Researching Mission

We trust the Spirit of God will move again in our city, and we want to help you be ready to understand the context of your part of the city. That means we’re data-informed and Spirit-led while we keep an eye on demographics, history, and spiritual data trends.

We desire to be data-informed even as we are Spirit-led:

Proverbs 24:3–6

By wisdom a house is built,

and by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is full of strength,

and a man of knowledge enhances his might,

for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Researching Mission

To join God in His mission, we must first see clearly. The Greater Austin Mission Society is committed to researching the spiritual, demographic, and cultural realities of our city, enabling churches and ministries to act with wisdom. Research is not an end in itself. It is a way of listening to God, to people, and to place so that mission flows from discernment rather than assumption.

When we understand our current position, we can better envision where God might be leading us.

What We See

Our research has revealed several important realities about Greater Austin:

  • A City in Transition - Austin has grown from under 2 million people in 2015 to more than 2.5 million in 2025. It is increasingly complex, both locally rooted in Texas identity and globally shaped by migration and diversity.

  • Uneven Distribution of the Church - Some areas, such as Central Austin, are densely populated with churches. Others, such as Kyle/Buda, Jarrell, and Northeast Travis, have far fewer congregations relative to their population.

  • Spiritual Decline - Practicing Christianity has dropped from nearly half the population in 2012 to about one-quarter today. Fewer people are engaged in Scripture, discipleship, or consistent community.

  • Diversity and Opportunity - Our city is now home to a rich mosaic of cultures, including over 140 diaspora churches faithfully following Christ in their own languages and traditions. This diversity is both a challenge and a gift.

  • Fragmentation and Isolation - Many ministries still operate in silos, with trust and collaboration uneven across traditions and networks.

How We Respond

The Greater Austin Mission Society pursues research that helps the Church see more clearly and act more faithfully. Our approach includes:

  • Demographic and Geographic Analysis - Tracking growth, migration, and cultural shifts across the thirteen county census divisions of Greater Austin.

  • Mapping the Church - Documenting the presence, theology, and activity of more than 1,000 churches across the metro area to highlight both strengths and gaps.

  • Gathering Oral Histories - Listening to seasoned leaders who have witnessed God’s work in Austin over decades, preserving their stories as a guide for future mission.

  • Ongoing Updates - Producing resources like the State of the City report, regional profiles, and data briefings that give leaders timely, usable insights for decision-making.

The Invitation

Research alone cannot change a city, but it can help us pray and act with clarity. We believe the Spirit works through both faithful presence and faithful perception. By listening well to the story of our city, we can join God more fully in His work.

We invite you to use this research not merely as information to store away, but as a tool for discernment to share and apply. Together, we can steward knowledge as a tool for mission, so that Austin might look more like heaven.