According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population in Virginia was 7,078,515. Based on data retrieved from SCAN US, the estimated population in Virginia increased to 7,635,526 in 2006. Forecasters predict that within the next five years, the population in Virginia will exceed 8,000,000.In September 2002, a report called the Religious Congregations & Memberships in the United States was released by the Glenmary Research Center (http://www.glenmary.com/). This report provides the most comprehensive statistical data available on U.S. religious affiliation.[1] It is conducted by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) every ten years at the same time as the U.S. Census.
According to this report, 58.4% of the 7,078,515 people in Virginia had no religious affiliation in 2000. Applying this same percentage to the 2006 estimated population indicates that there are approximately 4,459,147 people in Virginia that have no religious affiliation.[2]
In Luke 19:10, Jesus says, “I have come to seek and to save people who are lost.” This scriptural passage reveals that “lost people”[3] are a priority for Jesus. Jesus' use of the word "lost" appears to be a term of endearment. Loving lost people seems to be a priority for Jesus. Shouldn’t lost people be a priority for the followers of Christ as well?
We know you are out there! So, tell us how God is working in your church to reach the lost for Christ.
[1] Religious Congregations & Membership presents data reported by 149 religious bodies that participated in a study sponsored by the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB). ASARB originally invited 285 religious bodies that could be identified as having congregations in the United States. However, many of the historically African American religious bodies did not participate. The absence of these bodies must be considered when studying religious affiliation within areas of the country with a significant African American population.
[2] Adjusting their estimate to include some of the religious bodies that did not participate in the study in 2000, the Association of Religious Data Archives (www.thearda.com) reports an adjusted percentage of 46.4%. Based on this adjusted percentage and the estimated population for 2006, there would be approximately 3,542,884 people in Virginia that have no religious affiliation.
[3] Webster’s dictionary defines “lost” as “having wandered from the way.” In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. Without me, no one can go to the Father.”
