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El Monte CommunityAssessmentA report by Elder Monte SahlinCenter for Creative MinistryAugust 20111

Who is Monte Sahlin?o An ordained Seventh-day Adventistminister for 40 years who has doneassessments of more than 1,000 localchurches. He is currently employed by theOhio Conference after spending twodecades at the General Conference andunion conference directing research anddevelopment. He teaches in the Doctor ofMinistry program at Andrews University andthe urban studies program at EasternUniversity. He is the author of 20 books,75 research monographs and many articles.2

Goals of this Studyo Profile the demographics and religionof El Monte, California.o Provide a community needsassessment.o Put information on the table forplanning and mission strategydevelopment for the El MonteSeventh-day Adventist Church.3

El Monte as a Mission Fieldo A suburb of Los Angeleso 120,000 residents in 30,000 householdso Los Angeles County has one Adventist forevery 196 residentsnnnnnnFor the entire USA it is 1 to 305New Guinea: 1 to 25Zambia: 1 to 22Jamaica: 1 to 14Belize: 1 to 10Antigua: 1 to 84

El Monte5

Who are the people livingin this community?LifestyleSegments16 ouseholds62%6

Struggling Hispanic Households – 62%o Low incomes; large families with many childrenand stay-at-home moms; mostly under 35 andmost adults are high school dropouts.o Key needs: Concern about gangs, gettingeducation, day-to-day financial worries, findinga good church, teen/child problems andaffordable housing.o Involvement in religion is average with greaternumbers interested in Pentecostals, JWs andMormons. Want a church that offers 12-stepprogram, sports and camping, counselingservices, and contemporary music.7

Young Families – 31%o Includes all ethnic groups, but primarily white;adults under 40 with many children; incomes alittle above average; large numbers of militaryfamilies and Blue Collar workers.o Key needs: Concern about gangs, parentingskills, finding spiritual teaching, teen/childproblems, adequate food and day-to-dayfinancial worries.o High involvement in religion; especiallyinterested in Mormon, non-denominational andHoliness churches. Prefer a church with familyministries, youth group, and a Christian school.8

Black lines areboundaries of studyarea.Dark Blue Struggling HispanicHouseholdsYellow YoungFamiliesGreen Middleaged and retiredpeopleLight Blue & Red Suburban middleclass familiesoutside the studyarea9

Population Growth138,336149,552157,894128,228El Monte is growing slowlyat less than one percent a year.1990200020102015**Data for 2015 is projected.10

Age Groups30.8%26%12%9.4%7.6%6.8%Under 5Under 18El MonteNationalAge 65 andolderThis community has significantly more children and fewer senior citizens than thetypical American community.11

Ethnic Minorities72.8%El anicWhites are a definite minority in this community at only 5% of the total population.12

Immigrants83.7%52.4%12.5%Foreign born19.6%El MonteNationalSpeak anotherlanguage at home13

Housing67.1%59.3%40.7%32.9%Owner-occupiedEl MonteNationalRenter-occupied14

Education49.6%43.6%27.4%El MonteNational10.4%Secondary diplomaCollege degree15

Married47.9%52.2%46.9%48.2%El MonteNationalMenWomenHalf of the adult population in this area is made up of single adults, which meansthat singles ministry is vitally important to the mission of the church.16

Special Needs22.1%19.3%10.1%El MonteNational2.5%DisabledVeterans17

Median Household Income 52,599 42,257 43,094 34,202El MonteNational20002010Almost everyone who lives in El Monte is from a low-income family. The exceptionswould be a few older residents, a few single adults who have relatively higherincomes because they do not have spouses or children, and a few young familieswith two breadwinners or couples with some education and better-paying jobs.18

OccupationsManagement &Professional11%Blue collarworkers52%Office & sales26%Serviceworkers16%19

Poverty21%18.3%13.2%9.6%Individuals belowpoverty lineEl MonteNationalFamilies belowpoverty lineThe poverty line is currently 17,500 annual income for a family of four. This is anextremely low threshold considering the actual cost of rent, groceries, utilities, etc.,in the Los Angeles area.20

Unemployment in Los AngelesMetropolitan Area12.9%11.7%9.4%6.3%5.2%6.3%6.2%4.6%5.5%5.4%4.7% 4.4%2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics21

Cost of Housing 1,868 1,486 1,072 651Median monthlymortgageEl MonteNationalMedian monthlyrent/leaseThe cost of housing in El Monte is very high for a community with relatively lowincomes.22

Religious Preferences ofLocal ResidentsOther11%No rotestant Mainline Protestant (Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal, Presbyterian,etc.)Evangelical Conservative Protestant (Baptist, Nazarene, Adventist, etc.)23

Religious Involvement ofLocal volved35%El MonteNationalNotinvolved24

Change in ReligiousInvolvement of Residents23%18%24%20%El MonteNationalIncreased involvementin last 10 yearsDecreased involvementin last 10 years25

Blue line boundariesof El Monte Zip Codes26

Purple line boundariesof El Monte Zip Codes27

Beliefs about God85% 85%69%64%El MonteNationalThere is a GodGod is active28

Social Values89%91%89%83%El MonteNationalPreserve traditionalfamily valuesEnvironment is anational crisis29

