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David & Debby Smith & Family 1275,
rue Gilles Gatineau
(Québec) J8R 2G8 Tel.: (819) 669-2318 – home (819) 669-7222 – church |
David & Debby SMITH & Family
Reaching French-Speaking Québec with the Gospel
April 6, 2005
Dear Co-Laborers in Christ,
“Croyants, mais…” (Believers, but…) was the recent headline of “Le
Droit,” a French newspaper in Gatineau, Quebec. The recent religious survey and
articles inside this newspaper revealed many interesting facts about the
French-speaking Quebecers! On the
surface, some of the article’s headlines seemed good. However,
looking a little deeper, the information reveals to us the
reasons why Quebec is one of the world’s most needy mission
fields and confirming why the Lord called
us here.
Here is the translation of
some of the article’s titles: “The churches are empty, but the Quebecers
believe.” “God is Everywhere.”
“Believing in Secret.” “Three
quarters of Quebecers believe in God.” A
recent province-wide survey by “La Presse,” an associated press news
agency, says that, “Even though a great number of
respondents, (43%) did not attend a religious service during the
past year, half of them claim to be attached
to religious traditions.
The survey asked, “What
religious tradition do you identify yourself with, do you practice or not? Responses: Catholic – 74%; Other
Christian religions or Judeo-Christian – 9%; Other religions – 3%; No
religion / atheist / agnostic – 12%.
The percentage of those claiming to be Catholic in this survey
is down from 86% just a few years ago, and shifted to
those claiming to be atheist or agnostic. In fact, when we have done door-to-door, a majority of the
people say they are non-practicing Catholics or atheists. Some of the 9 % of those in the so
called “Other Christian religions” category would include: Mormons,
Jehovah’s Witness, Seventh Day Adventists, Anglicans & Greek Orthodox
to name a few.
Another interesting question
in the survey was: “How often have you attended a religious service
during the last 12 months, without it being by obligation (marriage,
etc.)? Is it…Once a week or more – 14%;
Once or twice a week – 8%; A few times during the year – 35%; Never
– 43%. Another question that goes
with the last one: Which of the three situations comes closest to yours? Would you say…I’m practicing – 22%;
I’m attached to my religious traditions but I don’t practice faithfully – 50%;
Or I am neither practicing, nor attached to my religious traditions – 26%. Knowing the facts of this survey
makes these words of Jesus burn in my heart, “The
harvest is truly plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the
Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38.
- Pray that the Lord would continue
to bless this ministry & help it to grow as we reach
& teach.
- Pray for the continued success
of the of the French Awana Bible club for youth.
- Pray about the exchange rate
from U.S. to Can. Dollars that has dropped 20% since
last year.
Thank
you for your support and prayers, which help us reach Quebecers with the Good News of Jesus!
Co-Laborers together with you in
the Great Commission,
David & Debby, Sarah, Rebekah & Joshua Smith
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Sent by: |
“The harvest truly is plenteous, but
the labourers are few, Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He
will send forth labourers into His harvest.” |
Sent through: |
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