Nazarene Presence in the Texas Triangle Megaregion (1905-2017)

According to CityMajors.com, due to demographic shifts southward in the continental United States, four of the top sixteen largest cities in the United States are found in the Texas Triangle megaregion: Houston (4), San Antonio (7), Dallas (9), Austin (11), and Fort Worth (16). 

Source: America2050.org

The Church of the Nazarene recognizes Pilot Point, Texas, around 50 miles north of Dallas, as its birthplace, where there was a unifying of nationwide efforts among several holiness groups into a formalized movement in October 1908.

The long history among Nazarenes also makes it very difficult to trace the location of the Church of the Nazarene in the present-day megaregion. Nazarenes track local church data and generates missional strategy through the administrative unit of a "district," roughly equivalent to a synod or diocese. Not being from Oklahoma, I have absolutely no idea why or how Oklahoma or even churches within the environs of Oklahoma City can be miles apart but on one of three districts (or is it four? I've lost track, honestly). 

The confusing array of administrative units becomes clear when viewing this geographic area through the perspective of a megaregion, which simply represents where people live and how far they are willing to commute for work: It's a "pocket of people," as Neil Cole would say. But, because I'm Nazarene, we'll take a peek at our crazy way of doing it. But, we're not the only ones, apparently America2050 includes Houston in two different megaregions, so how we look at the data will need to be clarified.

Let's not forget the important fact above:
​Population will double in this area by 2050!

There are seven Nazarene districts that overlap, OVERLAP, not fully contained by or encompassing of only parts of this megaregion. So, as I looked at the data, I tried to include only the churches within the general area of the megaregion suggested by America2050. So, in short, some churches in these six districts will not be included in the analysis. I used the map (below) and the map at the Community Demographics (maps.nazarene.org) to determine which churches will be included in the study. I started this process in August 2017. I simply did not have much time over the past year, and a couple of times, it was soooo frustrating sorting through all the small boom/bust towns that ended up with a Church of the Nazarene over the years. Notice the block of churches over along I-27 between Amarillo and Lubbock? Yes, that is not officially part of the Texas Triangle megaregion but will need to be considered as a mini-megaregion(?) at some point in the near future.

​

More on where I established the geographic parameters for the study.  I have reluctantly included the churches around Enid, Oklahoma even though population is in decline in the area.

I have not included some churches that were on major economic thoroughfares, such as Vici, OK which was once on the Great Western Cattle Trail but this is no longer a viable economic conduit. I have keep a location like Grove, Oklahoma since it is in a tourist area near Grand Lake State Park.

I have also included locations around the area codes 74523, 74525, 74721, since these places are in an area between major population areas around Oklahoma City and the Dallas metro, although they are not within the green shading of the Texas Triangle megaregion map.  

I have included Lawton, Oklahoma in the western edge, which is a population island and probably less tied into the Texas Triangle yet has a sizable constellation of local Nazarene churches. 

I have also included churches in Freeport which is south of Houston and probably more connected to the Gulf Coast megaregion. This location’s proximity to Houston, I think, ties into the Texas Triangle.

These are judgment calls but I wanted to be more attentive to where people/population are actually located and not where churches currently exist. 

Some brief notes not readily apparent in the infographic. The early years were boom years for starting new Nazarene churches. Not all of the churches have lasted but there are still several churches that were started/organized early on that remain active: of the 21 churches started in 1909 seven still open, of the 23 churches started in 1910 there are seven still open, and the 21 churches started in 1914 four are still open). 

​See the list of churches started during the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, and 2000s that are still active. This number is still quite astounding even though half the churches started in these decades eventually closed.  This is consistent with the 354 churches (47%) of the total number of churches started or organized (750) in the area encompassed by this megaregion.

Four churches were started before or concurrent to the recognized "birth" of the denomination. 

Seventy percent (70%) of the churches started or organized in this megaregion happened before 1940 or after 1980. 

Resources

• Closed Churches | Texas Triangle​
• Large Churches and Missional Centers | Texas Triangle
• Pastors| Texas Triangle
• Women in Ministry | Texas Triangle
• Ethnic Churches | Texas Triangle
• Other Megaregions