Community Services74%63%62%50%El MonteNationalGovernment shouldprovideChurches shouldprovide30

Ethnic Change44%36%34%36%El MonteNationalAmerica shouldopen the doorsit is a threat to ourheritage31

Top Needs in the chieving financial securityNeighborhood crime & safetyDay-to-day financial worriesMaintaining personal healthConcern about gangsDealing with child/teen problemsFinding good schoolsDealing with stressFinding health insuranceFinding time for recreation32

Purple line Boundariesof El Monte Zip CodesHealth outreach of the traditional kind (health education) may not be a good idea inEl Monte. All of the households within the boundaries of El Monte have a need forhealth promotion that is below the national average.33

Percent of householdsin which finding a job orfinding a better job is amajor concern:Purple line Boundariesof El Monte Zip CodesThere is a real need for programs such as a support group for the unemployed andjob seekers. The percentage of households where someone is looking for a job or abetter job is above the national average throughout El Monte.34

Needs in the Community 2ooooooo19%19%19%18%17%17%17%Affordable housingBetter quality health careFinding friendshipFinding a jobAchieving a fulfilling marriageDealing with substance abuseDealing with ethnic prejudice35

More Needs in the Community 3ooooooooo15%15%15%14%14%13%13%12%12%Domestic violence & abuseFinding a satisfying job/careerDealing with social injusticeDeveloping parenting skillsFinding a good churchProblems in the schoolsFinding retirement opportunitiesCare for aging parentsFinding spiritual teaching36

Low-priority Community Needsooooo10% Finding direction in life10% Providing adequate food10% Obtaining an education9% Finding child care4% Dealing with divorce37

Church Programs People Wantooooooooo40%34%34%23%21%18%16%15%14%Bible study & prayer groupFamily activities & outingsYouth activitiesFamily counselingActive retirement programDoctrinal classesSpiritual retreatsCare for the terminally illMarriage enrichment events38

Church Programs People Wantoooooooo13% The arts, music, drama, etc.11% Parent training classes10% Food & clothing resource center10% Day care for children7% Sports or camping7% Church-sponsored school5% 12-step group3% Divorce recovery39

Church Program Preferences algrowthRecreation40

Worship Style Preferences36%24%39%30%27%23%10% 11%EmotionallyupliftingIntellectuallychallengingEl MonteBothNotinterestedNational41

Worship Style Continued33%27% 26%28% malEl MonteNotinterestedNational42

Purple line Boundariesof El Monte Zip Codes43

Worship Music emporaryEl MonteBothNotinterestedNational44

Church Focus36% 37%19%32%26%22%13% 14%SpiritualgrowthCommunityserviceEl MonteBothNotinterestedNational45

How I prefer for churchesto contact me Direct mailRadio spotsCable TVNoYesNewspaper adsPhone for a visitDoor to doorTelemarketing0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%46

Survey of the General Public inMajor Metropolitan AreasKnowsomethinginaccurate12%Know nothingabout it15%Know onetrue fact7%Never heard ofthe AdventistChurch66%Source: Center for MetropolitanMinistry47

Analysiso Research has shown that growth inAdventist churches comes from:nnnnnCommunity involvementStrong spiritual lifeIntentionality (goals, planning)Positive atmosphere in the congregationActivities for the unchurched on Sabbath48

The Adventist Paradigm forOutreach & Evangelismo Christ’s method alone will give truesuccess in reaching people. Hemingled with men as one who desiredtheir good, showed sympathy forthem and ministered to their needs.He won their confidence. Then, Hebade them, “Follow me.” – EllenWhite, The Ministry of Healing, p 14349

“Christ’s Method”Community Communityassessment visibilityCommunityserviceFriendship EvangelismDiscipleship Program50

Examples of Adventist Churches thatare Implementing this Strategyo Mount Dora Church, Floridao Aldergrove Church, British Columbian Pastor David Jamieson wrote about the growthand development of this church in a DMindissertation at Andrews Univ.o Walk of Faith Fellowship, Clevelandn Pastor Kevin Kuehmichel is writing a book aboutthis urban church planto Stillwater Church, Dayton, Ohion A dying church discovered new life!51

Resourceso One Minute Witness – good introduction in32 pages designed to be handed out tochurch memberso Chapter 2 in Adventist CongregationsToday contains the research on churchgrowtho Mission in Metropolis contains moreresearch, focusing on urban and suburbanchurches in metropolitan areaso Understanding Your Community providestools for doing a community assessmentn All are available at www.AdventSource.org52

Discussion Questionso How well known and visible is the ElMonte Church in the community?o What has been done to “plow theground” in El Monte through servingthe needs of the community?o What relationships do churchmembers have in the community thatcan be a bridge to possiblecandidates for Bible studies?53

o Contact information for Monte Sahlinn msahlin@creativeministry.orgn (800) 272-4664 2011, Center for Creative Ministry54

ministries, youth group, and a Christian school. 9 Black lines are boundaries of study . El Monte National Half of the adult population in this area is made up of single adults, which means . Median Household Income 34,202 42,257 43,094 52,599 2000 2010 El Monte National Almost everyone who lives in El Monte is from a low-income family .