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2000 Current Population Survey:
Foreign Born Population |
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Coming to America |
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Between 1820 and 1920, approximately 34 million persons immigrated to the
United States, three-fourths of them staying permanently. By 1920, 15% of the U.S.
population was foreign-born. Five decades later however, the "poor, tired and huddled
masses" were no longer amassing at Lady Liberty's feet in record numbers. By 1970
(due first to World War I and then to restrictive immigration legislation), the numbers of
foreign born had declined significantly, falling to a record low of just 5% of the overall
population. |
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As of the latest population survey in March 2000, the numbers of
foreign-born have risen dramatically-from 9.6 million in 1970 to 28.4 million in 2000,
effectively tripling the immigrant population. If you combine those numbers with the
first-generation U.S. residents, then you have the highest combined number56
million, or a ratio of 1-in-5 of the U.S. population is either a foreign-born or
first-generation resident. The foreign-born segment alone represents roughly 10 percent of
the U.S. populationthe highest rate since 1930. -JK |
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Foreign-Born Population
Source: US Census Bureau; March 2000 Current Population
Survey |
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1910 |
1930 |
1970 |
2000 |
Foreign-Born |
13.5 |
14.2 |
9.6 |
28.4 |
Foreign
Stock |
18.9 |
26.0 |
24.0 |
27.5 |
Total |
32.4 |
40.2 |
33.6 |
55.9 |
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(Population
in Millions) |
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Ministry Ideas |
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Consider the racial/ethnic profile of your congregation.
While your church may not be located in a top area of foreign-born growth (primarily West
and Southwest), most every state has experienced an increase in the number of foreign-born
residents. |
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What are the implications of this trend for your church? Do your services
and programs reflect the changing face of America? |
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Imagine yourself as a foreign-born person and try to see your country, your
community and finally your church the way he or she might perceive it. What might be some
of the cultural differences that could unknowingly erect barriers to communication? |
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Without sacrificing your church's own religious tenets, consider tangible
ways your congregation might learn to "be all things to all men" in order to
reach the foreign-born in your community with the Gospel. |
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© COPYRIGHT 2008 PERCEPT GROUP, INC. |
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