The lack of job availability makes it difficult for new families to move into the community. As a result the median age of the people within the church becomes older with less and less involved in the children's programs. As the population of the community decreases so do the opportunity for church outreach and growth. New people, having no ties to the community, may travel to a larger metropolitan area to attend a church that has multiple programs. Demographic change within the community.
Demographic changes alter the cultural setting of the community.
Churches that do not adapt to these changes can find it difficult to minister to the new cultural setting. A church that was once in a predominantly Caucasian community may find it difficult to attract new people when the area becomes predominately Hispanic. A congregation that served loggers will struggle if the community becomes a bedroom community to a large metropolitan area. Because small churches tend to be homogeneous, they are often the last to change when transitions occur in the demographic setting. Unwilling to change, they soon become isolated from the mainstream of the community.