church and only 8 have fewer than 5.

If this trend remains constant for the next 7 years, in 2007 the Assemblies of God will be 30% ethnic minority. That’s almost a 10% change since 1993. In 30 years, majority white churches will represent just 50% of all A/G churches at best.