African Christian Churches
Integration and Adaptation
of African Newcomers
a. Alberta: immigrants (census 2006)
Nonimmigrants
Number
Percentage
2 702 225
83 %


Immigrants
527 030
16 %
non
permanent
Residents
27 100
1%
Total
3 256 355
100 %
5,4 % (28 525 ) of
the 527 030
immigrants, are
francophones.
Source : Stat. Canada,
Census 2006, Product no
97-557-XCB2006021 au
catalogue de Statistique
Canada.
b. Alberta: Francophone immigrants by country of origin ,
2001-2006.
Country of origin
Number
Repubublic of congo
320
France
205
Rwanda
175
Algeria
155
Marrocco
105
Burundi
85
Cameroun
45
Ivory Coast
45
Tchad
30
Total
1230
Source: stat. Can, Census
2006, produit 97-557 XCB
2006007, Stat. Can cat.
c. Where do they live?
City
Franch as
official
language
Bilingual
FranchEnglish
Edmonton
135
1720
Calgary
120
2375
Brooks
10
60
Source: Stat. Can, Census 2006, produit 97-557-XCB200-6021, Stat. Can. Cat.
2. Partners in settlement process
a. The subsidized francophone organizations
 b. Associations organized by country of origin
 c. Churches

a. Francophone institutions in the community

Lack of resources to take up new challenges related
to

Cultural barrier:
- a cultural identity
- Minority thinking

Lack of competence to work with newcomers

Difficulty to build networks with francophone
newcomers
b. Responses from Immigrants

a. Associations by countries of origins
Dominations
City
The morocco community
Edmonton
The Rwandans'
community
Edmonton
The Guinea community
Edmonton
The Haitian community
Edmonton
The Congolese association Edmonton
of Edmonton
The Ivory Coast
community
Edmonton
b. Churches
Religious groups fill in the gap left by the
government and francophone
organizations;
 Attempts for newcomers to solve their
own challenges;

b. Churches…
Church
City
Leader
Members
(estimate)
Christian city
multicultural church of
calgary
Calgary
Past. Mondo
50-60
Cité de reveil spirituel
Calgary
Past. Vincent
90-10
Deeper Life Bible
Church
Edmonton Past. Jacob
65-70
Église source de vie
Edmonton Past. E.
Bumba
15-25
Fellowship Christian
Reformed Church
Edmonton M. Huizinga
87
c. Churches
Church
City
Leader
Members
(estimate)
Église francophone de
Brooks
Brooks
Past. P. Tandu
Pas
disponible
Jerusalem City
Church
Edmonton
Past. N.
Kayumba
130-135
Le corps du Christ
40-50
Life of faith Christian
Church of Calgary
Calgary
Past. Bukasa
200-250
Penuel Christian
Assembly
Edmonton
Past. R.V.
Tshubula
20-25
Church
Restoration and
victory international
ministries
City
Edmonton
Leader
Members
(estimate)
Past. Serge
45-50
Shiloh Baptist Church Edmonton
Past. A.
Karekezi
110-120
The kingdom citizen
ministry internantional
Red Deer
Past. P.
Kabengele
30-40
Victoria Church
Edmonton
Past. J.
Mwamba
25-30
Zion Temple
Celebration Centre
Edmonton
Past. B.
Tuyikunde
65
Remarks:
 Even though, the names are in English the
main language spoken is French
 The numbers presented in this PowerPoint
are estimate given by the leaders of these
churches.
Characteristics
They are principal support of the majority
of African newcomers settled in Edmonton
 Positive social changes: welcoming of
newcomers, housing etc.
 They are deeply rooted by their African
values
 Leadership is somewhat familiar with the
Canadian culture;
 Monoethnic;

right and
wrong
information
A
1. Family,
friends
 2.Churches,
3. Country
associations
B
Public institutions,
Schools etc.

Right
informations ?
d. A Survey
How are Church actions and initiatives
bound to emerging Canadian values?

68.1 % of the response thought Francophone immigrant
churches should be more involved in the social integration
of their members in Alberta:
 Connect the welcoming communities to the
immigrants
 networking;
 Eliminate isolation;
 Share experiences;
Challenges
Strengthening of traditional African
values: (same sex marriage…)
- Management problems
- Leaders are newcomers
-
Final remarks
Contemporary society:
 Tendency « to ignore religion until some
religious group or individual behaves well
rather badly »;
 Religion is an important factor in the
settlement process of african immigrants.