Today, October 19, 2010, the U. S. Census Bureau released an article (http://bit.ly/9TIJor) stating that 36.7 million people (12%) of the U. S. population are foreign-born, and another 33 million (11%) are native-born, with at least one foreign-born parent in 2009.  This means that more than 1 in 5 people are first or second generation U. S. residents.

According to the findings, the second generation are more likely than the foreign-born to be better educated, have higher earnings, and less likely to live in poverty.   According to the report, there is an increase in education and income levels between the first and second generations, suggesting that the children of immigrants are continuing to assimilate over time.   Such findings are similar to previous generations.

Other findings include:

• The U.S. foreign-born population was 11% in 2000 and 12% in 2009.
• More than half of the foreign-born were born in Latin America, with almost one-third from Mexico.
• Nearly 1 in 3 of the foreign-born entered the country in 2000 or later.
• More than half of the foreign-born were noncitizens.

In light of these contextual shifts, how should the Church respond when it comes to the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches in the U. S.?  What are the possibilities of the U. S. churches training and partnering with immigrants who arrive as believers, and sending them as missionaries across the world?  How should first generation immigrant churches respond to their children who are assimilating more quickly to mainstream society and thinking it difficult to relate to their parents’ churches?