Quebec is the largest unreached people group in the Americas. Less than 1% are committed to an evangelical church like ours. There is one evangelical church for every 106,000 people...
Many years ago, as a young pastor I attended an Alliance General Assembly when we were making a gospel foray into the province of Quebec. The theme that Assembly was “Let God write Quebec on your heart.” I was moved and asked the Lord to do that in me. I have been soft toward the Lord’s work in that province ever since.
Quebec is the largest unreached people group in the Americas. Less than 1% are committed to an evangelical church like ours. There is one evangelical church for every 106,000 people. In other words, almost no one in that province calls Jesus Lord. How can this be in Canada??
For a long time, the Roman Catholic church wielded huge influence over the people of Quebec – at that time it may well have been the most religious place in Canada. But, in my estimation, the Church didn’t raise Jesus high, and they didn’t emphasize salvation by grace. Instead it became about hierarchical religion and over time Quebecers became tired of the heavy-handed approach. So they rejected and threw the Church away – at the same time throwing faith away – and became the highly secular state we see today.
I was able to be in Montreal with my son Chris this past weekend and during that time to visit the two most impressive churches in the city. St. Josephs Basilica is the highest point in the city and is the largest church building in Canada with a capacity for 10,000. This church receives 2 million visits a year. It is a vast and impressive place that was completed in 1967.
The Notre Dame Basilica pictured above is a stunning building that seats 8000 and has been the location for Celine Dion’s wedding and the funerals of Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney. This church receives 11 million visits a year.
It’s like Quebec gained a divorce from a spouse with whom they had also shared a lot of life together. There is a bitterness to the Church – a sense of being offended – and at the same time souls are dry. I wonder – how will this breach with Jesus ever be mended?
Our church has maintained a partnership with the Alliance church in Rimouski Quebec. A small church in a university town of 55,000 where the three evangelical churches have a combined attendance of 350. On Sunday I was at the most dynamic Alliance church in the St. Lawrence District – called the 180 Church in Montreal. A church with a big vision – what a pleasure to be there! I sat in on a lunch meeting with church members who are investigating a call to pastoral ministry. Two teachers, two video game executives, a restaurant owner and a military man.
My son Chris will be in the pulpit this Sunday and part of his address will be to challenge you with the question: “Lord what do you want me to do?” Let this work on you as you approach the weekend. By the way, on Sunday at the church training day, Encounter ministry will host a panel podcast to chat with some of our own people as to how we encounter God even in a time of suffering. It will be a dynamic interview you don’t want to miss.
Have a listen to this song that we sang in Montreal on Sunday. May it be your prayer too.
Pastor Leon Throness
