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David & Debby Smith & Family 1275, rue Gilles Gatineau (Québec)
J8R 2G8 Tel.: (819) 669-2318 |
David & Debby SMITH & Family
Reaching French-Speaking Québec with the Gospel
ABOUT QUÉBEC…
Here is some background information about the people
of Quebec and some interesting facts to prayerfully consider that
will help you to better to understand the challenges we face.
Catholic missionaries from France – members of orders such as
the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the society of Priests of Saint Sulpice
(the Sulpicians), and the Ursuline nuns – had helped settle the region of New
France (Quebec) in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They established a Catholic colony
governed by a three-man council, permanently reserving one seat for the Catholic
bishop. Clergy oversaw all aspects
of education, health care and general welfare.
The Jesuits owned much of the land, and laws were passed
that banned Protestants from residency. Though the Church today no longer retains civil authority in the
region, its influence is still strong. Eighty-six percent of people in the
province of Quebec are practicing Roman Catholics. It is by far one of the highest
concentrations of Catholics in the world.
Interesting Facts to
Prayerfully Consider:
·
Québec
has a population of approximately 7 million people (predominately
French-speaking). Québec is equal
in size to the combined areas of France, Germany, and Spain and
Belgium.
·
Described
by the late Pope Pius XII as the world’s most Catholic country,
approximately 87.5% of the people of Québec were “practicing” Catholics in 1961.
·
In
Québec, there are approximately 60 times fewer Bible believing
churches than the country of Kenya, Africa.
·
Due
to religious upheaval and political unrest of recent years, a
great number of Québécois today are at “loose ends” and desperately
searching for answers. 80% of suicide
deaths are male. The leading
cause of death for men 15 to 40 is suicide. An average of 3 men per day commits suicide.
·
In
response to this spiritual vacuum, numerous cults and counter-Christian
groups are aggressively involved in Québec filling in the gap.
·
Experts
estimate that Québec has one of the lowest ratios in the world of
full-time Bible believing workers to its population.
·
Don
Sisk, B.I.M.I director said, “Quebec is the only mission field I know of that
is actually going backward in progress for the gospel.” He said this after
realizing that there are fewer missionaries and indigenous Independent Baptist
Churches and members here now than there were 30 years ago.
·
Together,
you and I are responsible before God for this “mission field at
our doorstep”.
Yours for
souls,
David W. Smith