Why Plant a Church in San Antonio
One of the questions we have been asked by many we talk to is “Why San Antonio?” That’s one that takes a moment to answer. One one hand, God called us to San Antonio. But on the other hand, San Antonio has a unique history and culture of it’s own.
If you’d asked us five years ago where we thought we’d be, San Antonio probably wouldn’t have popped into our heads. So why here, now? The short answer just happens to be the unofficial family motto in our house: “We don’t say no to God.” As we prayed, got wise counsel, and drove around, it was clear that He was calling us to this city, and this particular area. As we have come to know the locale better, we see that He was calling us to an area where people especially prone to the loneliness epidemic have converged.
Veterans and Active Duty: San Antonio (AKA “Military City USA”) is home to a huge number of active service members and veterans. 19.6% of adults in our target area are veterans. As you may know, veterans are at very high risk for loneliness and suicide, and Paul has worked with service members and veterans throughout his ministry.
The Loneliest Generations: Gen Z (born 1997-2012) is considered the loneliest generation in recorded history. Social media, as well as decreased driving, dating and time spent with friends has put almost half of this generation at risk for depression, anxiety and lowered mortality all because of loneliness. Gen Alpha (those born in the early 2010s or later) are showing signs of following the trend with increased anxiety and depression. They’re defined by pandemic disruptions, the consumption and creation of online content, and being the most globally and digitally connected generation, despite being tweens or younger. Gen Alpha’s world is largely inside, online and on-demand. Thirty-two percent of the population of our target area belongs to these lonely generations.
New Residents: The area is booming. Less than a decade ago, much of the area was farmland. A whopping 80% of the population has lived in the area for less than 5 years and a large percentage has moved from other states and other countries. Moving into a new area can be a time for new friends, new interests and a new church, but it also means leaving previous relationships and support systems. The authors of the 2023 book The Great Dechurching (and the massive research study it was based on) discovered that relocating was the #1 reason that Americans had stopped attending church, and that most of them would say yes if someone invited them to a church in their new area.
If you’d asked us five years ago where we thought we’d be, San Antonio probably wouldn’t have popped into our heads. So why here, now? The short answer just happens to be the unofficial family motto in our house: “We don’t say no to God.” As we prayed, got wise counsel, and drove around, it was clear that He was calling us to this city, and this particular area. As we have come to know the locale better, we see that He was calling us to an area where people especially prone to the loneliness epidemic have converged.
Veterans and Active Duty: San Antonio (AKA “Military City USA”) is home to a huge number of active service members and veterans. 19.6% of adults in our target area are veterans. As you may know, veterans are at very high risk for loneliness and suicide, and Paul has worked with service members and veterans throughout his ministry.
The Loneliest Generations: Gen Z (born 1997-2012) is considered the loneliest generation in recorded history. Social media, as well as decreased driving, dating and time spent with friends has put almost half of this generation at risk for depression, anxiety and lowered mortality all because of loneliness. Gen Alpha (those born in the early 2010s or later) are showing signs of following the trend with increased anxiety and depression. They’re defined by pandemic disruptions, the consumption and creation of online content, and being the most globally and digitally connected generation, despite being tweens or younger. Gen Alpha’s world is largely inside, online and on-demand. Thirty-two percent of the population of our target area belongs to these lonely generations.
New Residents: The area is booming. Less than a decade ago, much of the area was farmland. A whopping 80% of the population has lived in the area for less than 5 years and a large percentage has moved from other states and other countries. Moving into a new area can be a time for new friends, new interests and a new church, but it also means leaving previous relationships and support systems. The authors of the 2023 book The Great Dechurching (and the massive research study it was based on) discovered that relocating was the #1 reason that Americans had stopped attending church, and that most of them would say yes if someone invited them to a church in their new area.
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