Chugoku district has two distinct sides, the San'yo (Pacific Ocean
side) and San'in (Sea of Japan side). San'yo population is growing,
while the other side is decreasing. Tottori on the San'in side
with no population growth has one of the best church per population
ratios (13,462), while Hiroshima on the San'yo side with fast
population growth has the least in Chugoku (17,190).
The overall district growth rate of churches in the past ten years
is 11%, |
lowest in the nation, but because of population decline, the church
per population ratio is improving. Actually, the truth is that
in the past ten years the number of churches increased only by
51, making the total 504. There has been no significant improvement
in the number of villages and tows without churches. Also, the
populations of Hiroshima and Okayama will continue to grow. So
both sides of the district need new evangelistic thrusts. |