It is no secret that Los Angeles is in the midst of a major demographic transition. The changing demographics present both a great challenge and a tremendous opportunity for the church. Every indicator suggests that the Los Angeles Basin will continue to explode with population growth especially among immigrant populations. The county is expected to continue its current rate of growth so that its population will be over ten million by the year 2000. Forty percent of students entering kindergarten speak limited English.
Students speak nearly one hundred different native languages.
These changes and other influences are impacting the socio-economic makeup of Los Angeles' communities. Studies show a greater inequity in the distribution of earnings in Los Angeles than is true across the nation, and the inequality is growing. While there are many who are wealthy who certainly need the Gospel, and substandard living conditions of the poor represent a great opportunity and mandate for the ministry of the church. Fifteen percent of the population of greater Los Angeles now live below the poverty line. Best estimates are that over 180,000 people in the Los Angeles County spent at least part of the past twelve months homeless.