Southern Baptist Convention’s Send Network Plants 30 Churches in Las Vegas in Past Decade

The Southern Baptist Convention’s Send Network has planted 30 churches in Las Vegas over the past decade, reflecting the city’s growing religious landscape. With nearly 100 SBC churches in the greater Las Vegas area and 177 across Nevada, the denomination has a significant presence in the region. Rev. Heiden Ratner, the Southern Baptist “City Missionary” for Las Vegas, emphasizes the diversity of the city’s population and the challenges of reaching its residents with the Gospel.

Ratner, who leads the 10-year-old WALK Church with about 1,100 members, notes that Las Vegas is not defined by its reputation as “Sin City.” Instead, it is a multiethnic, multicultural place where people face a wide range of issues and struggles. “Las Vegas is pretty much pre-Christian,” he said, explaining that there has never been a revival that has swept through the city. “When I was growing up here, there wasn’t a single Sunday morning that I woke up and thought, ‘Maybe I should go to church.’ Never.”

Despite its reputation, Las Vegas has evolved significantly. The city’s gaming industry generated $8.82 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2025, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. However, the rise of online gambling has complicated traditional metrics, with global gaming revenue reaching $100 billion in 2023 and an estimated $5.9 trillion in unregulated activity.

Ratner pointed out that Las Vegas has also become a more attractive destination for major sports events. The city now hosts teams in three of the four major sports leagues and is set to welcome the National Basketball Association. It hosted its first Super Bowl in 2024 and will host another in 2029. “That kind of credibility is leading all kinds of people and corporations to take a second look at this city,” he said.

Looking at Las Vegas through the lens of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Send Network, Ratner highlights the city’s population growth. The valley’s population has increased from nearly 750,000 in 1990 to about 2.6 million today, with projections suggesting it will reach 3 million by 2055. “Las Vegas is a huge, complex place, and it’s growing,” he said. “You can’t just look at the Strip and say, ‘That’s Las Vegas.’ Different kinds of people are occupying different parts of the city.”

Ratner also encourages outsiders to view Las Vegas as a place with much to offer beyond its reputation. “The first thing I tell outsiders — believe it or not — is this is a great place to raise a family,” he said. “We have awesome parks, everywhere, for kids, for everybody, to get out and enjoy life. There’s all kinds of hiking and great recreation nearby. There’s art, music, museums and some of the greatest food anywhere, and that’s all over this city.”

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