As I drive around the Bradfordville area, I see change, development, and progress. Traffic is on the increase; new retail space is being developed; and many families are calling Northeast Tallahassee home. I’m still waiting for certain restaurants to establish locations in our area (which ones?).
As Bradfordville changes, what does that mean for our church family? In John 4:35, Jesus said to His disciples, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” Jesus’ challenge applies to you and me. It’s time to open our eyes and see kingdom opportunities in and around the Bradfordville area.
I recently ate lunch with Gary Townsend of the Florida Baptist Convention. I asked him about current data about Bradfordville. Gary contacted the North American Mission Board and provided me with relevant facts and figures. The information I’ll share is based upon a three-mile radius around our church facility.
32,235 persons reside in the defined study area. This represents an increase of 6,305 or 24.3% since 2000. The population is projected to increase by 5.5% or 1,788 additional persons in the next five years.
The largest age group in terms of numbers is Survivors (age 36 to 56) comprised of 8,765 persons or 27.2% of the total population in the area. Boomers (age 57 to 74) make up 23.8% of the population, which compared to a national average of 19.3% makes them the most over-represented group in the area.
Based upon the number of years completed and college enrollment, the overall education level in the area is very high. While 97.5% of the population aged 25 and over have graduated from high school as compared to the national average of 86.6%, college graduates account for 61.2% of those over 25 in the area versus 29.6% in the U.S.
The average household income in the study area is $117,563 a year as compared to the U.S. average of $80,853. The average age in the study area is 40.9 and is projected to increase to 42.2 by 2022. The average age in the U.S. is 39.1 and is projected to increase to 39.9 by 2022.
When asked about their involvement with their faith, 33.7% are strongly involved with their faith; 29.8% are somewhat involved with their faith; and 36.5% are not involved with their faith. 16.9% of households indicated that they prefer the Baptist denomination.
The following were listed as areas of interest among persons living in the study area: 46.3% are concerned about maintaining personal health; 20.6% are interested in finding/providing aging parent care; 27.5% are focused on finding/providing good schools; 56.5% are interested in achieving long-term financial security; and 18.0% are concerned about finding life direction.
If you live in the Bradfordville area, this information offers you insights into your neighbors. This research also helps us as a church to pray and plan ministries that meet people where they are in life. It allows us to open our eyes.
I look forward to being back in the pulpit this Sunday. Our focus is on the second commandment. I hope you’re planning to attend and participate in Sunday School and worship. However, if you have to be away, I invite you to watch online at bradfordville.org. The live broadcast starts at 10:30 am.
I encourage you to pray for our final Cuban mission team this week. May the Lord use them to touch the lives of many children and their families!
Seeing, Praying, and Sending,
Pastor Ronny
Luke 10:2