Lake Charles is projected to be one of the fastest growing communities in Louisiana for years to come. Oil and gas and chemical manufacturing are booming and have only slowed down slightly with drops in oil prices. Carey Baptist Association and Director of Missions Bruce Baker serve this area, representing Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis Parishes. Planters and partners are needed to reach a growing population and a key area for our state for years to come. Check out some data on this area:

• Population of Carey Baptist Association: 241,662 (up 3% since 2010). Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, and Cameron Parishes.
• Worship Attendance in 72 SBC churches: 9,128 Only 3.8% of the population worshipped in a SBC church on any given weekend in 2018.
• Bible Study Attendance: 5,227 (down 20% since 2010). Only 2.2% of the population attended Bible Study in an SBC church on any given weekend in 2018.
• 72 SBC churches for a church to population ration of 1 to 3,356 residents. Our state average & our goal for each association is 1 to 2,850. NAMB suggests 1 to 2,000 as a good mark. 12 new churches would be needed to get to 1 to 2,850 in the Lake Charles area.
• 57 SBC churches in Calcasieu Parish for 1 to 3,563. 10 churches in Jefferson Davis Parish for 1 to 3,158.
• Only 10 non-Anglo SBC churches for 1 to 6,714 church to non-anglo population.
• Evangelical Population: 59,161 or 24% of the population.
• Those with No Religious Affiliation or None’s: 65,878 or 27% of the population. So there are now more None’s than Evangelicals.
• Roman Catholic Population: 83,950 or 35% of the population.
• Mainline Protestant: 11,157 or 5% of the population.
• 7,302 students currently attend McNeese St. University.
• 63% of Carey Association churches are under 100 in attendance. 38% under 50 in attendance.
• 28% of Carey Association churches with zero baptisms in 2018.
• Projected Job Growth is 2.5% in 2020 and 3.1% in 2021.

Pray for planters and partners.