Black Churches have played a vital roles in Canadian society for hundreds of years. These communities have sprung up during waves of arrivals and immigration over time. Some of the first Black churches were formed by enslaved individuals who arrived in Canada in the 1780s. Since then, these communities have made a difference in the lives of generations of people.
One such Church is聽, founded in 1907 by railroad porters. Forming their own church was necessary for them and many others in the past since they were not welcome at predominantly white Churches. Over the decades since, Union United hasn't just offered pastoral care and church services, it has been a community centre and hub for social justice advocacy. It was very valuable and often crucial for congregants to have a place to go where they were fully accepted and supported; church was a place of refuge on multiple levels. Music was a very important part of the community, and some young people involved in choirs at Union United later became professional jazz musicians. Today, Union United seeks to stay in touch with young people who have moved away over Zoom.
Today, many recently arrived African immigrants are forging their paths in Canada, and it is often very important to them to find a religious community where they feel accepted and supported. As聽explains, "for some Black newcomers, choosing a religious home isn鈥檛 simply based on denomination. It鈥檚 about find颅ing a place where they can feel fully themselves." Some people search for a long time to find a suitable fit, which can't always be easy as an immigrant in light of cultural differences in worship styles, ways of socializing etc. But when they find a community that works, this enables many immigrants to better meet many of their needs beyond purely religious ones, such as networking, finding a job or a place to live, etc.
Want to celebrate Black History Month? 成人VR视频 is offering BHM events to enjoy throughout February. You'll find some of these in our weekly calendar below, and a full list on the聽成人VR视频 BHM page. Happy Black History Month!
